A picture to inspire hope

Maybe a lot of parents would be embarrassed to let people see their kid with both their index fingers shoved up his or her nose, but this is one proud mama! What a miracle it is that my daughter can TOUCH her nose with her left hand, but she can actually aim her little left finger right into the nostril. Way to go, baby!

When my daughter was born, she could not move any part of her left arm, except for her fingers. It was sad to see her arm laying limply beside her while she played, and a lack of tummy time began to cause her head to flatten. She could not lay on the floor on her belly, because she could not use the support of her arms to lift her face off the floor.

My child was born healthy and alive, but still I grieved. The dreams I had for her all seemed impossible now that this unexpected thing happened to her. It wasn't supposed to be this way. And so I cried. For weeks. I did not enjoy this fresh new human being I had helped create. I apologized to her over and over, and I cried, and I did not sleep. I blamed myself. I wasn't meant to have babies, and this just proved it.

Eventually, though, you have to pick yourself off the floor, and decide to be the advocate your child needs. Eventually, you have to accept it and move on to the next step. Eventually, you have to realize it is not your fault, but you can help make it better. And, eventually, maybe that baby will surprise you, and shove both her index fingers up her nose.