Laura has two children and lives in Avon Lake
What do you do to relax?
Write, read, run and listen to music
What benefits has Connecting for Kids brought to you and your family?
I have only recently interacted with Connecting for Kids for the first time, but the immediate and potential benefits are already tremendous. Caring for a medically complex child has often led to a sense of isolation, and the opportunity to interact with other families and professionals who might understand the needs of a child and family with special needs is immense. It means socialization and learning opportunities and a chance for both my younger medically complex child and older child to interact with others in a supportive and accepting environment.
Which have been your favorite Connecting for Kids resources?
I have only had the opportunity to participate in one event thus far, but the most immediate and profound benefit has been the opportunity to interact one-on-one with people able to understand my son and offer ways to improve upon his own development while also offering ways for my older son and myself to socialize and form valuable connections.
The best thing about parenting a child who struggles…
The absolutely amazing thing about watching a child who has struggled for his very life many times is seeing his precious innocent joy in life. He has survived four open heart surgeries, strokes, and seizures (amongst other medical complications), and he has surmounted so many challenges in his scant few years of life, and yet that brilliant glint of joy in his eyes and happy waving of his arms and loud energetic yell when he accomplishes some very simple but amazing task is breathtaking. In caring for this child, I have learned to appreciate the value in what others might take for granted.
The worst thing about parenting a child who struggles...
The most difficult part in caring for a child with numerous medical challenges who also struggles with developmental and emotional/social delays, including autism, is making the decision on what is necessary. So many surgeries, procedures, therapies and medications mean a constant need to consider what will provide my child with the best quality of life. The best quality might sometimes mean stepping back from aggressively pursuing a certain course of action. As a critical care nurse, I constantly doubt my decisions regarding my son, and judge myself harshly whenever his health declines, regardless of the cause.
The hardest thing for me to learn was...
The hardest thing for me to learn in caring for my younger son was to let go. His numerous medical challenges have necessitated many surgeries and hospitalizations, and his care has, from the beginning, been termed palliative. I had to learn to value every single moment because there was no guarantee for how many moments we might have together.
Do you have any recommended resources?
Mended Little Hearts
A Kid Again
Is there anything else about your journey that you would like to share?
The journey to this point in time has been, and will continue to be, challenging. I look forward to the ability to interact with others who might understand some of these challenges.
