To Those Who Chose

This is my unofficial disclaimer to those moms and dads who share 50% of the same DNA as their Special Needs child(ren).  This post is different. This post has a very specific audience that I would like to express my gratitude towards at this time because I feel that they need to know as much as we do....

Since being handed my official "welcome to the special needs world" entry card I have been privileged to witness many acts of kindness, read many blogs, seen thousands of networking and forum posts, and made several wonderful friends.  There are so many emotions that swirl around and change from day to day for anyone dealing with any form of hardship in life.  The highs are high and the lows are low.  The one thing that stays constant is that for those who gave birth to their special needs child they do what they need to do, every day, to learn, understand, face, and grow each day with the news they were handed about their child.  Yet, we are not alone.  There are these additional angels out there. These are the angels that chose to be a major part, if not the most important part, in the life of a SN child and took on this role proudly....so I thank you!

Through marriage, adoption, foster care, a friend or family member, no matter the title....you chose to pick up your special needs entry card and slip it safely into your pocket and take on whatever highs and lows came your way.  You chose to be there for every sickness and smile.  You chose to endure every fight and phone call.  You chose to love unconditionally and stand hand in hand with this child that did not come directly from your body...so I thank you!

Caring for any child is hard.  Caring for one who comes with 10+ doctors, over 50+ appointments each year, a medical history 5" thick that you have to memorize, a constant flow of onlookers, and a conclusion that the local hospital is your second residence is very very very hard.  It takes a special kind of person to take all of that on especially when you had a choice not to...so I thank you!  

I want to say THANK YOU over and over again.  You may be a grandparent.  You may be a step, adoptive, or foster parent.  You may be a sibling or extended family member.  You may be a nurse or  you may be a friend of the family.  To the child you love you are their world, their lifeline and the one who holds a special place in their special heart...and they thank you!