James Talarico

And I think my dad is really who, through his raising, helped me do that.

So I just, I kind of just, I give him so much of the credit for the person I am today and the work that I get to do.

I don't know if I would be doing any of this if my dad hadn't raised me into the man I am today.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yes.

I also don't get to talk about Madeline a whole lot.

Madeline's my sister.

You know, Madeline was born 10 weeks premature, and it was a frightening pregnancy, frightening delivery, and doctors weren't sure if she was going to make it.

They told us she wasn't going to be able to talk or walk.

And my mom was in the hospital for so long that her boss called her and fired her over the phone.

So there she was with a baby struggling to survive, no job, another kid who needs to be watched.

My dad died.

took on extra work to kind of keep our family afloat.

Every night, mom went to go be with Madeline in the NICU.

And to make sure that someone was taking care of me, our church, St.

Andrews, they created a babysitting tree to make sure there was always someone with me every night so mom and dad could be at the hospital.

And like that to me is the, since we're both believers, that's the body of Christ.

And so our church kind of kept us afloat in that moment when our family needed it the most.

Anyway, Madeline got out of the NICU.