Learning Empathy!

Usually I try to write this blog based off the goofy off the wall things that my kid says...but today I am writting about the spirit and hard work my kid puts in. Over a year ago now, Cody had been recieving therapy from the big Children's Hospital here, and one day he was working hard and crying and he didn't want to do anything anymore. We heard a bunch of "I don't want to" "I can't" coming from him. So I decided then and there that I was going to do something to prove to him that we all have to work hard to accomplish small goals...so I decided to learn to run...yes I said LEARN....because previously the most running I did was running 20 feet to get to the stove as the pot overflowed. Fast forward a year, I can now successfully run 3 miles with no problem and currently training to do a half marathon with my aunt in May. Today, Cody started therapy again, with the Easter Seals, as the hospital and I had a difference of opinion with the therapists and their whole philosophy of treating a kid with CP. Not uncommon since every major facility in the country seems to have their own strategy, some work for people...some don't. Today Cody experienced 2 things he hadn't experienced in quite some time, at least 2 years since we've been here in Illinois. He got STRETCHED...real stretches, the way a runner does....but more intense, he would grunt and groan and get mad....but he did it...then he got on the treadmil, now usually I call it the DREADMIL because of how insanely boring it can be to run 3 miles on a belt over and over and over again. But today it was awesome to see him on it.....And he says to me..."see mom now I'm a runner like you" and I about died...I thought HA! I taught HIM something...I really REALLY did. He learned that his mom, me, had inspired him for once, when so many times in his life he has inspired me....I love that little man, and he teaches me with every grunt, with every "OUCH" and with ever smile, what it's like to REALLY put your heart into something, and love unconditionally every single day.

That Hurt....do it again!

That was Cody's mantra today!Cody thinks it's absolutely positively hilarious to get knocked down, and I mean HARD! He giggles so hard he doesn't breath, it's like worse then tickeling the kid. But he wants you to do it over and over and over. He especially likes it when you hit him with a pillow or a blanket to knock him over, I've been told it's a sensory thing, but I think it's GREAT...we all get a big kick out of him...and today I got him a bit too hard with the blanket, he hit the floor like a ton of bricks laughs so hard, then gets up and says "Ouch that hurt...do it again" I guess that's just how Cody is, you knock him down, he gets right back up and wants some more. Reminds me of that song that Chumbawamba did in the late 90's, "I get knocked down, but I get up again, you ain't ever gonna keep me down" I use to BLAST that song in my first crap car in Junior year of High School, and now I get to live it every day through my kids eyes.

The fact that Cody says all these funny things also reminds us how lucky we are that he can talk to us. So the new goal of this blog, is to document the hilarity that comes out of his mouth. As long as that kid keeps smiling, and making me smile, it will never matter how bad real life is, because he'll always be there reminding me about being happy about the good things, and keep me on my toes with his whitty nonesense he says.

WOMP WOMP WOMP!

That is how I wish to describe this day....it's like some bad Wiley Coyote attempt to catch the Road Runner....Illness has caused an end to our first week back into therapy for Cody in almost 6 months...and for once it's not due to Cody's health, I think I can count on one hand the amount of times therapy has been canceled due to the therapist. So we get up and decide to go to the gym instead, distracting Cody from the fact that he doesn't get to "play" at therapy. As we are walking in the hallway to the their beloved Child Center, we are tailed by 4 little boys and 2 moms...not sure whos kids were whose, but I really don't care. It's what happens next that really makes me wonder about the way people raise their kids, and makes me really ask an even deaper question about humanity in it'self. The 4 boys, all under the age of 5, go running by, almost knocking Cody over. It takes Cody a lot longer to walk to the back of the gym, then it does for most kids, and he's a weeble wobble the whole way, but we let him do it because after all, all he wants is to be like the other kids. So after the boys run passed and are WELL in front of their mothers, instead of saying excuse me, or tell their devient children to get back the moms just push right on through, again, almost knocking Cody down.

