MDA Ambassador Guest Blog: Grateful for the One by My Side on Valentine’s Day (and Every Day)

Jeff Thomas resides in beautiful Boise, Idaho with his partner in crime, Christine, and their precious fur-babies, Tito, Flora, and Fred.  Their love and support motivate him in the fight against oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy OPMD and empower him to advocate for everyone living with neuromuscular disease.

Me and the girl in the white leather jacket.

In May of 1981, I met the love of my life, Christine Maria Humrich.  As is typical with most great stories of enduring romance, ours started in a bar.  Daddy More Bucks was its name, on Old Highway 66 in Flagstaff, AZ.  It was across the road from Andy Womack’s Pink Flamingo Motel (painted pink as pepto-bismol), where I was held up for a week or so while waiting for the dorms at North Arizona Univeristy (NAU) to open for the summer semester.

The Thursday night DJ at Daddy More Bucks offered up a mixture of new wave and punk hits of the time, which drew a lot of locals and NAU students out for the evening to pack the large, accommodating dance floor.  Showing up strictly as an observer on a few of those Thursday nights, I repeatedly started to notice one young lady in particular.  She wore a white leather jacket, had short, cropped black hair with a blue streak running through it, and (more so than anyone else out there) could truly dance to the music being played.  I became infatuated.

Goofing around at Camp Rainbow Gold’s summer oncology camp for teens.

I suppose I should point out here that I moved to Flagstaff from Boston, and apparently (at least according to the locals) had a bit of a thick accent.  So as the story goes, after a couple of times watching the girl in the white leather jacket dance, I got up the nerve to ask her onto the floor.  She was standing with two friends when I approached her, and being the helpless romantic that I am, simply said: “Pardon me, my name is Jeff Thomas, and I just requested ‘I Want to be Sedated’ by the Ramones.  Will you please dance with me?”  (Now keep in mind here that I was a ‘chowdah-head’ and fresh off the boat from Bean Town, so difficulty in translation inevitably ensued.)  All three of them began laughing hysterically.  Then, while looking at me with a combination of confusion and amusement, she sarcastically asked me (and I quote), “WTF did you just say to me?”

Starting 2026 off right!

Although my confidence was shaken and I started to seize up inside, I didn’t flinch and calmly repeated myself.  She laughed again, thought a moment while smiling, then sweetly replied, “Sure, why not?”

Almost 44 years later she still laughs at me and still questions just what it is that I’m trying to say to her.  Most importantly, though, despite the fact I can no longer get out on the floor, she’s still the only one I would ever want to dance with.

I share this somewhat comical love story as encouragement to others to always remember to show the ones we love the appreciation that they justly deserve. I think that appreciation is especially valuable for partners of those living with neuromuscular disease. Christine endures the emotional and sometimes physical challenges of witnessing my disease progression, and she does it all with an endless supply of grace. Her love and support remain a constant in my life – helping me through every step of the journey. And I want her to always know just how much I appreciate having her by my side. I love her more than anything and her love adds light and joy to my life. Though I’m confident that I could live without seeing, swallowing, or walking, I know that I couldn’t live without her.

Spending time with family at our nephew Max’s graduation from NAU in Flagstaff (my alma matta!)

So, in honor of Cupid’s Holiday, I encourage all of us, no matter what the situation, to never cease showing appreciation for the ones who are always there to provide the love and support we need to make it through.  The journey for those of us living with NMD is not an easy one.  Nor is it easy for the ones who have chosen to stay beside us on this uneasy sojourn.  What a wonderful time to let them know how loved they are.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

JT