Children with Disabilities

 

As we anxiously waited at the hospital on Friday March 25,1994 for mom to have my baby sister we all grew anxious to see what the name of the new addition of the family was going to be. At 3:15 as my mom finally gave birth to my little sister, Ansley. When Ansley was born the doctors were unsure if she would make it through the night, as the EMT’s rushed Ansley to Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia we grew anxious to see if Ansley was going to be ok.

As the doctors told us that Ansley was a very sick little girl we sat there waiting to see if she would make it through. As all of this suddenly came to mind I remembered about an essay I had to write for my English class on the topic of children with special needs. Growing up with a sister who has many different illnesses and disabilities, has influenced me to write about what the effect of each illness has. This is an opportunity for me to share with you how a family is affected. Each different illness has a separate effect on the body.
         

Cystic Fibrosis causes a child to have lung problems; such as breathing difficulties. Cystic Fibrosis also causes a child to have digestive problems and needs a certain type of medication to help absorb fats. Cerebral Palsy (CP) causes some children not to be able to walk, talk, eat or even play like a normal child. CP causes a child to have a different outlook on life. I may not be a child with CP but I can give almost an exact perspective from a child with CP. My sister, being a child with CP has a different view of life than we do.

From her point of view the outdoors are a place where she can hear the birds chirping and the dogs barking, but from our point of view the outdoors are a place to have fun with our friends and a great place to explore new places and things.

 

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes seizure activity and uncontrolled bodily functions. Diabetes is a disease that can cause escalated blood sugar levels in the body. Someone with diabetes is forced to take insulin to control blood sugar levels in the body. Cortical blindness is a brain condition that reduces the brains ability to calculate what the eyes are seeing. Brain damage causes a child the inability to comprehend things as well or as quickly as others. I have seen that my sister has a different outlook on life from other children.
           

The effect this has on a family can cause different attitudes towards each other and other people. Each person in the family sees another person in a different way. I believe that a child with disabilities is a special gift which I received by having a special needs sister. Whether it is Cystic Fibrosis, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Diabetes, cortical blindness, extensive brain damage or even just the effects of a simple cold, every condition I have mentioned is something I can relate to.
            

Having a sister with each of these illnesses or disabilities has given me the drive and ambition to become a successful elementary school teacher for children with special needs, also known as an ESE teacher. My sister is the BEST thing that has ever happened to me. I don’t know how my life would have been if she wasn’t a part of it. The experience that I have had is the most amazing experience that anyone could ask for.

 

   I thank God for the gift He has given me and that is the MOST AMAZING sister anyone could ever ask for. I don’t think anyone who has not experienced what a child with disability goes through has the ability to talk or make fun of these wonderful children. If they don’t know what is it like, to walk in the shoes of a special needs child, they shouldn’t say anything; because they don’t know what a blessing it is to have a child with disabilities in the family. It is the most unbelievable blessing I could ever ask for.

 

   As you can see it is very difficult to learn about the unique techniques of each disability. I feel that I have taught a lot of people about things they may not have known. This has definitely been an honor on my part to give you a chance to learn about some things not many people have a chance to learn about.

Brittany Powell 02/03/2006