‘Can you give me a call?’ There was a 3-week-old who needed a home. He had some medical concerns, but I felt drawn to the situation. I was apprehensive I was the one who pushed Ron into saying yes.”
‘I’m sorry I don’t smell like your mom.’ What the heck were we doing? We had no baby items at home.’: Couple adopts son with special needs, ‘We are finally a family’
‘Thank you, sis, for checking in even when I don’t always check on you back.’: Mom to son with autism says ‘check on your special needs family or friend, they may not know they need it’
“I whined about my stresses over the phone. I cried about how hard life is with a special needs child. I must have sounded so self-absorbed. And then you said, ‘I can’t relate at all, but you’re doing amazing. Don’t feel bad for venting, ever.’ Instantly, my anxiety washed away.”
‘Of course he doesn’t, he’s absolutely fine!’ Everyone laughed it off. My little boy wasn’t going to talk, EVER.’: Mom to son with autism urges ‘acceptance starts in the home’
“He can’t count, point, or wave. There are days he cannot look into my eyes. Days where I can only guess what might be causing his tears. But I could not imagine my world without my son.”
‘You must have paid a pretty penny for him.’ I was speechless. No one ever admitted race was a factor.’: Mom describes transracial adoption journey, ’Love mattered most’
“’He’s white,’ she said. ‘Do you guys think this will work?’ We didn’t care about race. Everyone involved saw what was happening, but no one said a word.”
People Think Having A Sibling With Special Needs Is Sad, But I Wouldn’t Want It Any Other Way
“Cate does not walk, talk, or do anything on her own without assistance, but she is my biggest inspiration.”
‘I felt sheer terror. ‘Are you scared off yet?’ I knew if I met him, I wouldn’t say no. This is what I signed up for.’: Single mom adopts medically complex baby with Down syndrome, ‘I knew he was mine’
“I thought he was going to die that day. I put my life on hold to be there for him every day and night. I knew he was mine.”
‘Is it the right decision?’ They came to take her. I stood, paralyzed, and watched as she disappeared. There was debilitating fear.’: Girl with Down syndrome survives new heart surgery, ‘She’s one of the first to have it’
“I kept taking her picture, scared it could be the last one. I counted every eyelash, perfectly placed on her eyes. She would be the first on the West Coast to have this surgery. I didn’t want to let her go because then the decision would be final.”
‘My baby is dying! We have to land the plane.’ The doctors on board shook their heads sadly. I was helpless.’: Woman recalls journey to bring adopted daughters home, ‘I’d do it over again’
“’We need to land. We have to land the plane.’ I jumped out of my seat and ran down the aisle to the flight attendant who was passing out snacks. ‘Sir! Sir! Please!’ One man stepped forward quietly and said, ‘I’m a neurologist, I don’t know if I can be of any help.’”
‘We may never be ’empty-nesters.’ She may never live independently. But I’d be pretty darn happy taking nightly strolls, arm in arm, forever.’: Special needs mom shares sweet moment
“I was at a stop sign. Crossing the street in front of me was a couple in their 80s and their adult daughter, who had Down syndrome. They seemed to be out for an evening stroll and the daughter and mom were arm in arm. Everyone was smiling. It got me thinking.”
‘He stopped breathing and was ripped from my arms. Everything changed. I set out to get all the answers.’: Mom births son with partial Trisomy 18, ‘He is a reminder life is precious’
“They performed every test under the sun. ‘He may never walk or talk.’ He could be dependent on us for the rest of his life. Well, we might as well prove all these doctors wrong!”
