platelets. His platelet count was lower, but not below the threshold
they have set. I think he will probably need them every few days for a
while.
Eric and I listened to the President speak tonight about health care
reform. I think the President's ideas of universal coverage will be
tricky and expensive to implement, but feel he is right in that reform
needs to happen and soon. I can't imagine the choices I would be
forced to make regarding Eric's care if I didn't have great health
care coverage. I don't think other families should have to make those
choices either.
-dk
6 comments:
We are so glad that you have good health coverage. You're right some people can't afford to go to the doctor let alone afford specialized care.
We are so glad that Eric is doing better! Keep it up big guy!
I ran across this essay. You both have done a wonderful job of accepting "Holland" We're so glad Eric is on his way to good health. Love, Mom
WELCOME TO HOLLAND
by
Emily Perl Kingsley.
c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.
To me....both of my kids are "Italy" and I feel sorry for anyone who looks at a baby as "accepting Holland". What a terrible way to view a child.
Nikki
I think you missed the point Nikki.
My point is that it is too bad so many people feel pain or loss about having kids that don't meet up to their expectations that somebody finds it necessary to write a cheesy essay about it. It is sad that people need to be reminded that your kids are wonderful no matter what....that is all I'm saying.
I think you missed the point Nikki.
Post a Comment