A Journey from Darkness into Light
Yesterday, Oliver hit me so hard that he gave me a fat lip and a bruise. This certainly isn't the first time his flailing limbs have come into contact with my face but it was so hard this time that it made me cry… partially due to the pain, but mostly because it was one... Continue Reading →
For the first five years of Oliver life, we were able to find work a rounds for many of his physical limitations, essentially sweeping under the rug the level of his disability. When we wanted to hike, we threw him in a baby backpack. When we wanted to travel, we changed him on the baby... Continue Reading →
******Trigger Warning: Traumatic Birth******* As she pulled my son from my body, the sound of silence was deafening. That iconic wail of a baby’s first cry was absent from our birth story. Instead, she laid a beautiful, blue-tinged little babe upon my chest and began to rub his limp body vigorously. It was in this moment that our... Continue Reading →
It would probably be much easier to write about the few things that Oliver has not taught me in our time together because the list of his lessons shared, could go on forever. Without speaking a word, Oliver has imparted more wisdom to me than any other person on earth. I consider him to be my greatest teacher. But... Continue Reading →
The overarching theme throughout this period of my life, seems to be one of wading through the darkness until I find the light. This quest, this lesson that I have yet to fully learn, seems to appear in new and challenging ways, nearly each and every day. Today I had a hearing to determine whether... Continue Reading →
*** I have been cautioned by some about sharing the truth of my experience right now due to the level of darkness it involves which, of course, is reflected in my writing. While I respect that advice and do want this space to be one of hope and encouragement, I cannot in good conscience, omit significant... Continue Reading →
I like to write posts with silver linings, as much positivity as I can muster and also messages of hope. But I’m a little short on all of those things right now so instead, I give you my raw and unfiltered experience, in hopes that anyone else struggling might find solace in the knowing that... Continue Reading →
For me, the strangest part of having a non-verbal child, is not really knowing who they are and what they think. Sure, on many levels, I do know Oliver. But as his little brother Nicco grows up before my eyes and I hear the speech that flows from him so naturally, it reawakens the burning questions slumbering in... Continue Reading →
It has been said that the grieving process is like peeling an onion. As each layer falls away, it gives the gift of deeper understanding and also reveals the next level of processing. The stages don’t go smoothly from 1-5… denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then acceptance. They are interwoven and revisit you many times even after... Continue Reading →
Oliver's Odyssey 