Every now and then, a book comes along that helps both parents of typical kids and those with special needs kids. When Your Child Is Hurting is one of them. When Your Child Is Hurting The book’s author and mother of five kids, Glynnis Whitwer is transparent as she shares personal experiences and lessons learned while parenting her own children. The chapters deal with every day issues kids face:...

In Part 1 of this series, you met Julie Papievis, a woman who miraculously survived a near fatal brain stem injury. In that post she shared five positive ways her injury and recovery changed her.  In Part 2 of the series, she shared seven valuable tips about how parents can support their brain-injured (or special needs) child. In Part 3, the final post in the series, Julie provides some facts and...

In the first post in this series, you read about Julie Papievis, a woman who survived and recovered from a severe brain stem injury. In that post, Julie shared five positive ways the accident changed her. In this one, she gives advice to parents of children with brain injuries. I think it applies to a broader audience. See what you think. Education Educate yourself about what’s happening to your...

Julie Papievis was a dynamo before the car accident that changed her life. Now, more than a decade after her brain stem was so badly damaged the EMTs were sure she would die, she’s a dynamo again. In the months and years between her injury and recovery, which was remarkable but not total, she struggled with depression and grief for the woman she used to be. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview...

A few weeks ago Lisa Copen, founder of Rest Ministries, a website for chronically ill adults, asked me to participate in her Invisible Illness Week Web Seminar. She wanted me to encourage chronically ill parents who have special needs kids. I felt a little funny addressing those parents since I don’t have a chronic illness. But since my dad was chronically ill, and my son had special needs,...

In the two previous posts in this series, I shared six commonalities observed in parents who live triumphantly with special needs kids. Today the last three ways will be discussed. As was mentioned before, don’t try to implement all of them at once. Select one, work on it until it is firmly in place, then choose another. #7 Triumphant parents get away now and then. Getting away takes forethought,...

In the first post in this series, I shared three commonalities of parents who live triumphantly with special needs children. Today we’ll look at three more. As was suggested in the previous post, don’t implement all the ideas immediately. Concentrate on one until you master or complete it before going on to a new one. #4 Triumphant parents advocate for their children. They advocate at school,...

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) doctors and nurses know that a stay in NICU can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in preemies. But a recent study shows that a NICU parents are at risk of developing PTSD, too. NICU Babies and PTSD According to the New York Times Health Guide, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after someone sees or experiences...

When a child is unexpectedly hospitalized, having a clear-thinking parent by her side is very good medicine. Here are  five things clear-thinking parents do to help their hospitalized children: #1 Stay Calm It’s hard to stay calm when a child is in distress, on the way to surgery or enduring a difficult treatment. But conscious or unconscious, children pick up their parents’ emotional...