A Medical Mama’s Tips, Tricks and Tales

Having a special needs kid will change your life, and from what I hear, there’s simply no going back.

The @NewYorkPost and @New York Times recently did a write up about a family with Trisomy 18, and a mom who is choosing joy, contentment and love over everything else. The way the write-up was written and the comments section on Instagram kinda… erk me to say the least.. someone even went so far to say that she and I are ruining the lives of our neurotypical kids… but yall, we live in a broken world. So, here’s my thoughts (cause you know, I got em).

There is NO going back now.

No going back to the former freedom, the former lens of life without thinking about eternity and Heaven and reconciling a Good-God and a “Broken”-Child.

For me, there’s no hiking and little traveling in this season – or very little and when we do, it’s a DOOZIE, but we do it! There’s no international travel. OH I do miss that! There’s no going to work without worrying about my kid(s). There is no going to bed without giving her medications and setting up the machine that helps her breathe. No leaving the house without stroller fans.

I have a TRIBE. I mean TRIBE. God has simply blessed us.

I have a few local family members, but my parents aren’t here and my in-laws aren’t here and I miss them. And, sometimes I need them.

But, I have neighbors and friends that have become LIKE family, or better than family. And, for that I am grateful. I know many DO NOT have that, and I pray God will provide it. Our church is the family of Christ, imperfect, but in so many ways, it is what God has called the church to be. Family. Special needs parents need this.

I do cheat. I work in medicine, and even still, it’s fricken hard.

I have a great team of therapists and nurses and I can’t move back home to my small town because I live 15 minutes from an overall great children’s hospital. My daughter’s life would be less amazing without her amazing team. And, so, yes, to have a child like this, you really need to (in most scenarios) be in suburbia or urban areas. I miss country roads and dirt-bikes and my country people sometimes, but we do visit. And we are blessed, there are 2 parents, engaged grandparents, and 2 incomes. We are so grateful. Single moms who do this, yall are the real Queens. Not all kids are as healthy as Ryn either. We know. Every child is unique.

My life didn’t end because of my daughter. Being forever changed isn’t always a bad thing…, as an economy, we spend trillions on self-help and improvement. I am a better me because of her. I am engaged, I am empathetic, and I am more loving than I could have been before. I dream about Heaven and live in the reality of our future-hope in Jesus. I love so deep. I am loved so deeply. I am a new form of me because of Rynnie. Find a special needs child or family and scoot close because yall, there is a love so deep to know. There are no words needed. She will love you and soften your hard heart. She will smile and your fears will melt. She will laugh and your anger will dwindle. You will meet resilience. You will meet hope. You will meet JOY – real Joy. Not because of circumstance, but just because… the world needs more people like Ryn – with this sweet heart, not less. More Joy.

So @NYPOST, not everyone may agree, but God knows what He is up to. “He is up to something, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gv8VDqc-os ” and “We will feast in house of Zion, we will feast and WEEP NO MORE! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JvPVCOCX6c&list=RD7JvPVCOCX6c&start_radio=1

Original @newyorkpost