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Heaven's Newest Angel
Townhall.com ^ | June 6, 2018 | Brent Bozell

Posted on 06/06/2018 5:09:53 AM PDT by Kaslin

There are those who believe he should never have been allowed to be born.

He came into this world prematurely with severe spina bifida, Chiari II malformation, hydrocephalus, autonomic dysreflexia, central sleep apnea, dysphagia, hypotonia and paralyzed vocal cords. He would develop chronic lung disease, anemia, kyphosis, knee contractures, osteopenia and so much more.

In layman's terms, he was paralyzed, except for partial movement of his arms. He couldn't speak because his vocal cords were paralyzed, nor could he eat or even breathe on his own. His own family can't remember how many times the ambulance raced him to the hospital to save his life. One doctor called this child "the sickest boy in America."

His mind was supposed to be in a vegetative state -- except it wasn't. This little boy was bursting with life. He learned to spell, read and do basic math. He could even sign, a talent he employed, along with his beaming smile, to shower affection on the world. For eight years, he persevered against all odds.

But then one night, Paulie fell ill, and within 24 hours, he was suddenly gone. When the news came out, an entire community was shattered.

On a somber Thursday morning, hundreds arrived at the funeral home. Paulie had countless doctors and caregivers, some 40 nurses just at the house alone. Many came to pay their respects. So did the head of Special Needs care, his teachers and therapists; as did the firefighters, paramedics and the bus drivers; as did his neighbors and so many more who'd come to know this special lad. On their lapels, many wore ribbons adorned with "Sesame Street" characters. "Paul Ribbons," they called them.

The Make-a-Wish Foundation, along with Shawmut Design and Construction, had built "Fort Paul," a custom backyard playground for the child. Over 100 people had participated in the project. Many of these volunteers were at the service. Two crews from South Windsor Public Works arrived in massive dump trucks, lights blinking. Paulie liked dump trucks, you see.

Paulie's parents regularly took him to a street corner across from church so he could smile and wave at passing motorists from his wheelchair. They would tap their horns and wave back. It came to be known as "Paul's Corner."

At the funeral, a young police officer recounted to Paulie's grandmother how, when he was having "a bad day or was feeling low," he'd intentionally drive to Paul's Corner just to catch the angelic smile.

There was another Connecticut state trooper there that day. He lived near Paul and on his way from work would sometimes flash his lights or turn on his siren or call out Paul's name over his loudspeaker. Paul liked that, too. He'd deputized Paulie last year, as had two other troopers from nearby towns.

After the funeral, an endless trail of cars followed the hearse for the burial. One police car roared by and placed itself in front of the hearse, lights blazing. A second squad car zoomed past and pulled in behind it. Together they cradled the boy. Police cars blocked intersections, allowing the vast motorcade through. Construction crews on the side of the road stopped working and burly men stood at attention, heads bowed, hands clasped.

The motorcade passed Paul's Corner and some people gasped. The boy's wheelchair was there, adorned with balloons and flowers, and neighbors asked for a final tribute, holding a "Honk for Paul" sign, which, of course, they received. A policeman stood silently next to the chair, head bowed, hands clasped.

Hours later, after all had left Paul's Corner, the wheelchair remained, still adorned with its decorations but now including a "CT State Trooper" hat on top, in silent tribute.

"He was undersized but larger than life. He could not speak but had no trouble letting you know what he had to say. He couldn't get around very well but had literally hundreds and hundreds of friends. He created immeasurable love and caused just as much trouble. So many people spent so much time and effort working on how to care for him. But it was Paul who taught us, nurtured us, ministered to us even. He made us our best selves.

"By worldly standards, he was the least among us. But by the standards that matter most, he was perfection. There was never a nastier, more rotten, disobedient, redheaded, innocent, angelic, gorgeous, kind, amazing boy."

Those were the tender words spoken by Paul's father at the funeral. Grown men wept.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: connecticut; culture; culturewar; disease; endurance; glory; illness; life; paul; paulie; perseverance; police; prolife; sickness
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1 posted on 06/06/2018 5:09:53 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

And well they should ...


2 posted on 06/06/2018 5:24:30 AM PDT by IronJack (A)
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To: Kaslin
Grown men wept.

As did I when reading this. Truly an angel. God rest his soul.

3 posted on 06/06/2018 5:24:54 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: Kaslin

This grown man wept.


4 posted on 06/06/2018 5:27:29 AM PDT by ealgeone
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To: Kaslin

God teaches us through the most unusual ways. Look at all the love this childbrought and how he brought out the best in everyone he met.


5 posted on 06/06/2018 5:27:37 AM PDT by McGavin999 ("The press is impotent when it abandons itself to falsehood."Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Kaslin

This is a story that should help people understand the moral choice is against abortion. LIFE wants to LIVE, and once conceived it is LIFE, a human life, and no matter the conditions it finds itself in, LIFE will still seek to LIVE, until it’s time has come to pass on.

