“Are you ready?” I asked my husband as we stood on the steps outside of a massive, intimidating building. “As ready as I can be, I guess,” he replied. We nodded at each other and walked to the front door. It was time to attend the first high school…
Plot Twist – a Column by Valerie Tharp Byers
I gasp as I watch the numbers flicker on the screen of our digital scale. Is that 116? 118? It’s certainly not 122, there’s no way. The anxiety I’ve been trying to meaningfully work through the past few months threatens to escalate again. The screen finally freezes: 120.6 pounds. The…
As we sat in the Denver airport waiting to fly home, our 10-year-old daughter gave me a big hug. “This was the best vacation ever, Mom!” she exclaimed. “I had so much fun.” I smiled and hugged her back but then made eye contact with my husband over her head.
“Sweetheart,” a voice says as a gentle prod to my side starts to wake me. I growl incoherently. It’s got to be too early to get up. “It’s starting,” I hear my husband say. “The bad news is that the power already went out. The good news is that I…
June is a lot. I’ve written before about how the start of the summer impacts our family. Our son, Will, has a rare condition called Sanfilippo syndrome, and that diagnosis is thrown into full focus each June. As the school year ends, my caregiving responsibilities take…
“No, we are not moving. We can barely keep our heads above water with everything going on right now. How do you think we could add in a move?” I asked my husband incredulously. What was he thinking? This was nearly three months ago, in early March. Tim had recently…
“Mom. Mom!” I turn away from loading the dishwasher to find my daughter yelling for me and looking a little scared. “What’s up, sweetie?” “Daddy’s yelling for you. Will’s hurt. There’s a lot of blood.” My heart jumps as I tell her to finish getting ready for bed, and then…
“Who’s ready to see the Easter Bunny?” I coo to my less than impressed 13-year-old. I’m sorry, he’s 13 and three-quarters, as of this month. He looks at me impassively and stifles a yawn. I’d let him sleep until 8:30 a.m., and he still wasn’t thrilled with me for waking him…
“Good morning, sweetheart. Ready to start the day with Momma? We’ve got a week of fun ahead of us!” I kept my voice light and happy as I woke up my son, Will, but my feelings were mixed. Will’s school district has added several extra weeklong breaks throughout the school…
“So how are you doing with the thought of leaving Will for that long?” my well-meaning friend asked as we discussed holiday plans after a workout class last month. “A week is a long time.” I looked at her speechless for a moment. I’d just told her that my daughter’s…
Recent Posts
- Bone marrow transplant helps hand-eye coordination in Sanfilippo child
- The support system that allows my special needs child to thrive
- Enzyme therapy directly into the brain tested for Sanfilippo type D
- I’m finally seeing a therapist, 3 years after my daughter’s diagnosis
- Tralesinidase alfa ERT for Sanfilippo type B children put on fast track
- Educating others about Sanfilippo syndrome, one bite at a time
- Teen’s acute psychotic disorder leads to Sanfilippo A diagnosis
- Feeding our toddler with Sanfilippo syndrome can be stressful
- It’s hard to stay positive when Sanfilippo is so cruel
- Heart condition SSS found in Sanfilippo patient for first time