Thursday, January 31, 2013
Our miracle
Here goes my attempt to document our story...
"Wow, she's busy!" -or- "She's tiny for her age!" -or- "How'd she get that knot on her head?" These seemingly innocent comments remind me daily that my almost 2 year old daughter, Ashton, is different. Not that I need reminders... The constant doctors appointments and daily therapies do that just fine. Not to mention, the behavior - hair pulling, head banging, tantrums, sleepless nights, inability to be still...ever.
Our life has changed. We are still getting used to the new normal. Sometimes I cry. Mostly though, I laugh. She is so funny! She crinkles her nose and says, "no" (for nose). It is so cute! In the quietest of moments or places she screams out, "baaaaaa!" at the top of her lungs and laughs. People look at us, but we don't mind. It's pretty funny! She constantly does things to impress and surprise us! She has come so far! She loves her big brother and sister!
Lance and I are different parents because of her. Caleb and Kinley are different too. They take a lot from her and define unconditional love. I've seen kinley get hit in the face and her hair pulled out, without getting angry or retaliating. She knows Ashton doesn't mean to hurt her. How many 3 year olds can be that intuitive? She is wise beyond her years and Ashton's best friend and best therapist. Caleb could give you the definition of Turner Syndrome an tell you what DNA is and how many chromosomes Ashton has. He's 7. We are a different kind of house. We are learning to see the big picture. We believe in God and in miracles in our house. We are happy! Really happy!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I wished my parents had this sort of attitude towards my condition. I also wished my brothers knew everything about my condition as well. I'm happy and relieved knowing Ashton has such support. It gets kinda lonely when no one in your family understands what you have to face physically or socially. I did not learn the name of my condition til 1985 when the movie, "Mask" starring Cher came out. This movie was based on the life of Rocky Dennis who had passed away at 14 a couple of years prior to the movie. While in graduate school, I started an extensive research of my condition, getting a copy of my original diagnoses and as many of the operative notes I could get. (many of them were on microfiche or the medical offices didn't know where they were.) Not until this research did I understand my condition. I've been very blessed to have been chosen to travel such a daunting path, for I have met many many wonderful people across the US and other countries whom I consider my "families". I wouldn't change a thing. In 2001, I started advocating for craniofacial families on a federal and state level. In 2006, I started the annual Wendelyn's Course of Dreams to heighten awareness of the "ins" and "outs" of living with a facial difference. My hope is that my efforts will make this world a better place for those coming up behind me, teaching society to accept people for WHO they are NOT how they look.
ReplyDelete