INTRODUCTION Leader, read this section aloud to the group: Have you ever tried to grab your breath on a cold morning? It may seem like an odd question, but it’s undoubtedly something we’ve all tried to do at some point in our lives. Catching our breath is like trying to maintain a sense of “normal.”…
Becoming My Truest Self
I adored our family of four. We had two happy, silly, lovable boys who were just beginning preschool and kindergarten. Steve and I were starting to feel like real adults, with jobs and kids and a house to take care of. Life was complicated, but beautiful. We each had our own personalities and quirks, which…
The Battle for Life
When I broke my neck at the age of 17, it was earth-quaking. One moment, I was healthy, athletic, and heading to college with big dreams for a bright future… and the next? I’m a quadriplegic. Everything from toileting, bathing, to feeding myself, was out of my hands. My hopes had been shattered, and…
Disability: A Child’s Definition of “Special”
I am sitting in the living room with William. We finish reading Library Lion, and he leans his head against my shoulder. “Mom,” he asks, “what down syn mean?” I squeeze his leg and give it a pat, a signal that I am ready to get up. I say, “Down syndrome, sweetie. Not down syn.”…
A Husband for Sarah With a Limp
My mother’s name was Sarah. She was the fifth daughter of Boaz, a weaver of fine wool prayer shawls in Jerusalem. Sarah was taller than most men, ample hipped and heavy-set, with thick, curly hair, and wide green eyes in a square, practical face. Her teeth were straight and strong. Such things as teeth mattered.…