Comments on: Update on Graham

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:57:41 +0000

Dana, I have just started reading your wonderful blog and today happened upon this post while searching for your delightful Tomato Leek Soup recipe. I found I was crying as I read your post and heard my own hopes and sadnesses for my little girl. My daughter Julia also has developmental delays, as well as hearing loss. She attended Boyer until she was three as well, and now goes to Listen and Talk, an incredible preschool for kids with hearing loss. She also attended Greenwood Elementary’s developmental preschool last year as well. The speech therapists, family activists, teachers, and even doctors that have walked with us through these past four years have changed our whole families lives. I am so very grateful for them.

We too have cried, wondered, shouted at God, and at times denied what we knew to be true over the years, especially that first year. It can be a hard road. Especially as you wonder what life will look like for our precious little one when they are in middle school, high school, even grade school. But even now I can hear her and her little brother giggling and shouting in her room, and my heart is full.

Thank you for sharing your journey. I am so thankful we do not walk it alone.

By: keri

keri — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:05:59 +0000

I adore your blog and usually stop by to see what you have going on in the kitchen, so I must confess that I was moved to tears when I read your post about Graham. You shared so much and so deeply about your journey…..only a very strong and peaceful person could do that. Graham is lucky to have you in his corner and his presence in your life is so obvious in your words. I wish you all the best.

By: Dfortner03

Dfortner03 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:34:25 +0000

Beautiful post. What you said at the end is something I’ll take with me. I’m the sister of a special needs child. He’ll be 18 in March (the doctor’s predicted he wouldn’t live to see his first birthday).

My mother is is advocate. She fights for him and tells the doctors “I know my son and I know what he needs.” The funny thing is that she’s made plenty of doctors angry because she’s been right.

My brother, Duke, is special. He laughs and he loves. He’s not here because of some weird blip in the universe. He’s here because a family needed him in their lives. I can’t remember life before him, and I’d rather not because he’s such a blessing to my life and our family.

Thank you.

By: jenn king

jenn king — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:07:32 +0000

amazing post! thank you!

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:15:32 +0000

Today was my first visit to your post and the first thing I read was about Graham. I understand the heartache, tension and struggle of navigating to the correct resources for a special needs child. My son also has a speech delay as well as some motor delays and sensory issues. We have spend the last year in intense therapy hoping to be able to put him in a “regular” preschool this fall. We have cut back some on the therapy this fall and just yesterday I had one of those “isn’t this enough moments” as my son and I spend the first day with nothing but play on the agenda in months. We too didn’t talk much but it was so wonderful to just “be” with my beautiful little boy. I hope you continue to find those quiet (or noisy!) moments with your little ones too. Best of wishes to you and your whole family.

By: 24carrot

24carrot — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:06:44 +0000

Thank you for sharing a piece of yourself. It shows me that you never really know what a person is going through. I always see your beautiful food and photography and assume that its all roses. Continue to be strong and I wish you, Graham, and family only the best.

By: Catherine G.

Catherine G. — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:57:10 +0000

Dana. This is a beautiful piece of your heart. I love your family and am honored to spend just a tad piece of time in your boy’s worlds. See you on Friday.

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:19:11 +0000

Dana,

I have tears streaming down my face. You are such an inspiration and your writing is a pure treat such poignancy and honesty and insight. Graham is your teacher…he will always remind you and all of us that just our presence, our smiles and our love IS ENOUGH.

love to you always. Thanks for sharing. xo Jen

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:35:53 +0000

Beautiful post Dana. I love that last photo of Graham!

By: chocolate pecan toffee « foodie suz

chocolate pecan toffee « foodie suz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:33:55 +0000

[...] she has a beautiful post about her son Graham. Since I’ve been to Holland too (check out her post to see what I mean), I took special notice of her blog. When she tweeted: Just made this [...]