Jackson Free Press

Otis Williams was one of 15 applicants out of 550 national and international nominees to receive the 2012 Shire Brave Award and the only one in Mississippi. The only initiative of its kind, The Brave Award is designated to celebrate the commitment of non-professional caregivers who provide consistent and dedicated care for others.

Williams' wife, Michelle, nominated him.

"God sent this man to me," Michelle Williams said. Nine years ago, she was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie Tooth disease, a rare form of muscular dystrophy that afflicts her and two of the couple's three children.

CMT affects the extremities of the body. At first, Michelle was falling all the time.

"Sometimes I would have to look at my feet to see if I was wearing shoes," she says. "I just thought I was clumsy."

In time, just holding utensils became challenging. Her feet and toes were losing their shape and sensory loss started setting in. Michelle now wears braces on both legs and feet after breaking her ankles several times. She gets around with a cane, and constant pain is never far away.

"When she hurts, it hurts me," Otis Williams said.

He says he feels "burned out and tired" frequently, and it's no wonder. Otis not only takes care of his family, he juggles support groups and fundraisers to raise CMT awareness in addition to working the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at Methodist Rehabilitation Hospital.

Unconditional love, he says, "is like a cake. If you leave something out it won't raise. Every ingredient counts for it to be good."

Everyone in the Williams family plays a part. As he tells his kids, "What you do affects everyone."

Two of the Williams' children, their 14-year-old son, Jerion, and daughter, Jocelyn, 10, have inherited CMT. Gabriel, 8, whose birthday is next week, has not. Jerion is coming to terms with the disease, but sometimes he does not understand his limitations. He looks like a normal kid, Michelle says, but his muscles aren't growing like a teenage boy's should. She brags that he would be a good ambassador for the illness.

MDA Summer Camps are a big part of the Jerion and Jocelyn's summer. Each year they join kids with similar diagnoses at camp, where they share stories and see others growing up.

Otis and Michelle Williams say they feel blessed every day.

"No time to sit around" Otis said. "I may not have $100 in my pocket, but I am so rich to have God on your side. (Michelle) is my backbone and I am hers." To nominate a deserving caregiver, visit www.shirebraveawards.com. Ten of the honored recipients of a Shire Brave Award receive $10,000 for their family, and five Distinguished Honorees receives $2,500.