http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/2998 Recent articles about Drew Olson en-us Dean, Here is the story I wrote about 13 year-old Josh Rusnock of Freeland, Pennsylvania for an edition of the Standard Speaker newspaper. I'm so sorry about that missed attachment. Here it is. And everything you said is fine. I will be more than happy to pass the news on to Josh's mom. Please let me know if you need anything further and I would be more than happy to assist you. Josh is such a good kid and it's become part of my mission as well to find every avenue of help for him and his family. Like I said, please let me know if there's anything more you need. Thanks So Much And Take Care- Imagine having a disease that only a few people in the world know about, and even fewer people have. By BOBBY MASO Staff Writer Imagine being at a crossroads in life, preparing for the transition from boy to young man, yet not being able to do common things like spending time with friends, playing football in the backyard or even riding a bike. That is the life 13-year-old Josh Rusnock of Freeland lives every day. On the surface, Josh looks like an average teenager. He loves most sports, and watching some of his favorite teams, the Houston Rockets of the NBA, the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and the Boston Red Sox. He also enjoys spending time on his uncle's fishing boat where the two like to talk about, what else? fishing. But under his smile and quiet demeanor is a world hard for most to fathom. Josh's condition, a degenerative nervous system disease known as leukodystrophy, often makes it hard for him to go to the bathroom unassisted or climb the steps inside his home. His hands shake so hard sometimes that if he were holding a glass of soda, the drink probably would spill all over his lap. As hard as it is to imagine, it's even harder for Josh, his mom, Rachael, and their family to live through day after day. Rachael has taken Josh to numerous doctors. Some of them are in awe of the rare condition, while others, including a doctor from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, have traveled the world, to places like Amsterdam, where the majority of cases exist, just to learn more about leukodystrophy. Now, Rachael, along with her friends at the Tresckow Fire Co., are preparing for a benefit dart tournament, silent auction and bake sale to be held Sept. 13. They're hoping to raise enough money so that she can purchase a vehicle large enough to accommodate a power chair that Josh will receive next month, something he needs just to get around. His mother is hoping that the community can help by donating money or items that can be sold at the auction. "Right now, all this is for is to raise enough money for Josh so that I can get a van or a vehicle big enough for his chair. And what we're really looking for are food donations, like buns or pierogies, or items for the auction. Whatever anybody can give would be so appreciated, you have no idea," Rachael said. She explained that the disease has taken a lot out of Josh, whose life "used to revolve around the Freeland YMCA. Now he's forced to stay inside and can pretty much just play video games." Leukodystrophy comes in many forms and closely resembling multiple sclerosis, thus causing many victims to be misdiagnosed. The disease is a rare genetic disorder that affects the central nervous system by disrupting the growth or maintenance of the myelin, a fatty "white matter" that protects and insulates the body's nerve fibers. It's a progressive disease that usually gets worse as time goes on. There are about 70 documented cases of leukodystrophy worldwide, and as of now, there is no cure. "There are 34 different types of leukodystrophy, but Josh displays symptoms of all of them, so it's hard to pinpoint exactly which one he has," Rachael said. Josh began showing signs of the disease at age 4 but was not officially diagnosed until he was 10. All the while, Rachael has been taking Josh to doctors and specialists all over, causing the medical bills to mount and making it impossible to buy the van. "It's gotten so bad that we've actually moved in with my mother in Weatherly because she has a bathroom on the first floor, so Josh won't have to go upstairs. Sometimes, he has to crawl on his hands and knees if he has to go to the bathroom, it's been so bad lately. It's just very difficult," Rachael said. To help ease the family's financial burden, a special account has been set up at Bank of America, where anyone can make a monetary donation to the Joshua Michael Rusnock Medical Fund. Donations can be made at any Bank of America branch, and Rachael said all are appreciated. Josh's mom and other siblings, brother John, 15, and twin stepbrothers Trevor and Derek Remak, and his other relatives hope that spreading the word about leukodystrophy will help others who might be experiencing similar health issues but do not know they have the disease. "I just want to help spread the word because it's very possible that someone else might have this and not know it," Rachael said. "Like I said, it took Josh's doctors a long time to figure out what it was and I'm thinking that there might be others out there who are suffering the same way Josh is, and might be diagnosed with something else because a doctor is unfamiliar with leukodystrophy. I just don't want anyone to have to go through this." Anyone interested in donating toward the Sept. 13 benefit can contact Jennifer Coxe at 570-427-3329 or by e-mail at jen3329@verizon.net. Donations can also be made by calling the Tresckow Fire Hall at 570- 455-5701. bmaso@standradspeaker.com Bobby Maso Standard Speaker Newspaper 21 North Wyoming Street, Hazleton, Pa. 18201 570-455-3636 Ext. 3588 bmaso@standardspeaker.com Click here for more information on Leukodystrophy >>> http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/leukodystrophy/leukodystrophy.htm Events coming up for Josh; CHINESE AUCTION & BAKE SALE 9:00 am to 5:00 pm To make a donation contact Jennifer Coxe @ 570-427-3329 DART TOURNAMENT Teams are still needed Registration at 11:00 Contact Rich Contrady 570-455-5701 To benefit Joshua Rusnock Saturday, September 13th, 2008 Treskow Fire Hall 26 East Oak Street, Treskow A variety of food will be available for purchase. Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:33:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/331977 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/331977 The Sacramento Bee is reporting today that the Niners claimed and were awarded rookie QB Kyle Wright off waivers from the Vikings. In order to put Wright on the roster, the team waived 3rd-year QB Drew Olson. Wright (6-3, 220) was signed by Minnesota as a rookie free agent in April after the draft, but was waived by the Vikings last week. Olson was drafted by the Ravens back in 2006, and played one season with the Ravens and one with Carolina. He joined the Niners practice squad in  November and was signed to the 53-man roster for the season-finale in Cleveland. