Send STYX to Italy!!

Kerrie Simon-McMillan is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi there, and thanks for stopping by to read Send STYX to Europe.

I'm the very PROUD 'single' mom of a rising senior, in college, named STYX! He deserves so much more than he's received in life, and with the present opportunity for tutelage by world-class artists in awe-inspiring locations, I had to do something I've never done... ask for help from complete strangers.

STYX is my self-made phenomenon! While he'd be reluctant to share his story, let alone to strangers, I believe understanding the cross he's carried edifies why he DESERVES support for this chance of a lifetime.

STYX's musical craving started at a young age, in the kitchen with culinary instruments. He found much peace with every sound from elevators and grocery stores to classical music and rock-n-roll. He could differentiate the sound between instruments before seeing them played. His initial instrument of practice was a trumpet; however, an unforgiving rare medical condition, eosinophilic esophagitis (yeah say that 3 times fast), swiftly jarred his joy of music.

While his first pair of drumsticks appeared mysteriously alongside him post-op in a recovery room, cloaked in the kindness of an unnamed resident, they were the bittersweet accompaniment of medical advice to give up his single source of joy, his trumpet (along with all other instruments requiring a mouthpiece).

Similarly to many forgotten grads of 2020, he also had to succumb to an instantaneous halt, as high school-"senioritis" disappeared into a pandemic. No prom, senior trip, yearbook exchange or drumline competition. No tears, grad parties, skip days or traditions. As he pushed past yet another life-altering situation, masked by a positive attitude, he chose to press on and not sit out a year. Unbeknownst to him, those grandiose expectations of college life would dissipate into "zoomed-classes", 6-feet-apart friendships and a socially distanced era of more silence, sickness and loss.

As a mom, bearing witness to the misfortune afforded to your children is unbearable, especially when you can't take away their pain. To see them resilient and motivated against the odds sometimes gives you the hope you should be giving them. At times I wondered exactly how much character would be charged to his “childhood account”.

Just as dorm rooms began to open and a few conversations started in the caf, while doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right place; he, still yet was "struck" by misfortune and acquired a traumatic brain injury while practicing, and unfortunately, had to withdraw from school.

God takes care of babies and fools. As I foolishly allowed anger to blind me, STYX pressed on to do whatever was necessary to return to campus. With painful blinders on between a drive-less summer, physical therapy, back injections, diminished sound, double vision, migraines and NO DRUMS I just knew he'd break, but God keeps His promises as STYX returned the next semester.

Now two years later, he's missed quite a bit, but he's faithful, relearning balance isn’t easy so he’s bruised but not broken, and the tackles made him STYX-TOUGH! Although he’s taken on more than God allows; I’m reminded He never gives us more than we can bare, including our children.

Junior year has brought courage, faith and expectancy. Watching as he supports multiple churches, joined the frisbee team (yep, that’s a real thing) and develops those forever friendships I’ve enjoyed forgetting the past and mimicking his lead and outlook for his future.

As he takes on various capacities of courses, finds joy in learning, and ventures into the realm of musicality in business, sound and production, I see the same smile that developed when he beat my pots with sticks. Hearing him exclaim, “I never thought I'd get accepted, let alone for the Italy tour” brought tears of happiness. Geez, feeling that peace only a mom understands when you see joy in your child’s eyes feels just the same when they’re an adult.

Well, I hope you’ve pleasantly enjoyed the compressed STYX mini-series. In hopes that you’ll find it in your heart to support making this stop in his journey a possibility, I thank you all in advance no matter what you choose. Whether he's able to participate in one or both academies, tour Italy, or perform alongside notable chamber musicians or not; I know STYX will continue to beat at the sound of his own drum and that's a melody, I hope he’ll always follow.