"Motherhood is about raising and celebrating the child you have, not the child you thought you would have. It's about understanding that he is exactly the person he is supposed to be. And that, if you're lucky, he just might be the teacher who turns you into the person you are supposed to be." ~The Water Giver
I came across this quote today and it brought to mind my youngest son Bennett-Chadlen. Upon further inspection, this Mother wrote this book all about her son that nearly died in an accident and struggles with an Acquired Brain Injury.
It is the story of a Mother's love and determination to assist her child to succeed and re-learn all the things that many of us take for granted. Through her writings we are able to observe not only her feelings, but the healing journey and poignant look into this family's day to day experiences.
The Water Bearer is a story that I could have written myself, and maybe one day I will, as I too am the Mother of a son that has struggled through life with the residual effects of his own Traumatic Brain Injury received after being struck by a teenage driver at the age of 4.
It is a story that I became re-acquainted with when I learned of Tristan and Tanner's 'Hereditary Spherocytosis', and again when Bennett-Chadlen was diagnosed prenatally with his Trisomy 13.
The love for my son's has sustained me, and pushed me to persevere through excruciating times in our life. There were days I felt utterly alone and overcome with emotions. Some days I could only sit alone and cry and wonder WHY? Why so much heartache? Why me? Why us? WHY, WHY, WHY?
In the silence that followed the deep purging of fearful tears and the ever-nagging, complex questions I had for the universe......I felt renewed and gained the strength and courage necessary to take each burden and create a challenge to overcome.
I was born and blessed with a fierce determination to identify and tackle all of life's challenges to the best of my ability. I create a list of 'things to DO', and I won't stop until I have exhausted that list. When I cannot think of one more thing to DO, I will then take a deep breath and chalk that up to a learning experience and do my best to function and cope with the daily struggles.
I appreciate each and every day, and cherish the small things in life. I start and end each day with an awareness of the miracles surrounding us and I'm grateful for the pure gift of life.
My boys have taught me to love deeply, unconditionally. Because of them I strive to be a better person. There are no words that can capture the true essence of my love and admiration for all of the special people in my love that I hold near, and dear to my heart.
I shall leave you with these words.......
Face each challenge. DO your best. Be brave, courageous, and compassionate in everything you DO.
And always remember ~ There is no such thing as failure.
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| ~photo courtesy of Heather Renee Morgan of Lifespark.ca~ |
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