You and I may be very different, and yet, we have so much in common. When others ask how we are or what's up? it's "Fine," and, "Not much." Then we run into one another and suddenly the social veneer we weren't even aware of drops and we share our hearts, our concerns, our fears and sometimes even celebrate joys. The questions change to: "How are his bowel problems? Hmmm ... sinkers or floaters ... or time for GoLytely?" "What color is her mucous? Is she able to cough it up?"
And then we have advice: "You might try putting the enzymes in mashed bananas instead of applesauce. Oh, and make sure he takes a drink before he sticks his fingers in his mouth!"
We celebrate when, despite the hour-long treatments morning and night, he makes honor roll or she makes first chair in orchestra. No one else understands the phenomenal effort it took to get there. We are proud for our children.
We share one another's burdens as well. We hurt when he learns that biological children are impossible without significant intervention. And we cry together when her PFTs drop again or the oxygen tank comes home to stay.
We belong to a very exclusive club -- that of mothers of children with cystic fibrosis. It's a club we did not choose and we hope our friends never have reason to join.
Most important of all, we are proud to be moms to these incredible children. These wonderful, wise-beyond-their-years, courageous, precious children. And difficult as our lives may be, they are also filled with a joy that makes it all worthwhile. Our children make every sacrifice, every heartache worth it. No regrets.
This blog is for you. I hope you will respond to my posts, make comments and pose questions. Welcome to "Faded Genes."
Oh, this is the first place I have come that shares the same experience of my everyday life !!! I giggled about the fingers in the mouth after the applesauce. Oh, and finally someone who understands my joy in the good poop. No one else seems to want to talk about this stuff. My daughter is almost one year now and doing very well.I am a little obsessive with certian things because ofcourse I worry but...... I always try to let her be a kid!!!! Thank-you so much for the giggle and the happy tears. It's nice to know that someone else is out there and that I am not alone!! And maybe, just maybe , everything will be A-OK.
ReplyDeleteMelanie(Canada)