Daniel, My Brother
9 May 2006

I'm going to tell you a story...a true story.

When I was seven years old my mother was expecting a baby. I already had a sister and I had my heart set on a brother. In those days there was no such thing as sonograms. People had to wait until the baby was born to find out if it was a boy or girl.
I remember laying next to my mother in the bed looking at her big belly...and praying to God for a little brother. But that wasn't all I wanted. I wanted his name to be Daniel too!
My mother would read the Bible story about Daniel in the lions den and it was my favorite all time story. I would have her read it to me over and over.
So I prayed as I lay there next to her and asked God for a baby brother...named Daniel.
Of course I told my mother of this prayer and that may have had something to do with him being named Daniel. But he was a boy! and his name is Daniel.
My brother's life wasn't always easy. His/our father wasn't there for the most part and when he was there he was causing drama in our lives.
Daniel's hands were severely burned when he was barely one. He was in Parkland Hospital in Dallas for nearly three months. The doctor's didn't expect him to be able to ever use his hands again. But he did. They are scarred but they are strong. God brought him through.
Daniel always loved animals...turtles, frogs, snakes, dogs, horses, you name it and he loved them. He could teach dogs and even horses to do tricks in no time at all. He was a rambunctious boy who got into mischief quite often. But he was a loving boy who always loved his family.
When he got a little older, he made some wrong choices. He married too young and fathered children too young. He loved his children with all of his heart. However, he was too young and didn't have the wisdom or experience it takes to handle being married and to be a father.
He eventually fell into the world of drugs and alcohol. At 18 he was convicted of stealing a VCR. He had the choice of spending 6 months in a drug rehab facility or going to the penitentiary. He went for the drug rehab but wasn't able to stay there because he has a condition called sleep apnea and he also sleep-walks. It is something that he has suffered with since he was 9 or 10 years old. So Daniel was transferred to the state penitentiary at 18 years old for the crime of stealing a VCR.
His life spiraled out of control and he ended up battling a drug habit as well as a prison record.
Now you may be wondering why I'm referring to Daniel in the past tense because he is still alive.
You see Daniel is now on Texas Death Row. A beautiful, bright and loving son, brother, father and uncle is sitting in a cell that is smaller than most of our bathrooms. And if a miracle of some sort doesn't happen, he will die there.
Now I'm not making excuses for my brother. He has made some really bad choices and he is paying for them. What bothers me is the fact that had he been the son of a rich man, he wouldn't be where he is. He probably wouldn't even be locked up. His trial was a joke orchestrated by people who couldn't care less about the truth or sending an innocent man to death row. I realize that only God truly knows the truth about his case but, I truly believe with all my heart that Daniel isn't guilty of murder. And I truly believe that the American Justice System is a farce. I no longer have faith in the Judicial System but, I do have faith in God.
When Daniel was convicted I told him (through a glass window), that they may take his body but they can never take his soul.
I have trouble with the fact that my brother's life seems to be a wasted one. Especially knowing that he was the answer to my prayers as a little girl.
How can someone go from being the answer to a prayer to living on death row and then dying? Was my prayer in vain? The Bible says 'in all things, give thanks'. Am I supposed to be thankful that my brother is wasting away in a cell?
It is hard for me to write these things and it is a painful subject. I believe and know that God has a Divine plan...I can only hope and pray that my brother knows this also...Please pray for my brother Daniel.

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I wrote this blog a good while back on another site that I have...When I originally wrote it, I didn't feel that I wanted to post it because it is a very private issue with me and I don't always share some of my more private thoughts. The other site consists of people that I know personally and they all know me as well as my brother. However after some thought..I decided to share with you guys.
In a college speech class that I once took...my classmates and I had to give speeches on different subjects. One of the subjects was Death Row. At the time that I wrote my speech, my brother was not on death row. I gave a speech supporting Death Row and I would still give that same speech now. I do believe in the death penalty. I do however believe that it should not be passed out so casually. There are no rich men on Death Row. I learned that the justice system is for people with money to pay for decent lawyers.
My brother's case in in appeals and the lawyer that he was assigned has been banned from ever representing anyone on Death Row again. I hope and pray that by some miracle Daniel will get the representation that he deserves now...Here are a few sites to go to in regards to Daniel.
Shoddy Legal Work Matter Of Life, Death
Who Is On Death Row
Convict's Odds Today May Rest On Gibberish