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The saving of an orphan from obscurity

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 The house is strangely quiet now. My 12-year-0ld great grandson went home yesterday, and I miss him already.

OBSCURITY (Definition): The state of being unknown, inconspicuous or unimportant

Photo of Carson by Linda Lane

Carson Thomas Lane will turn 13 years of age next month. His biological father abandoned him at birth, and his mom, Courtney, died - a victim of cystic fibrosis - at the age of 25 - when Carson was only seven years old. In the end, my granddaughter - being kept alive on a ventilator - chose the day her life would end. Two major hospitals had apparently determined that she was not "important' enough to receive a double-lung transplant. Please pardon me for my cynicism and lasting anger.

Courtney chose my daughter, Lisa, (in turn supported by her husband, Jim) as Carson's legal guardian and her then-boyfriend, Josh, as his surrogate dad. At the time of this writing, my great grandson still lives with Joshua Farrell and his mom, Heather. Prior to Courtney's death, I had asked her if Josh was the right choice, and she wrote (she could not talk due to being on the ventilator), "Carson loves Josh".

Photo of Carson by Linda Lane

Others have stepped in to support Carson over the years, including my only other grand daughter, Jordan - her husband, Austin Antonucci, and Austin's mom and dad, Mark and Sandra - and his maternal great grandmother, Evelyn. My wife, Linda, and I are included in that support system.

Carson stayed with us this past week for five days during school vacation, and he was a pleasure. Linda and I live in a rural area in northern New Hampshire, and he loves it here. Roaming the woods and lakesides - fishing - shooting guns - working out with me in our home gym - selecting his pre-approved one pound of candy from the enormous selection at Chutter's in Littleton, NH - watching the hunting and fishing shows with me on TV - sharing his stories about his friends - and generally eating everything in sight. Did I mention he is a pleasure. "I love my life" is what he recently told me.

Photo by Lisa Lane McCarty

We are all determined to NOT have this young man "lost to obscurity". He is smart, athletic, kind, polite - and simply a joy to have around. And his teachers have told us he is a leader. His mom, being ill, risked her life to bring him into this world - and we want that NOT to have been in vain. 

Author's note: I can not leave out the 10,000-plus kind folks who sent well-wishes and gifts to Carson after the death of his mom. You all made a positive difference in his life. And a world of thanks to the Boston Celtics, Marcus Smart and Taylor Snow for ensuring that this fine youngster will never be lost to obscurity.





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