To call any human life disposable, because it is inconvenient, is immoral and even an atheist who understands honest science about human conception should see that.


6 posted on 06/06/2018 5:51:10 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: Kaslin

This story is bringing out the best in the Freepers also.


7 posted on 06/06/2018 6:06:20 AM PDT by amihow
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To: Kaslin

Suddenly got very dusty in here.


8 posted on 06/06/2018 6:09:10 AM PDT by Politically Correct (A member of the rabble in good standing)
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To: Kaslin

He’s in heaven but he’s not an angel. As a resurrected human he is above the angels. He is a son.


9 posted on 06/06/2018 6:31:37 AM PDT by beethovenfan (I always try to maximize my carbon footprint.)
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To: Kaslin

What a sweet story. I daresay I have something in eye my as well.


10 posted on 06/06/2018 6:36:46 AM PDT by Sans-Culotte (Time to get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US!)
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To: Kaslin

Wow.


11 posted on 06/06/2018 6:39:39 AM PDT by fatima (Free Hugs Today :))
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To: Kaslin

...my screen is suddenly all blurry...

(I have NO problems...)

(Refugee From CT, now in NC — and glad of it)


12 posted on 06/06/2018 6:41:39 AM PDT by William of Barsoom (In Omnia, Paratus)
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To: Wuli; Kaslin; McGavin999

This well describes our grandson, about to turn ten. He has most of the disorders of Paulie, graced with a loving nature, a playful heart and love of music. He is autistic and didn’t speak until recently. He has an amazing memory. He developed his vocabulary from singing. He sings on key. I overheard him “praying to the angels” for his parents, sister and pets. He will soon have his seventh major surgery, for spinal chord tethering this time.

His caregivers are wonderful. He attended public school kindergarten for just a year and is now in grade four at a special developmental education school. His sister attends his former school and he went with her to open house. He was flocked with former teachers, therapists and aides, many in tears. One had just that day played a tape of him singing to her.

His life is not tragic. He should not be pitied. We feel specially blessed to have him. Perhaps his purpose is to be inspirational.

Rest In Peace, Paulie. Thank you for your unique gifts that blessed so many.


13 posted on 06/06/2018 7:14:21 AM PDT by ntnychik
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To: Robert DeLong

As soon as he breathed his last breath, the little guy was embraced by the One Who loves children Who said “let the little ones come to Me”.

He is forever beyond the griefs of this life.


14 posted on 06/06/2018 11:53:05 AM PDT by Ban Draoi Marbh Draoi ( Gen. 12:3: a warning to all anti-semites.)
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To: beethovenfan

He’s in heaven but he’s not an angel. As a resurrected human he is above the angels. He is a son.
________________________________________________________
Thank you for saying that, so I don’t have to. It’s a fairly common misconception, yet I can’t think of a religion that teaches it, except T.V. and Hollywood.


15 posted on 06/06/2018 8:14:35 PM PDT by Graybeard58 (The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.)
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To: Ban Draoi Marbh Draoi

Amen!


16 posted on 06/06/2018 8:28:27 PM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: ealgeone

This grown woman wept, while reading this sweet story, about this remarkable gift from God, as well.

Rest in peace, sweet one....you have touched more lives than can be imagined. Your light will forever shine.


17 posted on 06/06/2018 8:30:42 PM PDT by Jane Long (Praise God, from whom ALL blessings flow.)
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To: ntnychik

May God continue to bless and keep your sweet grandson.

Thank you for sharing this touching story. What a testament of the Lord’s goodness....and mercy! To give US such a wonderful teacher, in your grandson.

Prayers being said, for his upcoming surgery. May the Great Physician oversee and guide every aspect of his procedure. Please let him know that prayers and admiration are coming his way, from Texas.

What an inspiration, indeed.


18 posted on 06/06/2018 8:35:46 PM PDT by Jane Long (Praise God, from whom ALL blessings flow.)
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To: Kaslin

As Christ put it, the poor we will always have with us.

Human effort and treasure are the limit on what we can do, and with our modern ideas of insurance, a model that never was expected to embrace the worst of the worst to the theoretical limits of capability, it becomes harder.

And yet ironically when we care enough for life, we are also less preoccupied with leaving it. Because we lift life close enough to heaven that it’s no longer seen as an arduous journey in between. Maybe even on the mortal plane, being minded to save children in situations like this balances off in others worrying less about milking every last second out of their own lives at the end.


19 posted on 06/07/2018 1:25:28 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Tryin' hard to win the No-Bull Prize.)
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To: Graybeard58

Yes, he is new now.
Amazing. Praise God.


20 posted on 06/07/2018 1:29:44 AM PDT by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope.)
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