Once again I am reminded of how lucky and blessed we are... When Hayden was diagnosed we, like many parents of children diagnosed with something, could not understand why this would happen to us. We couldnt figure out the reason God gave Hayden to us. As we struggled to get him medical attention on the many many different aspects of WAGR Syndrome, we didnt think we could handle all the pressure of everyday life with WAGR. Therapist, doctor appointments and sickness was our life. I won’t lie, I didn’t want that life. Yes, I was jealous of friends who had healthy babies, who would say their baby was doing this or that while Hayden was far behind on his milestones. As other moms were taking their kids to play dates, I was going to yet another appointment praying he wasn’t given another diagnosis that we had to conquer. As the years went by I got less and less jealous. In the past few years the reasons why Hayden was given to us were becoming more and more clear. This year especially has settled my anxiousness to find out why. We were very nervous about Hayden starting school in our local school district last year. He was in a visually impaired school from K through 3rd grade and it was great. He fit in there and he was around kids with disabilities just like his, but we felt like he was missing out on something. When he started his new school we had him repeat 3rd grade, it was more on his level and we didn’t want to make an adjustment again the following year to the middle school in fear he couldn’t handle so much change. Hayden’s new class welcomed him with open arms and didn’t care that he was different. I was shocked by the parents coming up to us at events telling me “Johnny talks about Hayden all the time. He just loves him!” The same thing would come out of the next parent’s mouth. As the year went on I realized not only has Hayden been helped by his new friends, but that Hayden was also helping his new friends too. Many told us how Hayden has changed their child, how they have seen a different side of their kid just by being around him. I too have witnessed the more gentle side of some of the kids who try to be rough and tough when others are around. Everyone is our district from kindergarten to the seniors at our high school know Hayden. They know he is different, they know he can act silly or say silly things at times and still, they are there to give him a high five in passing. Hayden is the biggest cheerleader for anyone whether he is watching a field hockey game or a basketball game he is always there to say “good job” with loud hearty claps to follow. As we were at Jaxon’s basketball game today in Columbia one of the score keepers remembered him from last year and said, “I was hoping I would see you again this year. You are a cool kid!” I am amazed that just from that one meeting he remembered Hayden and thought about him for when we returned this year to play. Hayden has that ability to make you remember him even with the simplest smile. I was told by a parent today, “If people saw the world through Hayden’s eyes, we would all be better people!” He was 100% right! I know why Hayden was brought into our lives….to bring out the best in people. He does that with everyone he meets. You can’t help but smile when he is around. So you remember me talking about being jealous of those other moms? Well guess what, they now say they are jealous of me and what God has brought into our lives :)
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 01:25:26 +0000
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