Last Friday night I was at a party. The guest of honor was an 8 year old little boy named Easton Blanchard. Easton is just like any other little boy from Leesburg, GA. He likes baseball and NASCAR and hanging out with his friends. Easton is unlike any other little boy in that he was born with a rare degenerative muscle disease - muscular dystrophy with myosin deficiency. After numerous surgeries, Easton is left with only four inches of his small intestine forcing him to subsist on an all-liquid diet, fed to him through a feeding tube. He is currently on a waiting list for a small intestine transplant through the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, an operation so rare and complicated that Easton and his family will literally have to move to Pittsburgh for the duration of the surgery and recovery period.

So here I was playing a show for Easton and his friends and family, and I’ve never been so honored in all my life. The party was hosted by my friends Mission: Change, who have designed a T-shirt and complete Jewelry line to raise money to support Easton and his family when they have to move to Pittsburgh. You should check out their site to read the full story on Easton and to give some support in exchange for some very fahionable accessories.

The thing that blows me away abou Easton is this: He has so much against him, but you’d never know it. He was smiling the whole night, goofing off with his family, and fully relishing in being the center of attention (as it was his party). His wheelchair is fully styled after Dale Earnhardt Jr’s race car, complete with an autograph from “Junior” himself. As I shook Easton’s hand and had a picture taken with him I could not help but think, “He’s just a kid.” It seems unfair that someone so young should have to face so much. Easton never even had a chance - from day one he’s been the underdog. Not long after that thought and the picture I looked over at Easton only to see the biggest, shiniest smile I’ve ever seen. It’s like he was saying to me, “Don’t feel sorry for me… this race ain’t over yet.”

Easton is in no way an underdog. He’s a winner through and through. He is young. He has been through a lot. He has a long tough road ahead of him. But I feel confident that he will storm that road like “Junior” storms the racetrack every Sunday. I can’t wait to see how God continues to reveal himself through Easton’s life.

This past Monday Easton finally got the call - they found a match and he immediately flew to Pittsburgh for surgery. As you read this he is in recovery. Please keep Easton and his family in your prayers and please visit Mission:Change to find out how you can support this amazing little boy.

“Pittsburgh (Easton’s Song)” is available for free download as usual at The Writer’s Closet, my site David Herndon Music, and MySpace. Please download it, play it for your friends, and share with them the story of Easton Blanchard. Thanks!