Juxtaposed. The Story Continues
Nurses came in to tell us they were going to need the room, so they were going to move us to another one where we could spend as much time with Catherine as we’d like. I remember thinking how nice…
Acceptance – or Not
Sometimes we’re more accepting that others.
Training Nurses
I’m tired of training nurses. Perhaps I should view each new nurse as an opportunity for improvement. I do. I find that the perspective shift doesn’t remove the reality that I’m simply tired of it. Every time a new nurse…
We Never Know What Helps
A couple weeks ago, I flew Southwest to San Diego for a training conference. I forgot to check in exactly 24 hours before the flight and when I finally did check in, my boarding number was C46 – clearly one…
Suddenly It Hits Me
It’s not quite a normal morning. As I reach for the cereal, I see it. I get the flash of Brian, dressed in blue scrubs hanging back in a room where doctors are trying to help our baby girl into…
And Then, Reality Hits
Brian and I are just back from a wonderful respite weekend away to National Harbor and Old Town Alexandria. We try to time our respite weekend over our anniversary, and this year hit perfectly. Sunday, we celebrated 18 years! The…
What Not to Say
I recently read a blog post from a woman about what not to say to a parent of a child with disabilities. I recalled thinking after I read the post – and I actually replied to it myself – that…
A Post on Babble.com
Picking out a wheelchair with your daughter is a lot like picking out a prom dress — there are loads of choices, it doesn’t happen often, you imagine the time she’ll have in it and hope it’ll be magical. And…
Let the Data Show
We’re entering another phase where instead of being a mom, I become a scientist. Instead of snuggling and hugging and cheering, we will observe and track and analyze. I don’t especially like these phases, but long ago I learned that…
What Makes You Angry?
Years ago, I was giving a talk about Catherine’s life and how we manage to have hope through it all. At the end of the presentation, someone in the audience asked me, “What makes you angry?” “I don’t really feel…
I Could Have Been a Neurologist
I’m not suggesting I want to change anything about my life. But if I knew my life was going to be what it is, I might have followed my natural interest in science and headed to med school to become…