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:44:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287530 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287530 The Sacramento Bee is reporting today that the Niners claimed and were awarded rookie QB Kyle Wright off waivers from the Vikings. In order to put Wright on the roster, the team waived 3rd-year QB Drew Olson. Wright (6-3, 220) was signed by Minnesota as a rookie free agent in April after the draft, but was waived by the Vikings last week. Olson was drafted by the Ravens back in 2006, and played one season with the Ravens and one with Carolina. He joined the Niners practice squad in  November and was signed to the 53-man roster for the season-finale in Cleveland. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:44:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287530 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287530 Quarterback Kyle Wright was claimed off the waiver wire from the Minnesota Vikings who signed him as an undrafted rookie free agent. With the depth of quarterbacks stacking up the Niners released former UCLA QB Drew Olson in order to make room on the roster. Wright went to Danville Monte Visita High School in the Bay [...] Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:13:28 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287400 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287400 Too small? Aren't we over the size barrier in professional sports by now? It's not like Smith played for a mid-major, he was a leader on a national powerhouse. What a great story Smith is turning out to be. It's even more impressive when you consider that Smith had only two preseason games to prove himself and win the spot over Olson, who was on the Ravens practice squad last season. Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:58:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/25114 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/25114 When you talk the talk, be prepared to walk the walk, as the saying goes. Following their 29-3 dismantling of the Eagles a week ago, several Raven players boasted about the Giants not being ready for what Baltimore was about to bring. In the spotlight of Sunday night football, donning their black uniforms for the first time this year, once again the team dressed in black appeared lost in the dark. Eli Manning stood firm against Baltimore's fierce defensive rush, dodging when needed and went on to complete 10 of 13 passes for 114 yards with the game's lone touchdown, as New York went on to beat Baltimore 13-12. Throughout the night, the Giants controlled the line of scrimmage, barely giving any Ravens quarterback time to breath, much less pass, and New York rolled up 182 total net yards on the ground, taking advantage of the over pursuit and aggressiveness of the Baltimore defense. (Click the link below to read the entire article.) Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:41:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/24368 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/24368 The reports out of training camp of Matt Stover's demise were greatly exaggerated. There is no denying the 18-year veteran's few misses in camp, but there's no overlooking of his perfect performance in the first preseason game for Baltimore. Stover went five-for-five, including two field goals of 50 yards in Baltimore's rout of the Philadelphia Eagles, 29-3. Steve McNair completed six of eight passes for 73 yards and one score. In his first and only series, McNair led the team on a 12-play, 93-yard drive that took up over six minutes and culminated with a touchdown strike to tight end Quinn Sypniewski. Drew Olson connected with rookie fullback Le'Ron McClain on a four-yard swing pass for the team's only other touchdown. Olson completed seven of nine passes for 84 yards and the one score playing most of the fourth quarter. (Read more by clicking the link below) Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:41:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/23522 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/23522 Streams of cars and SUV's pour into the player's parking lot. One player delays pulling completely into his parking space, which causes a long line of traffic to form. Another player gets impatient as a horn is heard echoing the campus of McDaniel College. Meanwhile, a similar scenario plays out in the fan's parking area. The fans, like the players, are anxious to get to their destination and commence with the entertainment. While the players will be providing that form of art to the fans, it is a symbiotic relationship the two seemingly diverse groups share. The fans, in their varied attire and painted faces, with their cheers of appreciation and well wishes, also provide a service for the players. Without one, it is debatable if there could be the other. Yes, it is Sunday morning, the day of rest and worship for many, but today, there is no rest for those who flock to training camp each day. On this day, those numbers would be smaller than past days, perhaps reaching as high as 1,500, but the entertainment the faithful who showed up today would find, would be well worth giving up a day of rest. Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:34:41 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/23411 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/23411 The bright sunshine and cooler temperatures brought the fans in masses to the campus of McDaniel College. A rough estimate puts the numbers over 5,000 boisterous fans eager to display their affection for this team. As receivers broke off into groups a loud cheer came from crowd. When the applause died down, Derrick Mason waved his arms, instigating another raucous round of cheers. Shortly thereafter, the quarterbacks joined the receivers to run through various routes. Leo Bookman dropped an easy pass near the sidelines and the crowd let out a groan as Bookman picked up the ball and trotted back to the line. Brian Billick, ever the showman, did not let the crowd's zealousness go by unnoticed. Instead of chastising the rookie for the lack of concentration, the head coach played to the crowd. "See, they're going to boo you today. They're going to boo you if you don't catch [those passes]," Billick advised the young receiver. The crowd in the general vicinity let out a chuckle in unison, and the only words to come out of their mouths the rest of the day were of joy and awe at the plays that occurred before them. With just two practices left before the first preseason game, the coaches made sure the second units received the bulk of the practice. Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:11:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/23380 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/23380