Bearing Witness to Heroes

In our clinic we see a fair number of patients with severe disabilities.  Many patients and families are distressed with the added burden of periods in their pubertal girls and we typically help with menstrual suppression (ie stopping their periods) with medications. I think about these patients on a pretty regular basis for a few reasons:

#1: Where are these patients in Manitoba?  I have never seen these patients in Peds clinic back home and I suspect they are being managed by the pediatricians (who are probably doing a great job) but I will happily see them when I get back if needed.

#2: The concerns that I have about Cian's speech do not even hold a candle to what these parents go through everyday.  I am a big believer that there isn't such a thing as "misery Olympics" and you shouldn't compare you're grief/struggles with other people because hard is just hard but also there is something to be said for gaining perspective by seeing other people's circumstances and remembering what to be thankful for.

#3: These parents are the most amazing people I have ever met.  They trump any quasi-celebrity, top-notch researcher, athlete, etc. I have met in my life and I am AMAZED every time I meet an outstanding parent of a child with severe disabilities.  These are people who have no medical background who manage to navigate the complex medical system on a daily or weekly or monthly basis.  Who provide round-the-clock life-sustaining care to their children and take huge amounts of pleasure in small victories.  They challenge these children to do more than their doctors ever expected of them at the start of their lives and they revel in their joy; whether it be music or videos or the smiles of their siblings.  Often these parents get no respite and are with their special needs children 24/7 and learn complex nursing/medical procedures to care for them at home.  These are heroic acts of love I see everyday and if I did nothing this whole year but bear witness to that amazing amount of human kindness it would be a year well spent. To these parents: I applaud you, I admire you, you inspire me as a parent and as a human being.  I notice how well you treat your child and even though they might not be able to tell you how amazing you are please let me tell you that YOU ARE AMAZING.