This woman has really touched my heart and is a true inspiration. She embodies the warrior mindset. She received the news that no parent wants to receive that something was wrong with her precious son. She took the news and she decided to fight. She is a FIGHTER. Thanks to her and her family, she has made Mitochondrial  Disease a community cause in Millington. In Millington, Tennessee, everyone knows Jackson Culley and the MITOWhat campaign. They are a beautiful family and they need our support. Here is her story.

 


Emily's Story

An unwanted anniversary I remember the day like it was just a second ago. I remember the words as they came out of the doctors mouth. "I think Jackson has a mitochondrial disease called Leigh's." I have played those words over and over and over in my head.
\I will never forget November 3, 2007 as long as I live. It was the day Jackson began having seizures. I had no idea it was the beginning of our mito journey. It was a Saturday and we were getting ready for a soccer game. Jackson was 7 months old. He couldn't sit up and it was very difficult to get him to smile. I didn't think anything about it because I though he was such a good baby. He never cried or fussed for anything. I thought his delays were because of being born at 35wks. I remember thinking he's ok, he'll catch up. I had no idea what was in store for us.We rushed him to the ER.  They ran some tests and we were sent home. He had another episode and we rushed back to the ER. This time more tests and we stayed all week to figure out what was wrong with Jack. I remember Monday, November 5, 2007. Dr. Morgan came to Jackson's hospital room and told me Jackson had Leigh's. I remember being devastated. I remember telling John,  I haven't even planned his first birthday party, I can not plan his funeral. So even though this kind of anniversary is not normally celebrated...I celebrate! Jackson has beat the odds of living with Leigh's. He is 3 1/2  and will turn 4 in March. I am so grateful for the people that have come into our life because of mito. I am so thankful for so many people loving my little boy. They love him so much and hate mito just as much that they put together BBQ lunch fundraisers, baseball games,and even a  5k run/walk. I am grateful for people just giving to the UMDF. Life has certainly changed since November 2007.  I am grateful tonight for Jackson's life. I am thankful to God tonight for His promise that all things work together for His glory. I have no idea what will be next for Jackson and our family. I never expected to have a child with a mitochondrial disease. So, in honor of this unwanted anniversary I have began a new blog on blogspot. I think this one will be easier to log onto, load pictures and change. I hope you think so too!
Excerpt from Emily's Blog from 2010.   http://www.mitojack.blogspot.com/

Friday, September 11, was an amazing experience. At 7:00 am a bus load of citizens of Memphis started on a journey. ROAD TRIP!!! Armed with around 5,000 signatures and evidence to warrant a Forensic Audit and an Ethics review we headed to the Capitol. We were an interesting mix of characters. People who whose paths might have never crossed had it not been for this audit request. People from all walks and stages of life, from different neighborhoods, and backgrounds. It was awesome, it was how it should be. We were simply Memphians concerned enough about our city and bold enough to speak for every one of the signatures in that packet.

Mike Williams was with us as Citizen Mike and on the way he encouraged all of us to speak.  See for Mike it has always been about Memphis. For those who believe he did this for his campaign, you will see. There are documents in that request that date back to 2013. This was NOT about his campaign, rather his campaign is about this. He decided to run when the cries of the citizens went unnoticed. When you finally see what is in the request things will become clearer. The need for reform will be CRYSTAL CLEAR.

I vividly remember when Mike shared with me and Chett that he was planning a bid for mayor. I actually squealed and clapped. LOL I couldn’t help it. Finally, maybe we could be heard. He explained that watching what was happening in the city and seeing that no matter what the citizens wanted they would be ignored, he saw the need for a new voice. I see the need. This is the same man who went with us to Nashville. He means business. If he wanted to be a part of the corruption he wouldn’t try to fix it.

Why haven’t the others done what Mike did? Better question….Why weren’t any of them on the bus with us? Several council members and mayoral candidates said they would be fine with an audit. They should have been on the bus. Even ole AC had a seat if he wanted it. All citizens were invited. This was our chance to seek the change beyond the city council and the mayor.

We filed into the Capitol building. It was pretty awesome to have the building to ourselves. We were able to see the chambers on our own. We just roamed the halls. I have been there a dozen times and today it seemed like a new place. I was there as part of a movement for change.  It was very Mr. Smith like.

We were brought in to a room I had been in several times with my students. We were put in the law library and greeted by our host Representative Karen Camper. She sent invitations to our State leaders and one by one they came in and we presented them with the requests and signatures. We were able to speak directly to them. We ALL said something. WE ALL asked for help. While Mike handled the introductions, trust me ALL voices were heard. We asked the Comptroller several clarifying questions and let him know that he was the Boogyman in Memphis. He was blamed for all the bad choices our leadership has made. He assured us that he doesn’t tell them to do the things they have been doing. He said he can’t tell them if they way they are spending money is dumb or not. His job is to make sure the books are on order, not if the money is spent wisely.

I did get a little upset when he said the auditing firm in charge of Memphis did a good job. I then asked, “Where do they get their books they audit from?” I then proceeded to tell him about the multiple copies of the books that were floating around. I said you can only as audit as well at the books you are given. He said he understood and promised the request would not be filed away without being looked at.

