March 8, 2005
By Josh Grossberg
Daily Breeze
©2005 Copley Press, Inc

The voice on the answering machine was cold and metallic -- an electronic facsimile of human speech. His body racked with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, David Davis can no longer speak, so he slowly typed the words into a device that did the talking for him.

"I would like to say hi," it droned. "I'm proud of you. Thank you."

The message was for his grandson, 7-year-old Robert Davis, who smiled when he listened to the message in his Manhattan Beach home. It was nice to know that his grandfather -- Papa D, as he's called -- is proud of him.

When he learned that his grandfather was afflicted with the disease, Robert decided to do something about it. A huge baseball fan, he came up with the idea of raising money by hosting a baseball clinic for his friends in Little League. He thought he'd invite 30 people, charge them $3 each and raise $90. He's not sure how he came up with that amount.

"It just came from the back of my head to the front of my mouth," he said. "All I did was get kids and information. I said to my mom I want to do a clinic."

He wound up getting 40 children to attend. They spent last Sunday learning from baseball experts, and Robert raised $2,000 in donations.

Robert's parents have been up front with him, and he knows his grandfather probably won't be around much longer.

"It makes me sad," he said.

But he also knows the money he raised could help find a cure for the disease known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, which eats away at nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. David Davis, 68, was diagnosed late last year and he's now confined to a wheelchair and can barely breathe on his own. But his mind remains alert even as his body is wasting away.

"It's hard to get across how devastating it is," said Robert's mother, Jane Davis. "I've seen people die before, but this is indescribable. You're given a front-row seat to your own death. But I didn't want my children to be afraid. He's still the same man and he still cares about them deeply."

Davis is close with Robert and his 4-year-old sister, Lauren.

The money Robert raised will go to the ALS Association, Greater Los Angeles Chapter. The organization relies on people like Robert, said Jeff Snyder, a spokesman from the national office.

"ALS is truly a disease that impacts the entire family and we know of many families that have young children who really rise to the occasion," he said. "As devastating as it is, ALS often brings out the finest in people."

Robert's efforts came as no surprise to his mother.

"He's always been amazingly compassionate," Jane Davis said. "In kindergarten, he did a drive for the homeless. It's his way of coping with something difficult."

It didn't come as much of a surprise to Robert's grandfather, either. After relaying his computerized message, he decided he needed to add something more personal. So, with a trembling hand, David Davis brought the telephone to his mouth and in a barely audible, barely understandable voice he forced the words out of his mouth.

"I love you," he said before hanging up.