The Special Mother by Erma Bombeck

The Special Mother by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressure and a couple by habit.This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how these mothers are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth Selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger."Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew.""Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia.""Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity.

"Finally he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a handicapped child."The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy.""Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel.""But does she have the patience?" asks the angel."I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair.Once the shock and resentment wear off she'll handle it."

"I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of it's own. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect.She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word.She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says momma for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it.I will permit her to see clearly the things I see--ignorance, cruelty, prejudice--and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life Because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air.

God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

Miracle updates on Anya as of May 9, 2010

MIRACLE UPDATES as of May 9, 2010

Good news!  Anya’s violent seizures are gone!  And we pray they stay away forever!  She no longer has the convulsive type.  The “remnants” of her seizures are just eye flickering which has also been lessening as the days go by.  And very very very subtle versions of the body jerking type that only we would recognize.  We believe this is because of God’s mercy and grace and the many prayers sent her way.

Amazing things have been happening.  Ate is responding very well to her detox therapy – pooping out all the toxins she may have inherited!  She has been randomly smiling and laughing.  She has no eye contact yet, but she knows that she is loved so dearly especially when she is cuddled and carried.

Even financially, God has ways of providing.  Now that we are just a single income family, we sometimes worry about daily expenses.  But somehow, we have managed to have Ate’s weekly therapy sessions because of friends (and friends we have not yet met) that unknowingly sponsor such sessions.  Kind people who have shared their financial blessings surprisingly are the ones who thank us for allowing them to help Ate.

We wish to thank this particular lady who does not know Ate and very specifically prayed for Ate during each seizure episode.  She instructed us that for a week, we are to ring her phone whenever Ate is having a seizure.  She would drop what she is doing and pray at that moment.  And every 10pm she prayed for Ate.  I rang her phone for a week because after that, Ate’s violent seizures went away.

Around the same time, a very devout Catholic man and motivational speaker saw Ate during one Kindermusik class and I explained to him very candidly about Ate.  Immediately he asked if he could pray over Ate and of course he did.  After his prayer he said, “Get ready for the miracles.”  We really felt a big miracle coming.  A few weeks later, her violent seizures disappeared.

From January 2010 to March 2010, Ate's head circumference did not grow which means her brain did not grow.  But 1 week into her detox her head circumference grew .5 cm, then two weeks later, another 1cm!  Total 1.5cm in 3 weeks when for 3 months before that, it did not grow at all!!!!  That's faster than normal growth!

To all who have Ate in your prayers, thank you very much.  Prayers do wonders as it strengthens our family and strengthens those who are doing the praying.  Please still include her in your prayers for she still has a long way to go.

We have plans for Ate to have a very specialized therapy in Singapore this June 19-20, 2010.  Luckily, instead of us going to Europe, the group goes regularly to Singapore which is nearer and cheaper.  Ate will be “examined” and a specific therapy will be done called advanced biomechanical rehabilitation therapy or ABR.  We will then take home materials/therapy tools that we should do on Ate at least 3 hours everyday.  After a few months, they will assess Ate’s development.  The website is www.miraclekidz.com if you would like to know more.

We have a place to stay already.  We just need to raise about PhP115,000.00 to cover for the initial therapy session.  And some pocket money for local transportation.  With our current Mabuhay Miles, we have 1 free round trip ticket.  So we just need one more round trip ticket for an adult and 1 round trip ticket for Ate (about 30% of regular ticket price since she will be on mommy’s lap).  We hope our friends do not tire helping Ate in her journey to recovery.  We know more miracles are going to happen!