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.…