BIOGRAPHY

It is anticipated that some 764,000 children and adults in the United States exhibit one or more of the signs of cerebral palsy. At present, about 8,000 babies and infants are identified with the condition every year. Also, some 1,200 to 1,500 preschool age children are known to have cerebral palsy each year.

Daniel Ray was one of those children identified with the condition several years ago. Born on September 9, 1983, Daniel was born six weeks premature. Shortly after his birth, both of his lungs collapsed twice, and he was placed on a ventilator for over 30 days.

Soon, Daniel was diagnosed with not only cerebral palsy, but also chronic lung disease, asthma, seizures, and aortic heart problems. Within the first two years of his life, Daniel was hospitalized 22 times.

His childhood was not easy, as Daniel learned how to scoot across the floor at age two, and finally by the age of six was able to walk with assistance. At the age of 11, Daniel was placed on oxygen, along with taking 10 pills a day, respiratory treatments every three or four hours, and chest percussions and suctions done several times a day. Daniel's earliest memories involve doctor offices and hospital visits.

However, all of this pain in his life could not keep Daniel from singing. Always having a love for music, Daniel always sang, even while he was oxygen. On a good day, Daniel would be able to sit up and sing one song.

"One time an older gentleman asked me to make him stop singing," said Elizabeth, Daniel's mother, "because he was getting gray around his eyes and mouth. However, even if I had tried to make him stop singing, he would not have. It was what made him happy. Daniel told that man that the bible says to 'let everything that has breath praise the Lord' and 'I'm still breathing!'."

On February 26, 1997, the Lord spoke to Daniel in a church service. Daniel felt that God was telling him that he did not need the oxygen anymore, because He had a work for Daniel to do. From that moment on, Daniel stopped using the oxygen, as well no longer needing to take the pills, suction, or aerosol machines, although he still shows the signs of cerebral palsy. That day, God healed Daniel.

Even to this day, Daniel does not know how he does what he does. All he knows is that he has a story and a song that the world needs to hear.

"I just depend on the Lord, and I do what he has called me to do," said Daniel. "Otherwise, I don't know how I do it. I have to pray a lot and let my faith continue to grow. It is definitely just a God thing."

One of Daniel's main messages to those who will listen is to "dream high." In other words, his goal is to show the world that just because you have a disability, or may be different than other people, you can still achieve your goals. He proves that with God all things are possible to them that believe.

Life is not roses to this day for Daniel. His ministry is often overlooked because of his disability.

"I've never looked at my disability as a stumbling block," said Daniel. "I see it as a stepping stone. Other people view my disability as stumbling block. It seemed that for a long time, no one took my ministry serious."

His mother recalls Daniel feeling down because of it, yet she constantly reminds him that it does not matter how others view it.

"I see that at times he really gets bummed about the misconceptions about him," said Elizabeth . "That is when I ask him, 'who do you sing for?'. His reply is always God. So I just tell him to keep singing. And you know what? That is exactly what he does."

"Faith in God and prayer are the biggest ways of helping me overcoming any kind of defeat that I may experience," said Daniel. "I just keep trying. I know there are others out there with greater disabilities. I hope to an inspiration for them to shoot for their dreams as well."

One of the biggest assets to his ministry is a song written specifically for Daniel, entitled "I'll Run With You."

"Actually the song initially came out of a joke", said Daniel. "A friend of mine at church, Joey Kay, wrote the song. I had gone up to him and joked about how he always writes songs for other people but had never written one for me. Joey thought I was being serious, and he went to my pastor's wife, Paula Lett. After a few days of prayer, they came back with the song for me."

The song was given to Daniel on his 17 th birthday.

"I'll Run With You" continues to be Daniel's favorite song, and it has touched lives all across America .

The song speaks of Daniel's testimony and his life, and much like the trials that he has experienced in this life, when it is all said and done, he will run on the other side of the gates of Heaven.