HemiKids are those afflicted by hemiparesis or hemiplegia. Children with hemiparesis suffer from weakness on one side of their bodies, which makes using limbs, hands, and feet difficult. Children with hemiplegia suffer from immobility on one side of their bodies, which makes moving limbs, hands, and feet nearly, if not entirely, impossible. There are several […]
pediatric stroke
How to Talk to Your Kids About People with Disabilities
[nextpage title=”Page 1″ ] The other day, a friend reached out to me to get advice about how she should approach talking with her children about people with disabilities. As her children were getting older, they were starting to notice subtle differences in people they saw in public, and my friend wanted to make sure […]
When Should I Tell My Son He Has Special Needs?
[nextpage title=”Page 1″ ] Parents of children with special needs have many fears, from concerns that their child’s prognosis isn’t good to worries about being able to fit in all required doctor and therapy visits. But there is one fear that isn’t like the rest — one fear that isn’t easily addressed with scientific knowledge […]
Advice for Parents Beginning the Special Needs Journey
“Your child has _____.” These are words no parent ever wants to hear. It doesn’t matter whether the diagnosis is Autism Spectrum Disorder or cancer; the flood of emotions is intense and raw and sometimes debilitating. I know because I’ve been through it. Every painful, nightmarish step toward acceptance. I’ve been through it all. When […]
I Cry for My Son
I cry for my son. Not always, of course, but enough. I first cried for my son just hours after his birth when he quit breathing, the cause of which was unknown until doctors ran a battery of tests and discovered he had suffered a stroke in utero that was causing seizure-induced apnea. When we […]
Please Don’t Mention God and My Special Needs Child at the Same Time
When I became a parent to a child with special needs, I learned, among other things, that I had been saying the absolute wrongest things to people my entire life. As a self-admitted awkward person, I’m terrible when it comes to extending condolences and comforting people in their times of need. Terrible. And I’ve discovered […]
Confession: I Can’t Help But Compare My Son to Other Kids With His Disability
This is a weird post to write. I know some who read this will think I’m crazy or unstable or selfish or insensitive (all accusations I’ve received in comments on posts about motherhood or special needs parenting before, believe it or not). Despite this, I know there are others who will be able to relate. […]