I was impressed by Representative Camper. She reminded us that we have a VOICE. YOU HAVE A VOICE. She also warned that WE NEED TO BE USING OUR VOICE. This was not just for Memphis, but for Tennessee. If you are not watching what is happening, you need to be. More will disappear if we keep ignoring what is happening. Tennessee has been advertised a great place for business due to Cheap labor and lack of union power. Wow, thanks governor. (Yes I can be critical of the man I voted for ONCE). Just once.  We stand to lose so much if we stop acting as if conversations about politics are taboo WE NEED TO BE TALKING! We need to be paying attention. To be honest, while I enjoyed my time with the few on that bus, there should have been busloads of people from Memphis.

I took off of work. It is that important. Several swapped shifts and worked things out. I even took my sick son with me. He was really sick, but I would have brought him even if he didn’t have a doctor’s excuse from school. He needed to see our Republic at work.  I needed him to see it is OK to question your government, it is OK to speak out, it is OK to say “this is NOT right.” We are nation founded on this very principle. “No taxation without representation.” “Don’t tread on me” “Give me liberty or give me death” “"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." "I have not yet begun to fight!" We come from a legacy of fight! We were given this precious gift of freedom of speech.

Thank you Mike Williams for giving us the chance to speak to our leaders. For giving us our voice. We didn’t have to send an email to the comptroller, I spoke directly to the man. I, Sherrie Hopper, got to speak to the man who has been blamed for hurting my family. Not shockingly, it was not his fault, he Is another scapegoat for the administration's bad decisions. I think the comptroller said three times, he cannot control dumb decisions.

Friday ended with a feeling of accomplishment. We spoke up. We represented our city in Nashville and asked in person for help. I truly believe Rep. Camper will do everything to get us that help. She spoke with me about ABC Tree. I asked her about getting legislation together to protect Tennessee jobs. She took all the information I had on the matter. It is so refreshing to see representatives that listen. The Memphis leaders don’t even pretend to listen anymore. Well…..it is time to make them. This was just the beginning. Join us in taking back Memphis. The door has been opened, it is time to become We The People and walk through it.  

When will you have enough? When will you stop turning a blind eye to what is happening in this country? When will you stop thinking it is not your problem? Will it be to late when  you do finally realize that the officers in this country are there to protect you?

There will come a point in this country when the men and women of the thin blue line will say "enough this isn't worth it" and if you are paying attention, you probably won't blame them. The voices and actions of a belligerent  minority of citizens  are silencing the rest of us who respect and value our law enforcement. I have heard many excuses as to why people don't get involved. "I am not political like you." "They know when they take that job the risk they take." "I don't really know what's going on, I don't watch the news." "My area is safe." The list goes on and on.
Ever seen The Purge?  Ever heard of the Wild Wild West? Every read about a time when lawlessness ruled? Ever examined places like Mexico, where the criminals rule over the government? I suggest you have a look for yourselves.

We are headed in a direction that we will find difficult to recover from. When the criminals rule the streets, where will we be? What measures do you think it will take for lawmakers to bring law and order back? Do you want to be there for it? I don't.

These are real questions we need to ask because it is a matter of time before the officers who are mothers and fathers themselves say that it is not worth it to put their lives on the line for us. They have families too. They have husbands, wives, sons, and daughters, mothers, and fathers who love them just as much as we love our family members. Who will we have to blame when self preservation kicks in for the masses that protect us? Answer- Ourselves.

It is time for those of us who are law abiding, police supporters to stand up and be heard. We have to say ENOUGH! We have to learn to support those who protect us. How you ask? Well I am glad you asked? Here is a good list to start with.

1. Contact your law makers and demand that we start coming up with ways to make our streets safer.

2. Let your local media outlets know to stop glorifying the criminals (no matter what the crime)

3. Support your local police departments and demand that your local government does as well through appropriate funding of departments and proper pay and benefits for public safety.

4. Stop giving officers a hard time for doing their job.  If you were speeding and they pull you over, Take your ticket with a good attitude. If your headlight is out and they pull you over, the correct response is. "Thank you officer I will get that fixed." After all it was you who were speeding or it is your headlight that is out.

(Do you know how many criminals have been taken off of the streets because of a traffic stop? In 2002, it was 453,606. So if my headlight is out, by all means please let me know and thank you for keeping me safe)

5. Say thank you as often and as in many different ways as you can. They are not your enemy. They are here to ensure that we maintain a strong, thriving society.

It is time we stand up and let these officers and their families know how much we appreciate them and need them.

Thank you for all you do. 
The video is worth watching but does have some language. She is angry and you know what? So am I and you should be too.

The Commercials are out!!! Let's look
Williams- I was very excited to see Williams's commercial. Yes, I am a Williams supporter, but he conveyed exactly what I know about him....He is all about Memphis.  He cares about what you want. He is conveying to the public what we city hall watchers have known. He is a product of Memphis, he is a servant of Memphis, he is Memphis. He is and always has been a public servant.

Wharton- Well this one has already been dissected by channel 3 as being stretched truths.

Strickland- well I just decided to put his campaign video from 7 years ago to let you compare......take a second to watch. ........If he didn't keep the promise 7 years ago...what makes you think he will start now?