'Hey Man, I Don't Sing With My Legs'

My son Daniel was born six weeks premature with both breathing problems and cerebral palsy. Because of the breathing problems, Daniel had to undergo aerosol treatments when he was two, and he depended on an oxygen tank from ages twelve to fourteen. Yet despite taking various medications and having numerous surgeries—thirteen of which were also orthopedic—Daniel was always a happy-go-lucky child. He grasped life with both hands, accepting all it had to offer.

At age five, he informed me that he was going to be a singing, preaching, and drumming comedian. He sang his first song, “God on the Mountain” by the singing group McKameys, in church. A family friend played the guitar with Daniel propped up against his leg to sing. For years after that, however, he couldn’t sing: the breathing problems and cerebral palsy seemed to get the better of him.

At thirteen, he tried again. Despite using an oxygen tank and a wheelchair, Daniel sang anywhere anyone would listen--though listening took effort because even with a microphone on full volume, he would be gasping for breath. One gentleman even told me not to let Daniel sing, since it took too much out of him. Daniel responded: “As long as I have breath, I will praise the Lord.” A year later, while sitting in church, Daniel suddenly informed me he no longer needed his oxygen tank because God had a task for him. Without thinking, I automatically said, “OK.” (I often argued about a lot of things, but God was not one of them.)

Immediately Daniel stopped using his oxygen tank, and we went to the doctor’s office the next day. After running tests, the doctor determined that Daniel no longer needed the oxygen tank. One week later Daniel was singing again. This time, no one had trouble hearing him. Even to this day, he doesn’t use the oxygen tank or take breathing medications.

Now, at 22 years old, he sings professionally across the nation, although he is still confined to a wheelchair. Several people have alluded to his condition by asking, “How do you sing sitting down?” Daniel just replies, “Hey man, I don’t sing with my legs!”

Continued on page 2: Today I still get asked why God didn't heal Daniel's cerebral palsy »