ROSEBORO — For most, going out to restaurants, walking in the park, or taking a shopping trip is something that can easily be taken granted, but for the Stewart family, even the simplest venture takes a mountain of work just to make it happen. But with the love and support of family, friends and the Lord, they have managed to survive.

The parents in the family, Glenn and Carolyn, have their hands full as they take care of their two grown sons, Dwight and Preston, who both suffer from severe and debilitating diseases.

Dwight, 20, has actually been quite successful for several years, even though he suffers from X-linked agammaglobulinemia, also known as Bruton Syndrome, which, according to Glenn, leaves him deplete of B cells and with a weaker immune system. The older he gets, his parents said, the more his body has started to decline, leaving him prone to infections.

But, life wasn’t as burdensome as it is now for the young man.

“He actually made it all the way to ninth-grade at Lakewood High School, and he even got a job at the Piggly Wiggly in Roseboro,” said Glenn of his younger son, who even had a driver’s license for a short period of time.

“It has expired now,” said Dwight, who struggles to even speak now.

But, Dwight’s struggles have not hampered his abilities to find peace and happiness in the world. On any day, one can find him in front of the television watching a James Bond movie, Batman or watching his favorite team, the Boston Red Sox and his favorite player David Ortiz.

Dwight is not the only son who is fighting a life-threatening and debilitating disease.His older brother, Preston, 26, has been fighting the effects of Reyes Syndrome, a disease that harms all of the organs of his body, and has left him with severe brain damage and confined to a wheelchair. In fact, when Preston was a baby, a social worker told them to put their son in an institution, since he would, they said, be a burdem.

“They told us to just to try and forget him, but I just couldn’t do that to my own flesh and blood,” said Glenn.

And despite all of Preston’s challenges, Glenn stated, “He is pretty laid back; he is pretty satisfied with everything.”

And now that the Stewarts continue to keep their adult sons healthy and safe, Glenn and Carolyn also face some significant debts that come from mounting medical bills brought on by constant hospital visits and medication.

But through it all, they have depended on God to help them through.

“He is the one who deserves all the credit for helping us make it,” Glenn commented.

Glenn’s niece, Angela Walton, has taken it upon herself to provide some necessary financial assistance for the family she loves so much. That is why she has decided to put together a barbecue and gospel sing fund-raising to help make the Stewart’s life just a little easier.

The event, which will take place at Roseboro’s PFWB Church Family Life Center, will be held Saturday, Oct. 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The barbecue dinners, which will consist of pork barbecue and all the fixins,’ can be taken out, if anyone chooses to do so.

And Walton has a goal set that will directly help the Stewarts.

“I would love to have all of their medical bills paid, and to purchase a van with a lift,” said Walton.

For those who would like more information about the Stewart family and wish to contribute to their fund-raising may contact Walton at 337-3429.

Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@myclintonnc.com.