David Stratso

Miss Nancy, Uncle Larry, and a Lizard named Kathy David Stratso

It is only in looking back on the thirty-one years since a little boy was born into a loving family that his life could be seen as worthy of being recounted. An amusing little boy with tons of personality and a quirky outlook on life was a true gift from God to his family. He was raised by a mother who would make every effort to mainstream her handicapped child and left no stone unturned to provide opportunities for his development, education, and social acceptance. His early disabilities delayed his development for only a short time as his perseverance and love of life propelled him headlong into life. His observations and prattling nature were a constant source of amusement. He struggled with hearing for his first several years, so he frequently misidentified objects or words until he benefited from repetition. An aunt became a "Miss," and an uncle Greg became "Uncle Larry," solely because he did not fully understand and did not really care. It worked for him, and the family loved it. His quirky nature gave us the name of "Kathy" for his pet lizard. No reason for it: just his bizarre choice. Scotty and his mother Betsy had many challenges during his first ten years of life, which were all handled with courage and a never-submit attitude. Their faith, the love and support of family, and their refusal to be marginalized or isolated provided Scotty with the opportunity to become a productive adult who is now giving back to his community.