Steve Mikita - I Sit All Amazed: The Extraordinary Power of a Mothers Love

All photographs courtesy of the Mikita family archives. Used by permission.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Mikita, J. Stephen, 1955 author.

I sit all amazed : the extraordinary power of a mothers love / Steve Mikita ; foreword by Carole Mikita.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-60641-938-0 (paperbound)

1. Mikita, J. Stephen, 1955 2. MormonsUtahBiography. 3. Spinal

muscular atrophyPatientsUnited StatesBiography. 4. Children with

disabilitiesCareMoral and ethical aspects. 5. Children with disabilitiesDevelopmentCase studies. 6. Christian biographyMormon authors. I. Title.

BX8695.M54A3 2011

289.3'32092dc22

[B] 2010045047

Printed in the United States of America

Malloy Lithographing Incorporated, Ann Arbor, MI

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Foreword

I have two memories that remain as clear to me as if they had happened today.

In 1955, I was only four, and I remember tiptoeing into my parents bedroom to see my new baby brother, John Stephen. Mother let me sit in the big rocking chair and then she placed him in my arms. He was so warm; he felt just right. He had barely visible, wispy, blond hairs and big, blue eyes. He looked at me. What a feeling! I was thrilled. And then I made the connection between the kicking infant in Mothers tummy and the baby resting in my arms. I announced to Mother, He is my baby. And ever since then, Steve has been a focal point for my love, admiration, and inspiration.

In the spring of 1961, I was nearly ten years old and the oldest of four childrenme, Billy, Steve, and Judy. Mother and Dad had driven to Pittsburgh, forty miles from our home in Steubenville, Ohio, for dinner, a show, and an overnight stay in a downtown hotel. Our fathers assistant drove us to meet them the next day, and when we got out of the car, there were our dynamic, loving parents, overjoyed to see their children.

Mother was breathtaking. I remember exactly what she was wearing, including her designer navy coat with a matching velvet hatshe was a Jackie Kennedy look-alikeand her radiant smile. She was more than a fashion statement, however. Mother was an intelligent, independent, and elegant woman, who was fervently committed to family, community, and God. I felt treasured by her. When I saw her that day, she glowed with assurance in her newfound faith as a Latter-day Saint. To me, this woman not only stole the show, she defined motherhood.

Steve and I are simply each others best friends. We take care of each other, and I find great solace in his words and powerful testimony. He has endured much and has learned from that which he has been asked to experience during his time on Earth. He is a powerful and humble man who serves and lightens the burdens of others. I often come to him on days that are difficult, and we counsel together. Quite often we reflect on the lessons and principles we learned from our precious mother, and we come away refreshed and renewed. I have traveled the world on my assignments as a journalist, and I am always so anxious when I have to leave him and eager to hear his exultant voice upon my return.

I have met and interviewed fascinating people in my more than thirty years as a journalistsome famous, most not. Many have left positive impressions on my life, but none quite like my brother Steve. As a former boss of his once said, It takes more energy for him to get out of bed in the morning than it does for the rest of us to work all day. He possesses many gifts, but his insight into lifes challenges, his ability to not only envision solutions but to see the big picture through his wisdom and faith have given me countless hours of comfort and hope.

How our mother found the courage to become a Latter-day Saint against every family members wishes, and how my brother rises above incredible physical disabilities to reach goals most people never dream of are stories you are about to discover.

Press on, dear reader, and meet two incredible, unforgettable people whom I love deeply.

Carole Mikita

With Carole, mid-1990s.

Introduction

I was born with a relentless muscle disease. I have never walked, never run, never ridden a bicycle. I have never driven a car. I have never played a single round of golf, never close-danced, and never knelt to pray. I have never married. I have no children. But the story of my life and the lessons Ive learned are not about those things that I have never done or will never do. That is not my purpose in writing this book. My life is not about getting weaker or waiting to die.

This story is about reaching our possibilities in spite of our disabilities. It is about realizing our dreams and achieving our goals, no matter what the obstacle, no matter what stands in our way. It is about choosing to thrive, not just survive.

It is not only about me. It is a book about the undeniable influence and power of a mothers love. It is a story about the difference that mothers make.

This book is about understanding how to live rich, meaningful liveseven though our lives can have very difficult and tragic turns. All of us experience things that we never predicted could or should happen to us. We all face challenges that weigh us down and try both our patience and our faith.

It is my hope that this book will help you face, bear, and even overcome the trials and tribulations in your life and your childrens lives.

I have lived on this earth for fifty-three years. I grow weaker every year. But because of the strength of my faith and my testimony of Him who never tires and who never grows old, I become stronger and even more determined to share His message of hope and support.

By studying and, more important, by accepting His power and love, you may confront and overcome your challenges and crises. I know that to be true; and I want you to know that too.

How do I know these things? How did I come to know Him? How did I learn of His power to heal and to comfort? How do I know that He knows me? How do I know that He cares? How can I have faith, when my body continues to deteriorate and my muscles continue to atrophy?

How do I know after all these years of living my life in my wheelchair that He remembers me and has not forgotten me? Does He really understand me, when I feel alone or frightened? Is He still actuallyand activelyinvolved in my life?

Does He know us by our names, or is He only a disinterested observer? Is He merely acquainted with our grievances and our sorrows, or does He know? How much does He know? How much does He care?

This book is not only about my experiences and my questions, but it is also about the answers to these questions that I received from my mother.