It's that time of the week, y'all, but this particular, it's REALLY special. Today I am featuring a personal friend, a courageous mom and woman who possesses one of the strongest faiths I have ever met. She (and her son) gives whole new definitions to the words hope, patience, perseverance. I'm telling you all, I want to be Ali when I grow up. Seriously. This lady rocks my socks off.
You see, when I first met Ali, she was pregnant with her first son. I have been privileged to watch her oldest grow into the beloved child he is today. I have been privileged to go through her second pregnancy with her, all the way to the premature birth of her second son, who was diagnosed with a disorder called Prader-Willi Syndrome. I have walked through the journey with her as she pours her heart and soul out, never questioning, always managing to find the rainbow, and always, ALWAYS remaining steadfast in her faith.
I'm telling y'all, she is one fantastic person. Your lives will be a little richer for having known her.
I want to increase the awareness of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) because it is more common than people realize, and yet can be a very devastating ordeal to go through. May has been designated National PWS Awareness month, so I want to shout it from the rooftops. Once you meet Dean, you will too.
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I asked her: If you could pass along one thing you've learned as mother to Dean, what would it be?
Meet Ali from Diving Into the Waves.
I have learned always to put myself in the position of learner, not just teacher. Dean has taught me so much about what is joy, pride, accomplishment, peace and patience. Our experience with Cole as our first child was the typical child-raising experience, and we tried (and continue to try) to listen to him, but we do more teaching than learning. Then Dean came along and we knew really...nothing. In the absence of typical baby communication and development and processes, we had to listen. And it was strange, because in those absences, we felt to be in the midst of a very wise and already misunderstood little soul. The world wouldn't always "get" him, but we would. I imagine that in some ways, it's like people who lose one of their five senses and so they have to depend on the others to step up and take the place of that lost sense. We learned to be humble and listen to our sweet boy. I suppose somewhere along the way I have lessons to teach Dean, but it really feels like it's going to be more one-sided than I would ever have imagined. Bob and I as parents have much for Dean to teach us.
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See what I mean? She'll be back on Monday to tell you more about PWS. Leave some love for Ali by stopping by Diving Into the Waves. Take a look around. You'll be hooked too.
P.s. Check out the giveaway I am sponsoring on behalf of Mission Monkey by clicking here. And still to come, I will be having a FABULOUS giveaway for my combination 200th follower and 100th post celebration. There's always good stuff to be found on The Scoop on Poop.
I participate in Friday Follow, hosted by One2Try and Midday Escapades. Come join in the blog hopping fun. And as always, I will follow back.
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