Forever Thankful

Major holidays always seem to surprise me. Not in the way of the last minute shopper, but in a way that I know a lot of families can relate to. Every year I think "Wow, we made it through another year and we're OK.".

I'm thankful for every opportunity I get to say that. Every chance I get to prove to my son that even in our worst of situations we can get through it together, as a family, and we will truly be ok.
We are in a much better place than we were two years ago, and every year since that year we have gotten stronger, bonded closer, and I have become a better mother because of the things he has taught me.

This year we spent Thanksgiving with the Salvation Army, handing out meals to the homeless. This is not a new feat for me, but it's a first for little man, and although I know I've raised him well, I was unsure of what he would say or how he would act. He does not have a filter, does not get that he may say things that can hurt other's feelings when to him it is just the plain and obvious truth.
He did more than impress me today, he astounded me. With no hesitation he walked up to people, asking them if they were hungry, and would they like a meal. He interacted with people and made jokes.  Suddenly I no longer saw my baby, but a little boy and the future young man he would be.
He made me proud that I was the one lucky enough to raise him.

This year I am thankful for many things, but I try to be thankful every day. I have a list I've taped months ago to my door to remind me why I should be grateful, why it is important to stay humble and never forget where I have been no matter how far I go. Every day has granted me new opportunities and I speak to more and more people that are leading this company toward an extraordinary path of success.

I don't believe in luck, just fate, so today I am thankful for that. Thankful that I always cross paths with people who have exactly what I need, because I know many people do not get as many opportunities as we have. I can appreciate it, because I know eventually I will be able to give back through larger acts, but for now I am grateful that I can give back in any small ways I can. I am especially thankful for people and family who see me as I am capable of becoming and not just who I am now. Without their confidence and help I know this road would be far less paved. That means so much and for it I owe them the best possible version of myself.

Happy Holidays everyone.

Love,
Danielle

Amanda Rivera: Be grateful for everything.

Reality has hit! After five years of having a son who has Eosinophilic Esophagitis I have realized many things about life. Life is too short to worry about the little things. I am reminded each time we end up in the hospital how precious life really is. This is the time of year to be thankful for life and all that it has to offer. 

We tend to take life for granted sometimes. I know I definitely do! Life is a precious thing, we are lucky to be happy, healthy, food in our bellies, clothes on our backs and a roof over our heads. There are many people in this world that don’t have anything. I tell Tristan that even though he has to go through so much at such a young age he is strong and he should be thankful for what we do have. I know many children that have Eosinophilic Esophagitis and they are strictly tube fed, no safe foods at all. Tristan is lucky and I say that to myself every day. Things could always be worse. I do not want anyone to feel sorry for our family for having a special needs child. This does not and will not define us as a family or even Tristan as a person. 

Tristan has been having more bad days than good, he has been getting upset more often and having more melt downs. I know it is hard for our five year old to understand life and to always be happy. He usually is such a happy child and I miss it. As a special needs parent I try to guide him in the right direction. I want him to live a happy and healthy life and as his mother and his advocate I have to do anything I can. I remind my boys all of the time that we need to be thankful for what we have in life. I want them to know that life is a gift. 

Think about what you are thankful for, not only for this time of year but for the entire year. When times get tough think about everything that you have, your families, friends, food, a place to live, clothes, etc. Realize that there are people without a place to stay warm in the winter, food in their bellies, clothes on their backs, or even their health.

My point of this post this week is to be happy for everything you have and the bad days will not seem that bad anymore.  

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Three's a Crowd: Parenting a Special Needs Child. (Part One)

Surgery.

It’s one of the few words I remember from Alejandro’s first appointment to the orthopedic surgeon. He was only two weeks old when we made the Michigan University Hospital our second home. Alejandro was born with  a severe case of congenital talipes equinovarus, otherwise commonly known as club foot. His right foot seemed to be ok, as far as club foot is concerned, but his left, the leg curved out like the limb of a bow, seemed to worry the surgeon, and we thought he might need corrective surgery on the entire leg. 

Alejandro's first attempt at transitioning to just Dobbs Braces

The surgery didn’t come till years later. Week after week of twisting his feet into cast. His crying sending me into a fit of uncontrollable giggles that resulted in more than one dirty look from nurses or physicians. There were braces, and cast, corrective shoes, custom plastic FABs, special sneakers, physical therapy, and exercises. Once a week we made the long trip out to the hospital, and once a month my entire day was consumed with not only twisting and crying, but MRIs and Ultrasounds that went on longer than necessary, because he was still a baby and did not understand how this scary situation was meant for him. 

When he was four the surgery finally came. By then Alejandro was a pro and wise to his situation. He knew he couldn’t run or play like the other kids without falling or getting tired easily, but he did it anyway. He started walking at nine months and has been unstoppable ever since. I should have known this powerhouse of a kid would take it like a pro, but thinking about him in surgery was too much for me. 

Seeing him go under, and having to carry around the tell-tale emergency hospital cellphone had me chain smoking outside the hospital for the two and half hours it took the surgeons. When they finally took us back to recovery and told me his spinal tap had not taken and he was going to be in a severe amount of pain, my heart hurt. The recovery room was crowded with screaming children fresh from surgery, and I found my little man at the very end of the long room surrounded by a gaggle of cooing nurses. His big blue eyes dampened with tears as one of the nurses rocked him gently. 

Alejandro on the trampoline despite a serious amount of "No's"

When we received a room, another child was already in there fast asleep. His head was shaved and neat stitches zig zagged across like a well loved rag doll. The few days we were there I learned that he had just received brain surgery for his epilepsy. His mother was going through a divorce because the father could not deal with the situation. She ran back and forth between her job and the hospital, enduring little to no sleep, and to top it all off she also had another child. 

That’s when it hit me.

Mother’s, like that woman, were epic beyond all belief. My situation was minor in comparison. Yes, it is a heart wrenching situation to go through medical procedures with a young child, but there is always someone out there that is going through their own private struggle that makes you look like you are crying in the baby pool while they swim out in the ocean. I still could not imagine going through Alejandro’s procedures with multiple children. I felt worn down all the time and my tiny view of the world was focused only on catering to his needs. Surely if there were two children, one might suffer the injustice of the little bit of attention I had left. 

Alejandro is great now. He runs and plays after relearning how to walk. After a ton of physical therapy, you would have never guessed. The image of that mother, however, keeps me humble and appreciative. 

Alejandro age 6

Tomorrow I’d like to dedicate part two to other parents, like that mom, who have children with special needs and are superheros in my minds eye. They do it all with multiple children, and make it look easy even when it isn’t.