Police Blotter 
Cause Of Fire Determined

Analysis 
Warring Democratic Duo To Smoke Peace Pipe 
Ray Musto Likely Believes 
Trinisewski Truce Would Be 
Politically Helpful To Brother Joe

By Jerry Kellar; Times Leader Sports Writer
 Wednesday, December 23, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1C QUICK WORDS: LIFE 





(COMMENTARY) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 You keep wondering when all the townspeople will come in to save the day
for John Hirshbeck or Laura Federspiel, two 8-year-olds who today aren't
worried about whether or not their favorite toys will be under the tree on
Christmas morning. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You keep hoping that a guardian angel like Clarence from the holiday
classic movie "It's a Wonderful Life" will be sent here to earth to work some
sort of miracle and return smiles to the faces of two terribly unlucky
children. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But miracles, like the kind that happened to George Bailey are reserved
just for movies. Which is why John and Laura -- two kids who have never met
and will never meet -- are fighting for their lives at this very moment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And they will probably lose. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 John, the son of Major League baseball umpire John Hirshbeck, was diagnosed
earlier this year by a pediatric neurologist as having a type of neurological
disorder after his grades dropped and he became a discipline problem in
school. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It could be treated, the Hirshbecks were told. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But John's behavior grew more bizarre. He became forgetful, and didn't know
the answers to the simplest questions, like his age. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Hirshbecks, who live in Poland, Ohio, took their son for more tests. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Finally, John was diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy, an extremely rare
neurological disease that affects the central nervous system. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 According to statistics, fewer than 80 cases a year are diagnosed in the
United States and Canada. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Doctors told the Hirshbecks that nothing could be done for their oldest
son. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He had, at most, a year to live. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Since then, the Hirshbecks have learned that their three other children --
Michael, 6, Erin, 4, and Meghan, 1, are carriers of the disease. And even
though doctors said the girls probably would never show symptoms, it is
already active in Michael's system. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wonderful life, huh? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 aura Federspiel was diagnosed with leukemia three years ago, the same time
her dad, Jack, took over as vice president of operations and chief financial
officer at The Times Leader. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Life has not, nor will it ever be the same for Jack and Christy Federspiel
and their two sons, who maintain a constant vigil next to Laura's bedside at
Philadelphia Children's Hospital. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Doctors have told the Federspiels that Laura's leukemia is incurable and
that she will die ... very soon. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And Laura knows it, too. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Now, a part of Jack and Christy dies a little bit every day, as well. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Unfortunately, there is no logical explanation for this. No enlightenment,
no redeeming element. No moral. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Just questions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If only this was a movie, then everything would turn out all right in the
end. Then all the John Hirshbecks and Laura Federspiels of the world could get
on with the task of just being kids again. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Laura would get braces. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 John would play baseball. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 They would get new haircuts and buy clothes and cassette tapes. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 They would break some hearts and have their hearts broken. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If only real life was like a movie. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If only Clarence was around now. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jerry Kellar is a Times Leader sports writer. His column appears on
Wednesday.

Life Isn't Always So Wonderful