On February 23rd, 2017, after three years of looking for a diagnosis, my daughter Elizabeth finally received not one, but three main diagnoses from a local geneticist. For me, it was not a shock. I knew there was a diagnosis out there that fit her and I was not afraid to continue searching in spite…
Special Needs
“Get to Know My Special Needs Child” School Printable
School is just around the corner for most of us and while it can be an exciting time, it can also be a bit anxiety-inducing for parents of special needs kids. We all want our child’s teacher to understand our child and to know all the little details that make them unique, but sometimes it…
Does One’s Special Needs Justify Killing or Withholding Treatment?
The Alfie Evans case is not the first case of its kind to draw attention, but it does show us just how depraved humanity can be. In many circles, there are discussions about when life officially starts and ends. There are discussions about abortion, end-of-life care, physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia and if one’s special needs justify…
Can Autism be Cured or Can a Child “Lose” an Autism Diagnosis?
I talked to a friend the other day and since I have two kids with autism, she asked me this question: “Can Autism be cured? You’re much more familiar with autism than I am so please tell me if I’m totally wrong, but I’ve got a friend telling me how you can basically cure autism…
Top Pediatric Doctors for EDS, Dysautonomia, and Mast Cell Disorders
With my new series on Ehlers-Danlos and “The Trifecta” (Dysautonomia, POTS, Mast Cell Disorders), I have already been getting many questions about the pediatric doctors we see for these disorders. Since we are a military family, we have traveled to other states and seen other pediatric doctors that I would highly recommend. While most of…
An Introduction to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in Children
It’s been exactly one year since my daughter received three official diagnoses of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type 3, Dysautonomia (POTS), and Mastocytosis/Mast Cell Activation Disorder. When you have all three of these together, they call it “The Trifecta.” Of course, you can have each one separately without the other, but more commonly you have at least two…
IEP Meeting Preparation: Tips for Parents of Special Needs Children
Going to an Individualized Education Plan or IEP meeting can be one of the most stressful experiences for a special needs parent, but having an IEP is important in order for your child to have a good education. IEPs are important because it helps set goals up goals and a plan of treatment so that…
Free Hospital Gowns for Your Child’s Doll or Stuffed Animal
For medically complex kids, especially those that spend a lot of time in and out of hospitals, small things like free hospital gowns for a “stuffie” can be a BIG help! Kids hate spending time in hospitals and doctor’s offices, but there are plenty of things we can do to help them adjust to this…
The Best Hypoallergenic Carpet for Families with Allergies or Asthma
When we moved to Colorado, we decided that we wanted to buy a house and be first-time homeowners. Previously we had only lived in an apartment and on a military installation. Buying our first home was certainly an eye-opener and while we picked a nice house, there has still been a lot of work we’ve had…
Special Needs Dolls That Show Inclusion for Everyone
There are many beautiful dolls out there that parents can buy, but for kids who have special needs or special medical equipment, there aren’t many dolls that “look” just like them. One woman decided to change this by opening up a doll shop on Etsy and these special needs dolls are inclusive of everyone! Owner…