Special Needs, Special Child, Special Love

Six years ago, next week, I gave birth to a baby boy - Joshua. Everything that happened leading up to his birth was divine intervention- from the timing of my sister's arrival to TN, to me being dilated to a 6 for a week and not going into labor, to the Brooks famiy's love and support. Peter was a world away (Iraq) and could not be there for the birth. I had no idea of what was to transpire following my son's birth. My sister and dear friend Jennifer went with me that morning to the hospital. My dear friend's husband took my other 4 boys into his home and cared for them - along with his own children which included an infant. To this day I can't believe he agreed to do that, but he did...what an amazing man.

It's finally time for me to push and after 3 pushes Joshua is finally here. Immediately I saw this rather large bloody sac of some sort on his back. My doctor said, "I think it's Spina Bifida". I had never heard that term before, and it worried me. A Peds doctor came in and confirmed the diagnosis of Spina Bifida. We were able to Red Cross Peter so he could come home for the surgery. They placed Joshua on my stomach with his backside up, as to not compromise the sac. He was only there for 5 minutes. I was sad that I didn't get to hold him in my arms. About 2 hours later they ambulanced him to Vanderbilt Children's hospital in Nashville. 2 hours later I was able to be with him down there. What a blessing that I had a natural birth (no medication) which enabled me to be discharged just 4 hours after giving birth. Nicole took the reigns of motherhood to my other 4 so I could be with Josh at Vanderbilt. Clarksville 1st Ward stepped right up to help, we had so much love and support from everyone. 24 hours after Josh's birth he had the surgery to repair the myleomeningecele. He was in the NICU for a week, and a month later he had a VP shunt placed in his head because of hydrocephalus. His lesion was L2-L3. I guess  you can say I had a crash course with Spina Bifida in the following months.

It was quite overwhelming taking care of a child w/ Special Needs and I couldn't believe that the Lord would give me such a child when he knew my marriage was disintegrating. A couple of years later I learned why he gave me Joshua - LOVE. Joshua is so full of love and he gives it so freely. I needed that so desperately in my life and still do. There's something about Josh that attracts people to him. Everyone wants to be his friend, young and old- even the teenage girls, which his older brother's get jealous about. He is so confident and full of hope. It's still a challenge caring for all his medical needs - catheing, irrigation of the bowels, medications, doctor visits, orthotics, etc. I still get paid with lots of hugs and kisses, and he's helping me to be more patient and kind as I care for his daily needs. The Lord knew what I needed to help consume the dross that lies within me and help me be a more Christ-like person. Here's to Special Needs, a Special Child, and a Special Love that I get to be apart of.