Reflections

2011 brought another great year for this amazing little boy. After much hard work and repeated tries, he finally received his very own hart walker. Something that I had learned about from his fabulous OT a few years ago which additionally brought Jace into the intensive therapy program. His amazing feeding team helped pave the path to help Jace qualify for his own Ipad which is leading to more therapy opportunities as we will start 2012 by adding private speech and additional OT into his schedule. I am ecstatic for this amazing child to finally have an opportunity to communicate! A blended diet is still in the works but knowing that this just is not an overnight transition and will take some time to adjust, so for now, it is a plan to look forward to in the coming year. One of the greatest transitions was watching Jace enter Kindergarten, he has an awesome new team and the most incredible teacher. Every school day, he is excited, even on the days he is tired, as soon as he knows he is going to school, the most incredible smile spreads on his face. He is surrounded in an environment that seems to have been made especially for him, it is perfect. We have started the work towards getting Jace a new wheel chair, and are working towards his first tricycle. As Jace has taught me right from the start, impossible really means "I am possible"...and so when I reflect on the things I never imagined him doing so many years ago, I now know that he will have the same opportunities with the right equipment. We will be ringing in the new year together this year and maybe he will even do a little dance in his hart walker...you just never know with this kiddo!

I am the Child

I Am The Child
I am the child who cannot talk. You often pity me; I see it in your eyes. You wonder how much I am aware of — I see that as well. I am aware  — whether you are happy or sad or fearful, patient or impatient, full of love and desire, or if you are just doing your duty by me.  You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is at times. I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated. I give you instead opportunities to discover the depth of your character, the depth of your love, your commitment, your patience. I am the child who cannot talk.

I am the child who cannot walk. The world seems to pass me by. You see the longing in my eyes to get out of this chair, to run and play like other children. I want the toys on the shelf, I need to go to the bathroom, oh I’ve dropped my fork again. I am dependant on you in these ways. My gift to you is to make you more aware of your great fortune, your healthy back and legs, your ability to do for yourself. Sometimes people appear not to notice me; I always notice them. I give you awareness. I am the child who cannot walk.

I am the child who is mentally impaired. I don’t learn easily, if you judge me by the world’s measuring stick, what I do know is infinite joy in simple things. I am not burdened as you are with the strife’s and conflicts of a more complicated life. My gift to you is to grant you the freedom to enjoy things as a child, to teach you how much your arms around me mean, to give you love. I give you the gift of simplicity. I am the child who is mentally impaired.

I am the disabled child. I am your teacher. If you allow me, I will teach you what is really important in life. I will give you and teach you unconditional love. I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you. I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted. I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams. I teach you giving. Most of all I teach you hope and faith. I am the disabled child.

This Christmas was all about Jace!