A Journey from Darkness into Light
Some days, you wake up to cloudy skies and a whole bunch of hours ahead and you still wonder, 5 years in, “Do I have it in me to do this again today?” Of course you do. You have to. Some days, you drag your exhausted body out of bed and dig deep into the... Continue Reading →
To everyone who suddenly feels like the world is one giant infectious monster, to those holding their breath as they pass oncoming humans on the sidewalk, to the people cancelling plane tickets, locking themselves indoors and clutching the Lysol wipes as if they were the only hope, welcome to our daily life… the tribulations of... Continue Reading →
Being the little brother of a special needs sibling has it's perks and some downsides too. On one hand, there's tons of super cool equipment to climb on, swings bolted to the ceiling of the living room, a therapy center that seems to be your own personal playground and PLENTY of trips to the doctors... Continue Reading →
Hospital life is a crazy life. The pace of the people there is fast but the process is slow. The stakes are high. Reactions are quick and things can shift unexpectedly. Ironically, the hospital is the last place you’d want to go if you actually needed rest. There are rounds, vital checks, meds, meals, treatment protocols, social workers, dieticians,... Continue Reading →
Hot showers have always been one of my most favorite things in the whole world. When I’m tired, sick, stressed, worried, sleepy or wound up… a hot shower is always the cure to my ails. I love the calming caress of the water as it falls over my shoulders, melting away the tension and easing my worried... Continue Reading →
Ahhh Napa … I love the long drive leading to this enchanted destination, where smiling faces and warm greetings meet you at the door. It’s a place where the burdens of life melt away and suddenly the day seems full of lightness, hope and absolute possibility. At Napa, positivity flows freely, quenching the thirst of all... Continue Reading →
There are 1000 different situations in which a special needs parent will need to summon superhuman strength. Today was one of those times for me. We agreed to do a special session of Cuevas Medek Exercises (CME) today with the woman who trained many of the Napa therapists. I honestly can’t say enough positive things... Continue Reading →
Sometimes I barely recognize the person I’ve become. I took this photo just before walking in to confront our respite agency about why they aren’t staffing our hours with competent caregivers. Five years ago I never could’ve imagined dressing in this conservative outfit and coolly and confidently walking into an office to deal with an... Continue Reading →
As many children with Cerebral Palsy do, Oliver also has epilepsy. He doesn't have very many seizures but when he does have one, it doesn't stop on its own. Although we have rescue medication that we carry with us at all times, it has never actually worked. So we are left with only the choice to... Continue Reading →
Victory tastes so sweet after a battle hard fought. And oh have I fought. For the last 3 years I’ve done everything in my power to give my son a voice. I’ve made hundreds of phone calls, attended seminars and conventions, pleaded doctors and therapists to help me, hired company reps to come to our home, and... Continue Reading →
I’ve felt this coming for a couple months now… I rely on coffee to bring my body to life every morning and wine to force it to keep going each night, far beyond when it begs me to rest. My diet consists of whatever is closest, easiest and quickest to grab which often means pretty much... Continue Reading →
The newest angel in our life is a respite caregiver named Jasmine. She came for her meet-and-greet last week and we hit it off immediately. By the end of our one-hour visit it felt as if we were old friends. Despite coming from different backgrounds and life experiences, we quickly found common ground and were able... Continue Reading →
Oliver's Odyssey 