To my Father: I will always remember the words you lived by your whole life “Every Life has a Purpose” - Robert S. Muller. For me, being the biological oldest son of a man with Cerebral Palsy my personal “purpose” or existence was a miracle on its own. If things went as recommended I might not exist. For all - When my Dad was born, my Grandmother was told to institutionalize my dad and just walk away. The state would take care of him the rest of his life. She refused that being a nurse. But what if she had done just that? What if she did just accept that advice and walked away? I wouldn’t be here. The rights of my father to live a normal life were tested the day he was born and he fought for those rights every day of his life. My father was a man of “Purpose” in living his life. He took on the world and the challenges of his disability head on. A world that would tell him it wasn’t possible for him to live “The American Dream” would not stop him. Fortunately for me, my Grandparents refused to let him think that. He learned to walk at 6 and then went to regular grade school. He was one of the first “integrated” kids with a disability. “Little Bobby” as he was known went on to graduate from Grand Rapids Christian High School. He didn’t stop there, even though he could have got a job at Muller’s shoes (his dads business) he chose to go on. He graduated Aquinas College with a business degree. Got married to a local school teacher Carol Dykema. Worked at Amway. Had a son Jeffrey Robert (aka J.R.) Became an executive at Steelcase. Had another son Marc who past at 4. Adopted 2 biological sisters Tamara and Marjorie. Became a professor at Aquinas College. Was nominated to be on the National Council of Disability and worked with 4 presidents during their terms to help create and sign the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. He helped trail blaze the rights of millions of disabled Americans in the workforce and society to be able to have equal rights. I was blessed to be with him to see the law be signed by President George Bush Sr. in the White House rose garden an event that changed my life path forever. My dad did many other things to inspire others and to LIVE his “purpose” in life. A man of faith, he wasn’t always perfect (none of us are) but he owned his mistakes (and there were some big ones) and asked God for forgiveness, which I believe he received. Recently, my dad was moved into a nursing home after living independently his whole life, and in true “Rambo Bob” fashion (as I would call him) he busted out of the joint the first night staying there in his power wheelchair trying to catch the bus to bring him home. When they told me this I simply said - “I would expect nothing less!” My dad, after struggling with health issues these past couple of weeks has finally caught that bus and the Lord has brought him home. I’m torn up and sad but I keep thinking to myself that I know “God has his back now” my brother Marc will definitely meet him at the gates and because there are no power wheelchairs in heaven he’ll have to help my dad adjust to being able to walk straight and talk clear for the first time ever. Entering the gates of heaven might be an adjustment for him, but I’m sure he’ll do just fine. “Your Life had a Purpose” - Love you dad.