Terrell Starks had another rough night on Saturday, and his mother Valicia said the breaks in his breathing were happening more often on Sunday.
I reached Valicia by phone, and she was just lying down for a little sleep Sunday afternoon. She and her husband Carl have gotten very little sleep in recent days as sickle cell disease takes its final toll on their son.
I witnessed the breathing problems earlier this week. Terrell would take shallow, quick breaths, then stop breathing for many seconds before catching his breath again. Valicia said she once counted almost a minute without a breath.
Terrell sleeps often, but sleep does not bring peace. His organs are shutting down, and his oversized heart beats so fast it shakes his whole body. He's also experiencing frequent spasms that cause his body to jerk as he sleeps.
Several family members and friends have been stopping by the Starks' Shively home in recent days to bring food and prayers and lend support through this most difficult of times.
When I saw Terrell on Saturday, he seemed happy to be surrounded by so much love.
It reminded me that love can transcend even the worst pain.
Laura Ungar has been the Courier-Journal's medical writer since 2004. Major projects have examined Kentucky's poor health, black lung disease, cervical cancer in India and the health insurance crisis among America's middle class. You can follow her series on 
Sam Upshaw, 46, of Louisville, has been a photographer with The Courier-Journal for 22 years. In addition to covering the community on a daily basis, he has visually documented Muhammad Ali, Kentucky's poor health, the University of Louisville's win at the Orange Bowl in Miami and Hurricane Ivan in Florida. Spending time with Terrell, he is inspired by the young man's strength and wisdom, which helps put life's little inconveniences in perspective.
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