Writers Tricks of the Trade Issue 3 Volume 9 | Page 12

L IFE S TORIES BY K EITH B ETTINGER
D ANNY : A S TORY A BOUT
A W ONDERFUL C HILD
K EITH B ETTINGER WRITES STORIES THAT TOUCH YOUR HEART .
J
ohn Carlsen was a Deputy Inspector with
the Nassau County, N.Y. Police Depart-
ment. He and his wife Kathleen had a son
named Danny. You can’t say he was handi-
capped, because what others considered
being handicapped never stopped Danny.
Danny was a unique child. Before Danny
was born, his parents were told there were
problems. Ultrasound showed a condition
named hydrocephalus, or commonly re-
ferred to as "water on the brain". The child
they were expecting might not survive.
There were suggestions made to terminate
the pregnancy. After a great deal of discus-
sion, prayer and tears, Kathleen and John
F ALL 2019
said no. They would have their child and
love him no matter what.
On June 6, 1983, Danny was born. Not
only did he have hydrocephalus, but he also
had spina bifida and other complications.
Within an hour of his birth, Danny under-
went dangerous, but necessary surgery.
Danny was never expected to survive the
surgery or long after, but he did. Kathleen
and John were told if he lived, that would
only be the start of problems. Doctors said
he would never walk or talk. Kathleen and
John never gave up hope and their prayers
were answered.
He grew up to be a loving, wonderful
P AGE 8
W RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE T RADE