Stressed Out Special Needs Mom

Thank you to every one who helps us reach our dream vacation spot!

Thank you to everyone who helps us reach our vacation dream!

Christian DeRiemer is a kid who through all the struggles in his life has taken everything in stride and never let anything get to him.  He is a great guy who deserves nothing more than to have some joy in his life.  I can't think of a more deserving person in the world.  And his father has also been through so much.  This family needs this and all the support is amazing.  Thank you and keep up the good work.  Let's make something amazing happen for this kid and his parents.

I've known Christian for a couple years now and he's always been such an awesome person. He's quick with a joke and always has a cheerful demeanor about him despite his disability. Christian's such a great guy, he has a lot of friends who support him and all of us would love to see his family get the vacation they deserve.

I have known him my entire life because he is my cousin.  I help take care of him and so I know that he is one of the most amazing people I have ever known and I am so glad that he is a part of my life.

Christian is something not of this world. He has this disease but to listen to him and see him interact its like the wheelchair isn't even there. He is easily one of the funniest people I will ever meet. Whether it be joking around on the internet or watching him try and run over his cousin Kyle's toes, good times will always be had when Christian is around.

I had known Christian for some time online, and I wasn't totally sure what difference to expect when I knew I would be meeting him in person, when I finally did, I was amazed that even in his situation, he manages to laugh and joke with people and is one of the most upbeat people I have ever met. I’ve met his father a couple times as well, and I have to say if this is how the rest of the family is as great as these two, then they definitely deserve all the kindness they can get. I can't even begin to imagine what kind of hardships he and his family have been though, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of a nice vacation.

How do you already have 8000 votes in 2 days? Somethings not right..

katiefratus: Wanna Bet it's over 12k in another 6 hours. The Guys over at C.A.D are helping these people. C.A.D loves to help kids, and we the internet viewing community love to help them help kids. Thus. :) 8k votes 2 days .. Easy!

I can't believe all the support...thank you everyone

My fiance and I met Christian online about two years, it wasn't until much after we realized when we met him that he was bound to a wheelchair, the strength he has shows in his actions. He's just one of the guys in IRC and i'm glad to be friends with someone like him, he shows true heart and integrity.

Some might be asking why he has so many votes, his friends including myself all happen to belong to a very large tight internet community and after we heard that Christian's mother had entered into this contest we've done all we can by plastering the internet with their story. You guys deserve this vacation coming from someone who had a family member with Cerebal Palsy it takes a lot of energy and there are always good and bad days. You guys deserve a few good days in a row :)

Katie Fratus,

   Hi, my name is Eric and I am a personal friend of Chris.  I can easily explain this.  I am also an admin to a web community that Chris is a respected and well liked member.

     Online he is judged by his personality and not by his handicap and he is one of the most positive, good natured fellows I know and I am no spring chicken at 39 years of age.

     The community is rallying around one of our own.  We are voting for him out of love, respect, compassion or just to take care of one of our members.  That is what family and friends truly are about.

     You can see how for example how he easily obtained thousands by going to http://ctrlaltdel-online.com and reading yesterday's news post made by the sites owner/webcomic artist on 07:05 PM - Friday, July 3, 2009.  

     We have rallied behind other worthy causes before and I am proud to believe we shall again in the future. Please do not post and besmirch his good name until you have learned the facts and understand how this occurs. 

     Word is spreading amongst us as we pass it along to our family and friends.  He will receive more votes.  Hopefully he will make it to the final 15 and is my and many of his family/friends fervent desire to be favorably viewed by the judges and awarded with a vacation prize.

     All of the participants I have had the honor of reading deserve this award.  The judges have a tremendously difficult task in deciding amongst them.  All we are doing is working to do what we can to help Chris make it to the finals to be judged amongst the other admirable finalist.

Eric J. Johnson

It's over 9000!

Sorry I had to :)

I'm sorry if I offended anyone, I just hope that many more deserving people make it into the final round too; there's just so many who deserve it and I wish they had more votes too.

I'm just a nobody, posting on this because some web comic guy told me to vote. Trusting him to be a truthful guy, I came the page and voted, and then unusually for me, I scrolled down, and read a few comments, and must admit, I almost teared up.

All these people talkign about what a guy your Christian is, made me wish I could meet him to, and makes me sad that he cannot enjoy the beach.

So this is just a nobody, giving you his best wishes for the present and future

And on exactly the same trust, I followed, clicked, and read: your son Christian has quite obviously made a lot of impact on a lot of people for a lot of reasons.

Tim Absath's art and writing make me happy when I read CTRL-ALT-DEL, and have done for many years; the man makes Comics that make people smile and laugh: his pointer to this site and to your son's story is a Real story, and I hope it has laughs very soon. With a beach-front view.

Good luck.

@mattuchiha

me too. I read CAD and follow Tim from CAD on twitter. the other day I received a mysterious tweet, so with some investigation, I found this link and had to vote. Good luck you guys!

Chris, I really hope you get this. I know you deserve it! You're a great guy and I can't wait to finally meet you at DO when my time comes to go there =) good luck man!

love, jenny

Wishing Chris & his family the best of luck on this contest.  If anyone I know deserves something like this, it's you. 

<3 Chris :)

I threw this up on my Twitter and Facebook page.  Many of my YouTube subs follow my Tweets. I hope it gets you some votes.  Kyle D. sent me the link.

Good Luck!

Chris is more than just an amazing guy, he's an amazing human being who's shown more love, respect and open mindedness than half the people twice his height ;)

The truth is Chris changed my life, opened my heart and has been one of the funniest, most amazing friends I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I speak of him often to people in my life, whether it's his courage, humor or strength of character, he gives me the courage to be who i am reguardless of what anyone else thinks, I'll be grateful for that for the rest of my life.

I love him just the way he is! nerdy warts and all, and i wish his family the best of luck!

<3 Chelle

Last years winner had 600 VOTES! LOL...This is Awesome!

Well since I am not going to come in first, how about sending some of the votes my way.

Check out my YOUTUBE VIDEO ENTRY post here: http://blog.homeaway.com/node/1468

This is me and my family

Chrissy,

From the minute we met, you welcomed me with open arms and made me feel comfortable.  Now, almost two years, I'm writing this because I honestly believe that no one else deserves this more than you and your family.  Your parents are lovely, warm, and genuine people and you light up a room with your jokes, laughs, and larger-than-life personality.  Your family deserves this not only because of the disease, but because who you are in spite of it.

I wish I could do more for Chris and his family than just voting and writing a comment about him.  To know Chris is to know the true meaning of courage, hope, and optimism in the face of struggle.  I wish only the best for him and his loved ones.

Chrissy, sorry that this is super mushy but I just want to let you know how much I love you, and I hope to see you again really soon!

Love lots,

Shanna 

That is very nice of you. I am amazed at the amount of support you received, but it is evident in the comments people post that you two deserve it. You know even if we don't win, me and my family had a blast doing that video. My daughter is very exited asking me everyday, "How many votes do we have daddy?". She's so funny. By the way I am a Graphic Designer, (http://jruvalcaba.wordpress.com/2008/10/). And my wife does Marketing. However, since she isn't working, she is going back to school for her Masters. Thanks again and best of luck!

Seeing this many votes makes me want to give up for the quest. There's no chance now. Congratulations