My child is disabled. She’s only two years old, and she’s severely disabled. I can’t express into words how hard it is to say that sentence. When we had Madison’s first MRI done post meningitis and saw the damage that awful disease did to her brain, we knew then and there she would never live a normal life. It’s some of the worst news you can receive as a parent. The brand new baby you had prayed for your whole life; the baby that passed every test in the book during pregnancy; the baby that was born healthy; is...
Equipped for Development!
Finally, after months of me bugging all of Madison’s therapists about the subject, we officially got the process started in getting her some very much needed adaptive equipment! Madison has very low tone, and still can’t completely hold her head up on her own. She can’t sit, let alone stand, yet being in these positions is crucial to her bone and muscle development. So what do we do? We get her equipment that will provide her body the support it needs to sit and stand correctly! Last month we had an appointment with a physiatrist, which is a doctor...
Engaging a Special Needs Child
Buying toys for most kids is easy and fun. What are they interested in? How old are they? What milestones have they met or are they close to meeting in which a particular toy might engage them further? While all valid questions, most of these don’t matter for Madison. Because she is so globally delayed, and her brain functions far differently, when it comes to buying toys for her, we need to be strategic. Each toy is an opportunity for therapy, a chance to build new neuron connections, and to ultimately help her reach her fullest potential. She doesn’t...