I have found myself recently reflecting back on this last year - the ups, downs, joys and sorrows. So much has happened since the beginning of 2009 - the list is long. It almost seems like I have dealt with more in 2009 than in the rest of my whole adult life combined. I found myself on the verge of a breakdown more than once. I have shed more tears than I ever thought possible. Even through all of these sad and hard times I have seen my marriage grow stronger and stronger. I have an amazing husband and couldn't do it without him. He helped me move past worrying about all the "what ifs" and just live our life. I have witnessed my true friends stand by my side or even lay by my side when I have been crying in bed and help pull me through(you guys know who you are). My friends and family drove hours to come down to our house to make dinner, clean the house or just play with Hailey. I have had more acquaintances and friends of friends call me just to see how I was or send me a card to show they are thinking of us. I can't believe all the love and support we have. I have been informed that we are on prayer lists all over the country, even in England! I even received a beautiful hand made Prayer Blanket for Dylan from a co-worker's church. People who I don't even know are so touched by Dylan and his story that they follow this blog and send me an e-mail or comment now and then just to let me know they are there. It is utterly amazing.
Soon after we got the diagnosis I received phone calls from two moms of children with special needs (one has a 6y/o with WHS) who were friends of friends of friends and they listened to me when I felt that no one else could possibly understand. I cried to these total strangers(and wonderful women) on the phone for over an hour and they didn't mind. They understood, they had gone through everything that I was going through and shared their stories with me. I finally felt like I wasn't alone. Now I know I am not alone thanks to the blog world. I have met so many wonderful families with children with WHS. It has helped me tremendously to read their comments and words of encouragement. I want to send out a big THANK YOU to all my fellow bloggers - you are all amazing people!
After Dylan was born I started a journal and today I was reading over what I had written one year ago. I had a lot of feelings of shock, anger and sadness. I found it very hard to find happiness in my days. I honestly just wanted to run away from it all, I couldn't handle it. I could barely look at him without crying. I could barely drive to a doctor's appointment without crying. Now I can't look at him without smiling. I am not saying that I don't have hard days, I do, but I definately have happier ones than a year ago. Dylan is so greatly loved by our family, friends and everyone who meets him. I have had more people ask me how he is doing than I could even count. Without saying a word he melts your heart and will change your life. I appreciate life more because of him and I think a lot of other people do too.
I love the support there is now for us WHS families. When Ryley was little, there was hardly any. There was no Facebook, and we were one of the few families that had a blog. I think it is wonderful that everyone can connect so easily. It doesn't feel like we are countries apart at all!
ReplyDeleteThe thing about our kids is that they are impossible to not love! They are such gorgeous happy social children who seem to draw people to them.
I hope that this year brings you lots of happiness!
You are truly my hero, sister. I love you and I am so proud of you. xo
ReplyDeleteThis posting brought me to tears, but good tears :) As you can imagine I have cried a lot lately for completely unrelated reasons (you know what I'm referring to) but reading this posting and hearing how much you've grown gives ME strength. What you and your family have gone through is something that I can't even imagine doing. It gives me stregth and inspiration that you are doing so well Kristy. It is so uplifting to see that you can find the good in things again and are so positive about life. Thank you for sharing this with the world. I love you.
ReplyDelete~Kaci
Your post made me cry-- tears because I understand where you have been and tears because I look forward to getting to where you are now. I agree that the online support network has been tremendous in helping me to see what is possible from a "glass is half full" perspective. You have been a huge part of that for me, and I share in Dylan's triumphs and growing success with you. It really is heart-warming and humbling to see how many people truly care-- people we don't know well or even at all. I have received an amazing outpouring of love and support online from people I hadn't spoken to since high school, and sometimes, their words of encouragement and hope are the ones that lift me up the most. We live in a world that is often painted as filled with ugliness. Although I admit that I wish I wasn't among those who needed the support for the reason I do, it melts my heart when people tell me that my story of Kaylee-- like your story of Dylan-- inspires them. That is what reminds me that maybe this WAS part of a bigger plan, after all. My brother told me that we never know how our lives will touch and inspire another person's life. You inspire me, and I am so glad to have you as part of my WHS support network of friends! xo
ReplyDeleteKristy & Mitch, WOW the power of a blog! Who would have thought? Read and listen to these comments...... you tow give STRENGTH & INSPIRATION to many.....we love you all
ReplyDeleteAunt Joanne & Kurt
Kristy, I hadn't checked in on your blog in awhile - and I'm sitting here this evening with tears in my eyes. I have to echo the comments made by Kisses4Kaylee... I so understand where you were emotionally a year ago (I'm still there), but I'm hopeful that I will one day be where you are now.
ReplyDeleteYou said that after Dylan's diagnosis, you talked on the phone with two women for over an hour and cried and listened to their stories, and they understood you. Well - you were that woman for me. I kept you on the phone for almost an hour and a half, and although I was too afraid to let myself cry on the phone (I thought I might never stop), I cried after we hung up. It was such an emotional release to know we weren't all alone in this strange diagnosis, and that maybe it wasn't going to be as scary as I had been initially led to believe.
I'm always excited to see what Dylan is up to, and you and he will always be special people to me as the first people I met in this WHS community.
Thank you,
Heather