Scrap Girls Digital Scrapbooking Forum: Viewing image Life's Biggest Lesson (Right Side) - Scrap Girls Digital Scrapbooking Forum

I did this layout in re of how I felt and the lessons I've learned as the mother of two boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The journaling may be hard to read and is very long, so please forgive me for it's length, it reads as follows:
" Today we took Daniel back to Shriner's Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon, to pick up his scooter. He was so excited about finally getting it and even more excited that he got to pick the color that his scooter would be. While most children are thrilled over receiving toys and such, Daniel is so different. His scooter isn't a toy, it will be used because of the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which is taking over his muscles and causing him to fall more frequently with time. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy will eventually take over his ability to walk if a cure isn't found. From there it will take over each muscle in his body, which will also lead to his heart, as it too, will become weaker with time. While most children are running and laughing Daniel does his best to keep up. He doesn't understand what is happening to him, nor does he understand why he can not jump or run and play like other children. It breaks my heart each time I think of the future because I know that without a cure two of my children will not be in it for as long as I would like for them to be. When becoming a parent, we don't intend to pass away before our children, Nor do we intend for them to have an incurable disease. Many children do their best to overcome the realities of what Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy actually does to their bodies. When you look into the eyes of a child who is considered terminally ill, you cannot pray enough that a cure will come in time so that their lives may be spared. The only treatment there is for helping to prolong the way this disease affects little boys like mine is actually giving them steroids and also using AFO's (braces to help keep the muscles in a position so that they will not reduce and cause the feet to curl). The AFO's aren't a cure, they aren't very helpful in stopping this from happening. After a while, without a cure the feet will actually end up curling even with the use of AFO's. As Daniel was so happy and thrilled about finally getting his blue scooter, I myself had to hide what I truly felt inside. In his moment of happiness I knew then that the road ahead will only become harder for him. Eventually he will lose the ability to feed himself. He can choke very easily on what a lot of people take for granted as far as types of food. For instance, Daniel can not have peanut butter sandwiches like children his age truly love eating. Peanut butter is thick in consistency, which means it could get caught in his throat and block of his airway. So you see, when many people feel they have learned many lessons within their lives, I must say that I, as the mother of two boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the cousin of fourteen boys who have already lost the fight to this horrible life stealing disease, the sister of a young man who lost his life as well to this fight at the age of 21 years. I can say in all honesty that while I know that a cure may not be found in time to help spare my boys lives, that I will always continue to pray that a cure is one day found. As I've watched my boys learn to walk and stand, I have also had to watch them as they began to fall and lose the ability they had only just begin to master. Within my life there are many lessons I have learned. This one lesson, is the only lesson that I know belongs above all the others. I have learned that no matter what goes on in life, never take it for granted. Enjoy each day you have and live it to the fullest. Always keep the faith and know that just because you are physically disabled, that it doesn't mean you can't enjoy your life and live each day feeling the love and respect of others. Keep the faith and know that a cure will come one day, even if it isn't in time to help save my boys."

The font used is PC Scrawled Delight