His family is beyond grateful for those who jumped to help that day. Larson still vividly remembers seeing her little brother in the hospital. The sadness overwhelmed Larson, but she didn’t lose hope.
“He could move his lips, but he became frustrated because we didn't understand him,” Larson said. “It seems like such an easy thing, but when someone can't communicate with you the way they did before, it's scary.”
His determination is extraordinary. But he knows that if it wasn’t for his family, he wouldn’t be here right now. From day one until now, they’ve remained a stronghold for him.
“We wouldn’t be a family if I wasn’t a part of it,” Goette said.
“There would be something missing.” Johnson added. “He is stubborn and has a lot of determination. He’s taught me to never use the word ‘can't.’”
Typically, people inflicted with Muscular Dystrophy pass away from complications of pneumonia. But in 1992, he had a tracheotomy, allowing the mucous to be easily suctioned out of his lungs, which made his odds of catching pneumonia considerably less.
“He has not had pneumonia for 18 years, which is great,” Larson said, adding, “When you are on a ventilator and you don't have a tracheotomy, the tubes have to go down your throat and you aren't able to talk. With a trach, you can talk and go about your life just like normal.”
Although there is no cure for the disease, his family has hope that one day there will be an answer.
“Brad has never wanted the cure for himself,” Larson said. “He just doesn’t want anyone else to have to go through what he has.”
All his family members are unanimous in that he is one special man. He’s a teacher, and the life lessons they’ve learned from him are priceless, and will never be forgotten.
“He’s taught me to be positive and to not take life for granted, to live each day, one at a time,” Larson said. “I need to stop feeling sorry for myself when something doesn't go exactly the way I want it to, because I'm not fighting for my life like he is.”
He also isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. Whenever his sister Cheryl babbles on about the stresses of her life, he kindly tells her to be quiet.
“His book, ‘The Walk of Life,’ has taught me that life is all about the walk,” Johnson said. “It's about living.”
The Goettes’ walk may be more difficult than some. But they just take it a day at a time, with their faith in God as the center of it all.
“Vern and I have been married for 44 years,” Alice said. “We have been through a lot, and if it wasn’t for the faith, the two of us wouldn’t have made it together at all.” She added, “He also has so many wonderful uncles and aunts and his grandma too. They’ve always been there for us. If we had a problem with him, they were right there.”
Also there to help ease things along are Brad’s two LPN home aides. Michelle Ledding of New Richland and Marlene Culbertson of Wells help him bathe, dress, eat, drink and reposition. From time to time, they also turn on the TV to get in on some Twins action.
“I’ve been his LPN nurse here for about a little over a year,” Ledding said. “He’s always making me laugh, telling me stories of his childhood. Summers are the best because we sit outside together.”
Whenever the sun is shining, life is at its best for Goette. And if the Twins win, that’s just the icing on another day spent in the beautiful countryside.
“Anything green outside makes me happy,” Brad said. Alice added, “If Brad feels good, I am happy.”
The same rings true for Larson and Johnson, always being their constant source of joy and hope. He reminds them that tomorrow’s worries are futile, and to always remain brave when things get dicey.
“He is my inspiration and it makes me feel good to know that I am his sister,” Larson said. “He’s really my hero.”
But Goette isn’t so sure about that. His big sister was always his hero on the playground.
“She always told them, ‘You stay away from my brother,’” Goette said. “I think she was the bigger hero at times.”
It seems that Larson and everyone else just can’t get enough of him.
“Just when you think you have it bad, look at Brad,” Larson said. “He has hope. He shows that hoping helps.” Johnson adds, “Brad is the strongest man I know.”
