Some people carry a light within them that's impossible to miss. It isn't loud or showy — it's steady, warm, and contagious.

That's how I felt the first time I learned about James Chalmers.

One of five children, James' parents noticed early on that he was a little different than his siblings. He was born with Cri-du-chat Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects development and communication.

As he grew up, James wrestled with questions many of us ask: Why am I different? Do I matter? What am I supposed to do with my life?

Then one spring day in 1992, everything changed.

Let me explain.