The StruggleThe Struggle

James D’allairdJames D’allaird

Being a KidBeing a Kid

Chapter OneChapter One

The MasonsThe Masons

First MemoriesFirst Memories They helped us in our time of needThey helped us in our time of need Ignorance was blissIgnorance was bliss

The FarmThe Farm

Where I’ve grown upWhere I’ve grown up Adventures outside in the woodsAdventures outside in the woods AnimalsAnimals HomeschooledHomeschooled

My Family (back in the My Family (back in the day)day)

WholeWhole Hard WorkingHard Working Extended FamilyExtended Family Me`meMe`me Foster CousinsFoster Cousins The Ol’ PondThe Ol’ Pond

Aunty SusanAunty Susan

Died on her couch from a rare “heart Died on her couch from a rare “heart cold” only a few months after Me’mecold” only a few months after Me’me

Out of no whereOut of no where She was as good as my Me`meShe was as good as my Me`me Cousins were distraughtCousins were distraught

DeathDeath

Take nothing for grantedTake nothing for granted Stick to the Bright SideStick to the Bright Side Death is part of lifeDeath is part of life

ChapterChapter TwoTwo

AmyAmy

The Sister StoryThe Sister Story

The Wrong PathThe Wrong Path Slowly slipped awaySlowly slipped away Started doing drugs, stopped doing Started doing drugs, stopped doing

schoolschool Friends and fightsFriends and fights Family and fightsFamily and fights Eventually she leftEventually she left

AfterburnerAfterburner

Dad got meanerDad got meaner Mom got sickMom got sick I had to learn to take care of my I had to learn to take care of my

brothersbrothers Middle School suckedMiddle School sucked

The ReturnThe Return

Amy came home one nightAmy came home one night Her faceHer face She lived with us for about two She lived with us for about two

weeksweeks Mom wanted rent and dad wanted Mom wanted rent and dad wanted

her goneher gone She left againShe left again

Afterburner TwoAfterburner Two

More quality time with popsMore quality time with pops Getting locked outGetting locked out Protecting my brothersProtecting my brothers We grew closer, but I began to hate We grew closer, but I began to hate

my sistermy sister

The ArrestThe Arrest

Amy returnedAmy returned DUI and TraffickingDUI and Trafficking ProbationProbation ResentmentResentment ForgivenessForgiveness

BetrayalBetrayal

Another DUIAnother DUI She faced jail timeShe faced jail time Rehab at Black MountainRehab at Black Mountain Transformed back to the old AmyTransformed back to the old Amy She came back a happy and healthy She came back a happy and healthy

personperson

Chapter ThreeChapter Three

Belly BurthaBelly Burtha

Skin CareSkin Care

Gnarly AcneGnarly Acne Hard to fit inHard to fit in CystsCysts AshamedAshamed AccuttaneAccuttane

The WreckThe Wreck

Uncle Jim’s monster two strokeUncle Jim’s monster two stroke Broken wrist and cracked ribsBroken wrist and cracked ribs Internal bruising?Internal bruising?

SymptomsSymptoms

Throwing upThrowing up Weight lossWeight loss Pain like nothing I’d ever feltPain like nothing I’d ever felt ExhaustionExhaustion

Difficult DiagnosisDifficult Diagnosis

Bruised LiverBruised Liver Stomach UlcersStomach Ulcers CeliacCeliac ChronsChrons

PrednisonePrednisone

Powerful SteroidPowerful Steroid Water RetentionWater Retention EnergyEnergy AngerAnger AddictiveAddictive Almost a yearAlmost a year ControlControl

The G-TubeThe G-Tube

ExcitementExcitement Nasal insertionNasal insertion Waking upWaking up Three weeksThree weeks Lots of pain killersLots of pain killers No fearNo fear

ResultsResults

Learned to be kinderLearned to be kinder Keep emotions under controlKeep emotions under control Learned to be less physicalLearned to be less physical StrengthStrength Live care freeLive care free

Chapter FourChapter Four

DivorceDivorce

The Cookie Crumbles…The Cookie Crumbles…

Before ChristmasBefore Christmas Mom needed to leaveMom needed to leave Dad freaked outDad freaked out Middle manMiddle man Dad moved outDad moved out

DemonDemon

Never really a fatherNever really a father He kicked my sister outHe kicked my sister out Cheated on my momCheated on my mom Started “planning” a year beforeStarted “planning” a year before LairLair ThiefThief

AngelAngel

My mom has always been thereMy mom has always been there So strong then, so strong nowSo strong then, so strong now Trying so hardTrying so hard No money, no family, but still No money, no family, but still

fightingfighting Still kind and still makes people Still kind and still makes people

smilesmile

Chapter FiveChapter Five

The FutureThe Future

NeuropsychologyNeuropsychology

New research on the connections New research on the connections between the parts of the brain, and between the parts of the brain, and the body itselfthe body itself

Work to find more natural cures to Work to find more natural cures to diseasesdiseases

UNCUNC

No ClueNo Clue

I don’t know what’s coming for me, I don’t know what’s coming for me, but I know that I can handle it.but I know that I can handle it.

I hope to make the world a better I hope to make the world a better place.place.

If I could change anything about my If I could change anything about my past, I wouldn’t.past, I wouldn’t.