Kate's Diagnosis Autism/Down Syndrome

In my last blog I said we are dealing with more than Down Syndrome, we are dealing with brain injury from a critical birth. Well I stick to that but now the official diagnosis is Autism/Down Syndrome.

So many times I wonder what God was thinking when he gave us the gift of Kate. I never thought I could do this job. God thinks differently. He thinks that we all are capable and loving enough to give Kate a loving nurturing upbringing. It is a privilege loving and knowing Kate.

In society today we have come a long way. Special therapies, schools and activities. Thank God we no longer put children in institutions! We nurture and love our special needs children. In our family it has taught all of us so much. All of our kids love Kate beyond words. Our son Beau walks in the house and goes directly to Kate for affection and teasing giggles. All our daughters are little mom's to her needs. Each one plays a major part in her life. Kate loves each one differently and wholeheartedly. Now Daddy is spectacular! He hugs and kisses her and she feels his scruffy beard and laughs. Lots of interaction in the family. It changed each one of us. Selfish is not in our vocabulary. Everyone gets breaks from the constant caring, to reenergize. That is healthy. But I notice when this is happening, a door will open because that sister needs some Kate hugs.

Before Kate, I would look at a special needs child and want to help that family, thinking it must be awful. Hard, disappointing. Well, it's not. It is love. Kate wakes up and spreads love all day. Even in mischief, we find some humor. Within the realm of our family, there is great satisfaction in just being here for her.

Our hopes are a special school for kindergarten in the fall. For Kate to start talking and thriving through the many therapies they offer. She will talk, feed herself and become potty trained in the time God says and not a minute sooner. I hope I have given some insight for those that look at special needs families and pity them. I hope I have given some insight for families just starting down this road. I also want anyone wondering if an abortion would have solved this, had we known. The answer is no. The blessings outweigh anything you can imagine. As we Marched for Life in Washington D.C. last week, we marched for Kate. We marched for the end of the abomination of abortion. I used to think I couldn't handle a special needs child and now I see that these children, as all children, are truly gifts from our Heavenly Father.

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