I love my job. I really do. But, even I'll admit, there are some stories I simply don't like to cover. Too often, the topics are sad, disgusting, hateful, you name it. A girl can get sick of that stuff pretty quick.
So, when a happy, inspirational, powerful character comes my way, I jump at the chance to tell his or her story. That happened last Monday in Montevideo when we met Marcus Jerve. He helped me remember why I love this job.
I first heard about Marcus through John Lauritsen, a 1996 Montevideo HS grad. John's mom got an email from school board member Betty Christensen. Betty's son was up for Homecoming King. So was Marcus. And Betty was pretty sure (sorry Mitch!) that Marcus was going to win.
Lucky for me, Lauritsen wasn't working the night of the coronation. I was. So, photojournalist Kris Berg and I took the two-and-a-half hour trip out to Monte. We caught Marcus on the tail end of school and knew right away he was something special. He hugged me, then hugged Kris before hugging pretty much every single person we passed in the hallway.
Marcus was born 18 years ago with his umbilical cord tied so tightly around his neck, he couldn't breathe. He had to be resuscitated by the doctor, but some brain damage was already done.
Marcus' mom said the kids have been great to Marcus his whole life. That was quite evident as we followed him from school to bowling to home before heading to the evening homecoming coronation. Everywhere we went, everyone knew who he was. Everyone said hi. That didn't surprise his dad who told us Marcus knows more people than him and wife combined. They are both life-long Monte residents.
These types of stories don't happen all that often. I think most of you would agree high school can be pretty tough. So, when a group of kids does what they did at Montevideo High, I hope to do their story justice. You can probably figure out who won the crown, but I encourage you to see it for yourself tonight at 10.
The folks who live in Montevideo were so grateful we came out. The Jerve family was too. Everyone thanked us over and over and over. Funny thing is, it should really be the other way around. Thank you Jerve family. And thank you Montevideo for giving us a kid like Marcus.
To read and see the story, click here.
