My daughter arrived in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the middle of the night on the eve of Thanksgiving. A tough respiratory virus attacked her lungs, and she needed a substantial amount of oxygen support. And now, this unexpected illness meant Thanksgiving was going to be completely different than we had all planned.
Challenges, Hope, Scripture, Special Needs Parenting
Are you scrounging for thankfulness this holiday season? Holidays can be a challenge for those walking through hard days. Perhaps you feel like you've been handed the short-end of the stick; your child is struggling, you’re exhausted and it seems like everybody else has life with a bit more gravy. It’s easy to focus on our circumstances, take stock of what we have and where we are and end up feeling completely void of thankfulness. Is there a cure for this?
Autism, Caregiving, Challenges, Hope, Special Needs Parenting, Spiritual Growth
I first suspected I had ADHD as a teenager, but finding the right professional to take me seriously was much harder than I expected. Previous attempts only ended in frustration and tears.
Enjoying the holidays with a food allergy sounds like an oxymoron doesn’t it? After all, eating together is an integral component of the holiday season. I looked forward to making our traditional holiday foods until I was diagnosed with a dairy allergy in 2012. What was to enjoy about the holidays when the foods associated with it were off limits to me?
Caregiving, Challenges, Grief, Hope, Special Needs Parenting
It was a short, ten-minute drive from the hotel to the residential facility. I maintained composure while I navigated the busy public roads, and then residential streets. I had a whole range of emotions racing through my body, mind and spirit as we pulled into the campus. This was not just a pleasure drive or a routine errand, this was a significant milestone in the life of my son and our family.
A spirit of adventure has helped us care for Joey, and sustain us these past 40 years, and hopefully into future years. We chose to make the journey an adventure something like this, both from and to these five things.
Guest blogger Tony D’Orazio tells a story about his son Jake, who has Down Syndrome, and why it is important for parents to have expectations, even for their children with disabilities.
I’m doing a bad job, or so I’ve been told. I don’t always juggle my responsibilities well. But as I come to the halfway point in our summer vacation, I want to remember to enjoy this time, and silence my harshest critic.
John Felageller recounts his recent experience with one of the biggest challenges facing families of disability: the ability to find and become part of a welcoming church community.
Shame didn’t have the final say in Peter’s life and it doesn’t in our lives either. You are more than the mistakes you’ve made or the weaknesses you feel. His love meets you where you are and gently reminds you of your identity in Him.