I have been asked lots of times what exactly am I, as in IM1..?  IM1...RU2, which we luckily copyrighted in 1999, had just one or two "fill in the blanks" at the time.  However, over the years we have included literally hundreds of "fill in the blanks" and yes, excluded even more!

Our original IM1...RU2 launched with our prolife motto; IM1...Prolife...RU2! Campaign shortly after the loss of second son Zachary Alexander.  Not because of any family situation, but mostly because of issues stemming from our personal experiences during his short life in 1995.

Zachary was born IUGR (inter uterus growth retarded), meaning he was not growing properly in his mom.  While he was 20 weeks for instance his growth was measured at only 12-14 weeks.  Each week he was falling further and further behind and he was not getting both the nutrients and oxygen he needed from Mom and at 26 weeks (he then measured only 20 weeks growth) the decision was made to have Zachary come into our world by cesarean.

His life was extremely difficult and he faced many, many challenges not just every day, but every single minute.  He weighed only 363 grams; was the size of a 16 oz. coke can and had to rely on pure oxygen to survive.  This could not go on for a very long time in order for him to sustain a "viable, quality life" so said our/his doctors.  He needed to begin to breathe on his own sooner rather than later- however, his lungs had not even developed by the time he enter our world.  Zachary had tubes and needles poking and prodding him seemingly all over his very, very tiny body.

But the very first thing Zachary experienced was his Baptism.  Zachary was baptized in the Catholic hospital where he was born the minute he was born. Mom and he were both okay; at least for that moment things were fine and God was with us all.

Over the next several months both Mom and I stayed in shifts around Zachary in his incubator never leaving his side, ever.  Even against nursing and doctors and social workers advice to "take a break" we remained in our day and night shifts with our new son. 

We also visited with the other newly arrived children in the niccu ward; some of whom never seemed to have many visitors at all.  Sometimes we would read to them, sometimes we would just talk with them and other times we would just sit there and silently pray.  Some of them would "graduate" to the "step-up" niccu" unit, some of them would go home and some still would ultimately really go home, to our Lord.  Just as our son Zachary would.

When after a couple of months of fighting and growing and breathing on his own, ultimately it was an infection that took the life of our blessed son.  The doctors simply asked us to tell us to let them know when enough was.  When is it enough and to tell them it is okay? 

I just was not strong enough - as a human nor spiritually.  I could not say, okay.  I wept out-loud during those last few moments as Zachary fought for his life and demanded the doctors "HELP HIM", "HELP MY SON!"  I just could not say, okay - it is in God's hands.

So today, IM1...RU2 has many "fill in the blanks".  Today I fill it in with "survivor", "fighter" "Believer" "Thankful Dad" Proud Husband" "Catholic" Christian" MS Survivor" and many, many more such sayings. 

But what I don't fill it in with are things like; "pro-choice", "who gives up", "bites my tongue" "won't help others" "thinks people with disabilities should be fired because they are perceived as not as good" or any such nonsense!

So the next time you see the IM1...RU2 logo maybe you might remember how we first came up with our idea or maybe not.  But in telling you about how we did the word may get around and help some people with the head tilting; "you are what?" 

Now you may have an idea what we are; and are not and thanks for taking the time.  If you would like to drop us a note we would love to hear from you.  Just send us an email from the link on the left and we will get back to you in a reasonable amount of time, we promise.

And if you would like to purchase any one of our IM1...RU2 products and have people stare at you and ask "what are YOU?" that would make us very happy too!