Article From 1981

When I was six years old, Mom and I flew to DC before a congressional committee for a hearing regarding the hospital care and adoption of special needs children.  One little boy with Down's didn't survive, prompting the hearing.  The hospitals failed to help him due to lack of funding and the idea that special needs children cannot live well with disabilities.  I kept the articles that my aunt laminated, and it was tragic to be young and hear not only this case, but another, in which the mother abused her son.  I was across the table from another Dallas boy, who also had Down's, and the two of us became fast acquaintances.  My mom spoke out, with bravery, courage, and honesty.  "If you can't make a solid commitment to adopt and raise a special needs child, simply, don't do it." In the article, due to the privacy act, we were protected.

My adoption was closed, and my neonatologist said, "I can help this little baby."  My mom not only fostered me, but later said, "I want to keep her."  From that point, mom drove me to specialists, therapists, PT and OT, countless hospital stays, and more.  I lost this beautiful woman in 2016 to Altzheimer's Disease, a battle she fought for 8 years.  The role reversal was one of pure love.  I bravely stepped up.

She was my world.  Today, she's proud of me.  I kept all of our mother/daughter advice in my letter box, and brain.  CP patients have a keen ability to remember more details than those without it.  I am one of them.  It's a far cry from 1981, but I can honestly say, it was so worth it.  My thoughts now are whether or not the senators from the hearing are still alive.  A small number of people I knew, including doctors, have passed, but I am still around.  My team didn't give up, and neither did I.