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The spark of life that would become Gage was only noticed by his brother Matthew it seemed. The rest of us were totally unaware, even my daughter. It was September and we were strolling the grounds of Riverfront Park in Portland. The Bite of Portland" brought us down to experience food and fun on the rides, so when the opportunity to experience a bungee jump presented itself I encouraged my daughter to try it. I put up the $20.00 for the 4 minute ride. Matthew cried and pleaded with his mother to not go. The sudden hysterics were surprising to us. He was a year and a month old and we tried to soothe him while we cheered my daughter on. The hoist took her higher and higher until she was over 20 feet above us and then she dropped, bounced and dropped again. Once she was on the ground again Matthew reached out his arms and seemed so relieved she was on the ground once more. Gage was born eight months later. 

The days have flown by and this year Gage turned 13. He faced surgery this past Wednesday. His surgeon said he didn’t see this kind of injury in someone so young. He broke his elbow as a result of a skateboard tumble and had to have a steel plate placed along the humerusbone and five screws put in to hold the broken pieces together. Aside from the obvious pain when they took X-Rays he showed little concern. He isn’t the sort of kid that needs to be coddled. He prefers to be cool. He’ll miss Football this season but his doctor reassured him he would be well enough to Wrestle in six months.

Maybe it was that first experience of free fall that makes him so daring, or maybe it is the solid family relationships that hold him together so well. To us he is a hero for taking life’s tumbles in stride and because he always looks forward to doing what he loves to do.

His team took the Championship with a 10-0 in football season in 2006. He took the 2007 year off so he could go to all of Matthew's football games. Matthew was a Freshman for Aloha HS. The brothers are close but that doesn't mean they aren't rough or loud. They are boys after all.

It hurts to shrug at the moment. His eyes tell us everything. His spirit isn’t broken and his bones will heal in time. Gage has the spirit of a young hero.