As the stresses of everyday life weight heavy on your mind, people have a tendency to develop negative attitudes. You know when someone has bigger challenges than you because their attitude is worst then yours. But just imagine your surprise if you would meet someone whose attitude is positive even when their challenges are astronomical!

I have indeed met him. His name is Ovid David Gerald, and he is my brother-in-law.

David (as we called him) was a paraplegic. My sister, Nancy, met him while visiting a friend at Children's Hospital in New Orleans. David was the friend's roommate. When Nancy's friend left the hospital, she kept coming back. They soon began to date and married on July 3, 1981.

David was run over by a drunk driver as a child. He endured pain and suffering beyond comprehension. But he was a fighter. He could have played the pity party and cried "why me". He didn't. He was the single most positive, strongest, kindest and loving person I have ever met in my entire 49 years on this earth.

My three sons loved to see him because he was always smiling and would give them a ride on his wheelchair. He never complained even when he was hurting. He always found a way to smile and suppress the pain.

We shared a love for photography and would go to Lake Pontchartrain or City Park to shoot. When my sister had plans, we would cruise the streets of New Orleans just to sightsee.

Whenever I look at a photograph of him, I feel that all my challenges in life pale in comparison to David's. I don't know how he stayed so positive. It had to be his love for Nancy that kept him going.

We all love David and miss him very much.