“Welcome. You are now a part of an elite club.” As she spoke these words I gripped the phone in silence, unable to speak, choking back the tears that threatened to erupt. Her voice sounded confident and caring.
She continued, “Your life will be so much more full as a result, not just because of all the therapists, doctors, and specialists coming in and out, but in a different way than you ever thought. It will be full in a very good way, that few experience.” As I listened I heard something else in her voice that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
She had been at this nineteen years now, twice over. Once with her nineteen year old daughter with cerebral palsy, and once with her young son diagnosed with autism.
Content. That is what I heard. Her voice sounded confident, caring, and…content.
I let the tears fall freely. She uttered words I had not expected to hear. Words that washed over me in a flood of relief, encouragement, and sense of community.
I had waited six months after learning of Champion’s diagnosis before I reached out to another mom with a child with special needs. It was an unforgettable welcome, words that are etched not only in my mind, but in my heart.
And now that I am three years into this journey, I can say that yes, indeed this is an elite club. This club of parents who love, cherish, and go to extremes to meet the special needs of their extraordinary children.
This is a club that does not hesitate to reach out to each other, to provide words of comfort, to share in the very high highs and the very low lows. Prayers uttered for each other come from a heart that knows the same pain.
This club is a remarkable one. An emotional one. A comforting one. A strong one. A tough one. A beautiful one. A welcoming one. A club that is full of miracles.
This elite club of mothers and fathers living a different kind of life, a difficult yet full one, has once again come together to reach out to each other, to provide words of comfort, and to share the beauty of this life with each other and the world.
The following video made by Elizabeth from: a moon, worn as if it had been a shell, is a breathtaking depiction of this elite club, this full life.
Please take a moment to share this beautiful video with others.
Love, love, love this. It really puts me in my place. Thanks for sharing this.
It is such a beautiful compilation of some amazing parents that are really a representative of so many families experiences. I am glad it touched you!
What a sweet little dude you have there!!! He is just adorable. His smile makes me smile. I know you have a lot of fun and laughs with him. I hope that you and your husband get time to just be a couple and love on each other too. I imagine that would be hard to come by with a SN child. I pray that you will get to enjoy miracle after miracle with Champion over the years! By the way, found you through MSM blog.
Thank you for the compliments of Champion and encouragement! And yes finding time with Hubby is definitely one of the saltier challenges of having a SN child. We’re still working on figuring that one out 🙂 We really appreciate the prayer also to see miracle after miracle with Champion!
What a sweet boy! His smile makes me smile. May you experience miracle after miracle with Champion through the years!
Hello, my name is Heather. I found you and your son through Money Saving Mom. When my son Kameron, 2 1.2, was born they originally thought he had Miller Dieker Syndrome but after further genetic testing he has Prader Willi Syndrome, http://www.pwsausa.org/?gclid=CIaEvI_1s7ICFQgGnQodxzYAcw. I love this video, than you for sharing this and your sons story. I just wanted to let you know I shared this video on the PWS support group on Face Book. I wish you and your beautiful son all the happiness in the world.
Hi Heather! It is nice to “meet” you. Thank you for sharing about your son and the Prader Willi Syndrome info. I went to the site and learned a lot about it. I am so glad you shared the video with other families also. When I first saw this video I was so touched by it. I am really glad you came by! I wish you and your son happiness also!
Beautifully written post x i love that video and have watched it and cried many times. I am seven years in the club but watching that makes it feel so raw still x thanks for sharing x
It makes me cry everytime too. Raw is such a good way to describe the feelings of when we enter this club. It seems like no matter how much time goes by the memories of the beginning of this journey can still bring such intense emotions.