best friends.

Forward from Tessa: As many of you know, I refer to Jamie Chapuran as the true love of Kevin's life. He is not just his best friend, but his brother in every way. Since Kevin's diagnosis, Jamie has been here six times (from London). I have watched him grow from the funniest guy I know to the kindest, most loving father, husband, and friend. You are the general in our army, James. We love you - 

Jamie

For those of you who have been following Kevin’s story, you will know that he and Tessa have been working with the amazing people at ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) seeking to find a cure for ALS. 

“A Love Story,” was the theme of an epic charity gala Kevin and Tessa organized last April to raise money for this cause. The gala raised over $700,000 and was the largest fundraiser in ALS-TDI history. Nearly one year later, I am honored to be asked by Kevin’s incredible wife Tessa, to share a different kind of story. One of two young kids who became best friends, getting into all kinds of mischief playing pranks on each other, and who have continued to make each other laugh as married men in their 40’s. More importantly, this is a reminder to people, we need to keep throwing punches at ALS.

That Irish boy with such a nice laugh

I first met Kevin Geraghty when we were 5 years old on the playground at St Joe’s grade school in West St. Paul, MN. You could see his competitive nature and sense of humor right away; he was a fighter in sports or whenever he had a setback, but mostly he loved to laugh. I remember my grandma referring to Kevin as “that Irish boy with such a nice laugh.” By the time we were in 5th grade, we were best friends, and from then on, more like brothers. We loved competing against each other, and both hated losing. Our lives back then were carefree, and God only knows the amount of mischief we got into… We were the luckiest kids in the world. 

By the time we were in 8th grade, we were already thinking about how much fun high school was going to be. Although Kevin and I initially started high school at different schools, as fate would have it, we were reunited our sophomore year at St Thomas Academy, where once again we would become inseparable. These were truly some of the best years of our friendship. We loved playing catch together and imitating our favorite football players in my parents’ backyard, but most of all, we enjoyed each other’s sense of humor.

Civ Dog

 I will never forget the time Kevin picked me up before school and the engine of his old Honda Civic started on fire; sadly, that was the end of the “Civ Dog,” and since we couldn’t find alternative transportation, we took advantage of a day off from school while our parents were at work…

When high school finished, Kevin and I once again went our separate ways, but as fate would have it, (there’s a theme here) we would be reunited our sophomore year at The University of St. Thomas where we became roommates. Fed up with the freezing cold Minnesota winters (and Kevin’s snoring), I decided to spend the next semester studying abroad on the Gold Coast in Australia. Kevin and I would speak regularly while I was there and I managed to convince him to join me for his next semester as I extended my stay (reunited again). 

We traveled all over Australia and New Zealand and loved reliving our high school days playing catch on the beach, but most of all, we enjoyed each other’s sense of humor and the fond memories we shared. 

After graduation, Kevin moved to Kansas City with his job, but we kept in close contact and I was able to fly to visit him regularly given my job at the time. He clearly missed me so before long, we were once again reunited and ended up living just a few blocks from each other in St Louis Park. It was great living so close to each other and enjoying “a quick 9” holes of golf followed by a happy hour at our favorite local establishments. Around this time, I remember going to Kevin’s parents’ cabin in NW Wisconsin. This was when “the Storm of the Century” hit, and Kevin and I had to survive on a heavy diet of alcoholic drinks and fried chicken, while enduring days without power. I still have the scar on my shin from Mike Geraghty’s dodgy makeshift bridge on their dock to mark the event. Thus, the “Jamie Chapuran Memorial Bridge” was born.

When Kevin met Tessa

Around this time in St Louis Park, Kevin met Tessa. Not long after, I made the decision to move to Sydney, Australia for my career. Despite the difficult decision to leave, Tessa still claims to this day that if I had not left for Australia, Kevin and she might not have been married!

Throughout our lives, Kevin and I have not always lived close to each other and even lived on opposite ends of the world, but we still act exactly the same as we’ve always done when back together. We tell the same stories and inside jokes that our wives just don’t ever get, but have heard us tell so many times, and they still laugh because they know it makes us laugh. This is our common bond, laughter.

A different kind of ‘love story’

When the news broke that Kevin had been diagnosed with ALS, I went numb. I knew ALS was a terrible disease with no cure. I just wanted to be at my best friend’s side and support him and Tessa in any way I could. Living in London with my wife Sarah and daughter Emma, I couldn’t just drive over to Kevin and Tessa’s house to be with them. I booked a flight to see Kevin, just to sit with him, tell old stories, and make him laugh. I try to go back and see Kevin every few months to do the same thing. What impresses me the most about Kevin is how despite all he faces each day, he hasn’t lost his sense of humor. Kevin told me early on in his diagnosis that laughter was the best medicine for him. Well friend, it works both ways. 

So, there you have it, a different kind of ‘love story’ one of two best friends making each other laugh as often as we can. 

Keep throwing punches Kev, I love you.

Your best friend,
Jamie Chapuran