A Mother's Worries

Every mother will tell you she worries about her child. A scraped knee, a lost teddy bear, a teenager's first broken heart. But as a mother of child living with a terminal illness, my worries are very different...

I worry when my child sleeps an hour past his regular waking time, for fear that he's no longer breathing.

I worry when my child cannot cough up mucus from a regular cold, for fear that the mucus is entering his lungs causing pneumonia.

I worry when my child has difficulty holding a spoon or a crayon, for fear that his muscles are deteriorating faster than we think.

I worry that if my child does not start putting on some weight, he will need to have a feeding tube surgically inserted into his stomach to feed him.

I worry that someday when he realizes he is different from other kids, he will ask us, "Why can't I walk?"

I worry that kids will make fun of him when they see him in his wheelchair.

I worry about leaving Nicholas, even just for a few hours, for fear that he might not be alive when I return.

I worry that someday if Jeff and I have healthy children, they will never know their wonderful big brother. They will never know how smart he was, how silly he was, how he could tell you exactly what he wanted with his facial expressions, how much he loved to cuddle, to sing, to play. They will never know how much he loved Dora or Max & Ruby, they will never know how happy he made his mommy and daddy, or how many lives he touched.

I worry that every day is the last day with my child.

This is just a short list of the numerous worries I have for Nicholas. I would give anything to worry about a scraped knee, a lost teddy bear, a broken heart.

My friends and loved ones, what would you do if this was your child, your nephew, your cousin, your grandchild? Wouldn't you do absolutely ANYTHING you could so another parent wouldn't have to experience these kinds of worries?

Please take 30 seconds of your day and vote for The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation in the Chase Community Giving campaign before Friday, Jan. 22nd at midnight. http://voteforsma.com/. Please post this note and ask your friends to vote as well. It may just help save our child's life.