Now there are 2 things wrong with this picture, #1-this is the PERFECT example of how some parents really lack discipline for their children..I would NEVER allow my children to push through a crowd to get to a door....our whole civilation is based off waiting turns, and by pushing ahead is no more different then cutting in line. #2-if you are walking down a halway and see a child trying to keep up and walk, you either say EXCUSE me to notify the child that you would like to get by, or you just I don't know have some respect and WAIT....Now when these moms get to the door they sit and wait with the door open for us, and I just couldn't help but think "gee if you were just going to sit here and look at me, was it necessary for you to almost knock over my kid to get there faster? did I miss the memo that we were in a race? And then my wonderful husband says "thanks, but you know we were all going the same place was it necessary for you to be so rude? and almost knock over my son?" the woman said NOTHING...not a thing. No apology, no nothing...Now is it selfish for us to think people should be more considerate of people that are a little slower? I mean seriously?

Which brings us to WOMP WOMP WOMP! after getting home, Cody finally says to me..."mom I thought we were suppose to have therapy today...who cancelled" I said the PT....he then says "Oh...the PT....WOMP WOMP WOMP!" once again this 6 year old can put it in elementary terms for us all to understand...He really says the funniest things sometimes...

OUCH!

"Ouch...That wasn't suppose to happen" out of the mouth of babes. That is how Cody responded this morning on the way to his room, to retrieve his blanket, and before he could get there he fell. He responded with above mentioned phrase, and got right back up and went on his way, and made it back again without a hitch. Makes me think about how many times in life we all hit a bump and fall.

As adults, we hit a bump, we fall, and we shake that fist at God...or use some choice 4 letter words....we never seem to just pick ourselves up again and move on. We are continually trying to make sense of everything, find a reason for everything, or we try to blame someone else for our problems. We could all learn something from a child who never takes things for granted. We should all be so lucky to look at those bumps in the road of life, and say "well that wasn't suppose to happen" and then just continue on our path.

The one thing I have learned from children, particularly children with special needs is that they never dwell much on the things they can't control, or the things they can't change. Their attitudes are both elementary, and inspiring,....many grown ups, who lose motor function, or have a medical set back, or even a set back that isn't medically related get angry, they always ask why..."why God did you do this to me".....Cody would never even think to ask that question, he is happy in life just the way he is. I envy him and all children like him. They love life...for life....they aren't expecting anything in return, they aren't angry at the world....and I feel lucky that Cody is in my family, because he teaches me more and more every day that we should all be very appreciative for what we have been given, and dwell less on what we have not.

The Frustrations of Awareness

Many people that I speak to are suprised to find out the prevalence of Cerebral Palsy. A new study done just a couple years ago, through the CDC found that 1 in 278 children have CP. But if the prevalence is so high, why is it that no one seems to know what it is? Austism is everywhere, and while I don't minimize the need for research and awareness of Autism, I wonder why it is that society seems to think that it is the only disorder worth studying or cureing. In 2008, Austism according to the NIH recieved about $128 Million in funding. CP got a whopping $18 Million, and while $18 Million Dollars is nothing to sneeze at, I wonder why it is that it is so uneven. Autism is everywhere, even making an appearance in all Presidential promises, Obama in his campaign pleged Millions more in research and education money for autism, and again pleged more durring his Stimulus package. But yet, the House of Appropriations continues to deny more funding to start an Epidemiology and National Registry for CP. These things have a price tag of $10 Million Dollars....why is it that Autism, can recieve hundreds of millions of dollars, while our funding needs are continually denied.

I know there are some of you screaming at the computer monitor right now shaking your finger telling me that Autism is a serious disorder, and deserves every penny they recieve...and I would agree with you...however, Autism is not the only childhood disorder worthy of money or attention or compassion. Nor is Cerebral Palsy, there are many MANY other disorders out there that get no funding at all, but my question is why? Why? Why is the funding so uneven? It has literally gotten to the point for me, that when I hear someone ask me at the grocery store, if I'd like to donate an extra dollar to my purchase for autims research, I want to respond...."sure if you want to donate a dollar for Cerebral Palsy research" I cringe, and I want to stand in the middle of the store and throw a tantrum like a 3 year old, demanding my piece of the pie.