Isaac Scottke is shown with his sister, Samantha.
Almost everyone is aware of the adage most synonymous with Christmas, “‘Tis better to give than receive.” It derives from the story of the Three Wise Men who traveled afar following the Christmas star to bring gifts to the Christ child lying in that manger in Bethlehem.
While the Magis’ gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were material, establishing a tradition delighting countless children, it would later be understood that they could also be non-material (e.g. love, kindness, compassion). This Christmas, I’d like to share with you an experience which reflects the finest examples of each.
The lyrics of Bob Thiele and George David Weiss’s classic, “What A Wonderful World,” paint not only a portrait of natural beauty but also exude hope and optimism — not only for us, but, as the final stanza indicates, for babies too. Three year-old Isaac Scottke, son of Marc and Amy, was a beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy who suffered from congenital myopathy, a muscular disorder which left him trapped in his own body, incapable of movement, dependent on a respirator, feeding tubes and the 24-hour care of nurses for survival. That wonderful world described in the song, with its “skies of blue and clouds of white” and “trees of green, red roses too,” would’ be experienced in different ways by Isaac. Everything was vicarious.
He could see. He could hear. He loved cartoons, cows (lived on a farm) and snakes. He could understand. And because he could, he had his own wonderful world to behold.
He lived in his living room because it was large enough to accommodate the machines, tubes, wires, etc. necessary to keep him alive. His parents’ dream was to build an extension to their home so that their precious little angel could have his own room.
Unfortunately, they didn’t have the resources to do so. But, as they say, sometimes dreams come true.
Enter the Frankfort Kiwanis Club. After hearing about the Scottke’s situation, member Irv Bunce brought the matter to our attention, asking if we’d be interested in doing something. And faster than Ole Saint Nick climbs down a chimney, we made the pledge. Over the next few weeks, with the Scottke’s approval, we raised over $15,000, found someone to build the addition (Irv’s retired brother-master carpenter Art) and before you can say Jake and Jack Frost, Isaac’s Room was built. He could now watch, in his own room, cartoons on a 42-inch TV compliments of his adopted Kiwanian “uncles.” And thanks to a “special uncle,” Isaac could enjoy the winter wonderland on a sledwagon, spring’s magical colors from his treehouse and the sounds and sights of summer afternoons from a swing-masterpieces created by the incomparable Art Bunce. The club later helped raise the funds to purchase a specially equipped van for the family.
That Christmas was especially memorable for Isaac. Not only did the skylight built by Art at Marc Scottke’s request enable him to see “the colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky” but for the first time in his life, on Christmas Eve, the Star of Christmas. On Oct. 12, 2015, Isaac Scottke, age 8, passed away. A poem in the program of his memorial service at the Dennison Corners Community Church served as a fitting epitaph: God saw him getting tired, a cure was not to be. He wrapped him in His loving arms and whispered “Come to Me.”
So, as I stated in my introduction, the relationship between the Kiwanians and Isaac personified both meanings of Christmas giving; the material (Isaac’s Room) and non-material (love, kindness, compassion). Love given. Love received .Be grateful for all of your blessings, large and small. Make your tomorrow better than your today.
After the room was completed, those who contributed in any way were invited to come view the finished product and greet Isaac. I’ll never forget how he watched “the faces of the people going by” and “friends shaking hands saying how do you do?” Their generosity and smiles told the little guy “I love you.” And in return, to each one passing, with those beautiful brown eyes he replied, “I love you too.”
Sometimes, ours can truly be a wonderful world. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and healthy. happy New Year.
Ray Lenarcic is a 1965 State University of New York at Fredonia graduate and is a resident of Herkimer.