Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Going back

I can remember when Sonzee was newly diagnosed and my biggest fears were of her never meeting milestones.  If you had asked the me of four years ago I would have told you that I would love for her to be sitting at a year, but realistically it would probably happen closer to three and maybe even not until she was five.  I told myself I wanted her to crawl before she walked because it was clearly a developmentally necessary milestone for typical children.  If you spoke to me in person during her first year of life I was more preoccupied with her physical capabilities and what potential damage the antiepileptic drugs were doing to her little body that were negatively impacting her physical progress.

Recently someone asked me if Sonzee was more alert than she was as a baby? If I felt that her early exposure to water therapy and physical therapy made a difference.  It was one of those times that I responded and felt sorry that my answer was not going to be offering the traditional hope this parent was seeking.  I know one day they too will come to a point in their child's journey where a sense of calmness over the outcome will blanket them and my response will feel more of a comfort than a slap across the face.  I wanted to give more with my response, but I knew it wasn't the right time, so I just stuck with the facts and "cushioned" it with Sonzee is more severely affected by her mutation.

I wish I could sugar coat the journey of CDKL5 for those who are just now starting out.  I wish I could go back to the me of four years ago and stand in front of the teary-eyed mom wondering where we would be four years from now and let her know that the journey is going to be hell and the line items of priorities are going to take her by surprise.  I wish I could tell her to not waste those precious first years worrying about whether Sonzee was going to sit, crawl, or walk.  I wish I could tell her that she is going to be faced with actual life or death situations and it won't matter if she is sitting or walking when the real serious choices are being made.  I wish I could warn her that what she is about to endure will leave more holes in her heart then she will ever be able to close.  I would let her know that her views on people and situations will change but she will find a safety zone where she can say and feel what is on her mind and know she is truly not being judged.  I wish I could go back to the me of four years ago and tell her that she better buckle up, because this roller coaster is going off the track, and it doesn't matter if Sonzee is sitting on her own on the floor or being fully supported in a 5 point harness...just be grateful for every day she is still sitting next to you.


The Mighty Contributor

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