Category Archives: Speranza/Hope

And… we’re moving again!

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Tomorrow the movers are coming to pack up and gather all of our stuff and then on Friday we’re in our new home. It all sounds so simple!

Regardless of the general moving stress, we are all super excited. This is a big change for me and Lily though we’ll still be staying on the UWS. It’s been just the two of us for the past six years. But we are both really excited to start this new chapter, combining homes with Stephen into a beautiful new place which is conveniently located right next to Lily’s school. I kid you not.

Lily is beaming and giggling and talking about her new bedroom and what she wants it to look like. Every time anyone speaks to her about it she just lights up. This kid is just amazing. So open-minded and invested in this new adventure. It’s almost exceeding the buildup to Christmas.

She independently navigated this page the other day when talking to Elaine, her speech therapist. (FYI this is a complex sentence to structure using Tobii/PODD so it’s pretty mind blowing.)

And then this is what she said she wants for the color of her room:

Consider it done kid!

Faith in humanity

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This morning Lily, Urzsula (one of her beloved caregivers) and I met our cousins the Darlings at the Children’s Museum. We had a blast, especially at the dance party!

Everyone at the museum was super accommodating to Lily; they even let us choose most of the dance music. Watching Lily run around with a big smile on her face – enjoying the music, the people, the mirrors – was such a relief. You see, Rett Syndrome has been very unkind to her lately. In the mornings, she can barely walk. And she wakes up screaming and shaking and scared multiple times throughout the night.

At the museum today it was nice to have a flash of an ‘almost normal’ existence – for both of us. I don’t take these good days for granted.

Afterwards we went around the corner to Fred’s restaurant for lunch. It was a busy day on the streets of Manhattan and people were overflowing onto the sidewalk waiting for a table. The host (who we learned later has a son with Downs Syndrome) saw the six of us coming and said ‘we’ve got a table inside for you’. They ushered us in and we had a fun and tasty lunch. When I asked for the check, I got this instead:

I saw your family altogether in the Children’s Museum and was so touched by the love and affection and energy you all have. I have a cousin with a daughter with similar difficulties and know what effort it takes and the constant worries you must have.

I hope it all goes well for you. Have a great Sunday!

I have no idea who this kind stranger was. All the adults around the table (especially me) were floored. What a beautiful and thoughtful note. And what an amazing and generous gesture.

 

Celebrating

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Lily had such an amazing birthday. The entire school was excited for her birthday. Even the janitor wished her a happy birthday when we walked through the front door that morning. She had the best day ever – dancing and eating cake with her friends, teachers, therapists and parents.

When she got home from school, we opened her awesome presents and then went to dinner at one of her favorite places – Playa Betty, with Mommy, Shamekia and Stephen!

The next day I took her for another birthday present – a haircut! She’s been obsessing over bangs and medium length hair so we went to Marco down in Soho for a new look!!!

It was only fitting given the recent poem she wrote about her birthday…

AND we raised close to $6500 for Rett Syndrome Research!!! Thank you to all who donated and helped make my kids birthday so very special.

Lily’s turning seven!

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On February 8th, Lily is going to be seven years old.  In honor of her upcoming birthday and my unwavering desire to obliterate Rett Syndrome, I am launching our second annual fundraising campaign. A generous (and anonymous) donor and I have committed to matching up to a total of $1500 raised on her RettGive.org page between today and the 8th.

I’m so proud of this kid – she literally smiles in the face of adversity. I see it every day when she’s struggling to stand, walk or breathe.  I see how hard she works to do – well – almost anything.  I pray for the day when Rett Syndrome will be just a painful memory.

For those who have already donated… from the bottom of my heart, thank you! Your support and love is palpable.  For those who’ve not gotten around to it yet, or don’t feel that giving $10 or $20 will make a difference, believe me when I say that every dollar counts.

Lily is the bravest, sweetest, smartest, hardest working almost 7 year old that I know. And I know that one day in the near future she, and her Rett sisters and brothers, will be cured.  But without funding, it will remain a pipedream.

Until that day happens, I will continue to fundraise and advocate and fight. For her.