Life hasn't been easy for Howard Thomas, 31, of San Pedro, Calif., but that doesn't mean it hasn't had its share of rewards.

Thomas has had to deal with a lifelong battle with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a severe form of the inherited muscle-wasting disorder. He maintains his mobility by using a power wheelchair controlled by a mouth device. In his 20s, he became dependent upon a ventilator and a feeding tube, and he also developed serious heart problems.

Supermodel Kathy Ireland, friend and supporter of Howard Thomas' San Pedro fund-raiser, visits with Thomas in his home in 1996.

He's been in and out of the hospital more times than he can remember, combating a wide variety of ailments and complications related to his DMD ranging from pneumonia to depression to stroke, conditions sometimes made worse by drugs that didn't work as intended.

There were times, Thomas has said, when he felt he simply didn't want to go on.

Fortunately, he did. Now he's the primary mover behind the Howard Thomas San Pedro Sampler to benefit MDA, a gourmet wine and food tasting affair which drew about 1,000 patrons and raised about $40,000 during its latest incarnation on Oct. 26.

The event has allowed Thomas to hobnob with the likes of supermodel Kathy Ireland, MDA National Vice President Casey Kasem and members of the Women's Pro Volleyball Association. It's also given a whole new purpose and meaning to his life.

A HARD ROAD

Thomas was born in Santa Monica, Calif., in 1966 and received a diagnosis of DMD when he was 5. One day in fifth grade, he sat down and couldn't get up. "That was the last day I walked," he recalls. He started using a manual wheelchair and later graduated to a power one.

He was mainstreamed to Narbonne High School in Harbor City and served as student body vice president in his senior year. In school, he cultivated an interest in political science and went on to study at L.A. Harbor College.

"I got my associate of arts degree there," Thomas says. "I was asked to be one of the keynote speakers at the graduation, so I made a speech about Bob Sampson."

Sampson, a former United Airlines executive, appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon for many years, recalling his successful lifelong struggle to overcome obstacles such as negative attitudes toward his muscular dystrophy. "He was a role model for me," Thomas says. "I got fighting spirit from listening to his talks on the Telethon."

Thomas pursued further study at California State University at Dominguez Hills, but eventually the severity of his condition curtailed his academic pursuits.

"I got pneumonia, stopped breathing and was taken to the hospital," he recalls. Thus began the traumatic period during which Thomas underwent a number of invasive procedures, including the tracheostomy that led to his full-time reliance on a ventilator and the insertion of a feeding tube.

A NEW PATH

In 1993, when Thomas saw customers in a local restaurant purchasing Shamrocks to benefit MDA, he called the local MDA office in Long Beach, Calif., to find out more about the program. "I asked if I could help convince places to participate in Shamrocks. I ended up getting four other places to start selling them."

Bigger things lay ahead. "In March of 1993, MDA had a wine-tasting event in Long Beach, and they invited me. Afterwards, I started talking with my brother and a friend, saying why can't we do something like this in San Pedro?"

Thomas' first event took place in October of that year, drew about 500 people and raised some $13,000. Patrons enjoyed the goods of local restaurants and wineries and participated in silent and live auctions.

FRIENDS AND FINE FOOD

Since that initial outing, the event has grown in attendance and funds raised every year. After the 1996 event, Thomas contacted Kathy Ireland and asked her to get involved. She decided she wanted to meet him in person, and spent hours talking to him in his home.

"She's very beautiful," says Thomas. "She's also a very sweet-hearted person."

Ireland hoped to make a speech about Thomas at the 1997 event, but filming commitments made it impossible for her to attend. She still served as a major sponsor, though, donating funds as well as exercise equipment to be auctioned off.

Another supporter and admirer of Thomas, volleyball superstar Holly McPeak, makes her friend feel welcome at a WPVA tournament.

Broadcasting legend Casey Kasem -- who has praised Thomas for his "indomitable courage and determination" -- was on hand as a featured guest, as was Holly McPeak, star player of the Women's Pro Volleyball Association. WPVA players have been so inspired by Thomas that they agreed to serve as a key sponsor of his event and have made him an honored guest at their tournaments.

"I've gotten to know a lot of people through this event and that makes me very happy," Thomas says.

He's currently working on a book to help others anticipate the problems of living with muscular dystrophy. Due to the disease progression, he's not sure how large a role he'll be able to play in next year's event.

But a loyal cadre of friends, family and volunteers have been permanently touched by Thomas and his faith that life can be a wonderful thing with or without muscular dystrophy. They'll do their best to see that the 1998 Howard Thomas San Pedro Sampler is the biggest, most successful and most delectable of all.

Howard Thomas died at home on March 4, 1998, only weeks after this article was published. All of us at MDA mourn the passing of this remarkable young man.

Howard, who had many friends, made two new and very special friends in the days immediately preceding his death. Both MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis and longtime MDA spokesperson Bob Sampson called Howard at his home and had lengthy conversations with him, partly as a result of this story in Quest.

For Howard, being able to speak with his two lifelong heroes was a reward that added special meaning and fulfillment to the last days of his life.