Believe me, this columnist can empathize with many of the challenges Tillis has faced. His family, like mine, gave him support when he needed it. Same with me. My parents, friends, and relatives never made a fuss over my stuttering. Tillis says he started stuttering when he was three.
Some people say it was caused by a bout with malaria.
I say it's genetic. His father and brother stutter. Now, at age 67, Tillis has just accepted it. It's still very much part of my life. I have come to think of my stutter as my old friend.