I have a beautiful daughter in Abbigail Clarice.  She is seven years old and is the light of my life.

My name is Willard Kirkman.  We live in Nashville, Tennessee, my daughter and myself.  I am a single parent.  Wife left me for another man, when it was discovered that the baby she was carrying was handicapped.  At first I was incredibly angry; it was as if my world caved in.

I have since gotten over it, but I feel cheated that Abbigail never knew her mother.  She has only me to care for her.  Well, me and a whole network of friends, so she isn't alone.  I thank God for that.

Abbigail was born with problems; when she was a year old, she was diagnosed.  Cerebral palsy, the total kind, the kind that affects her arms and legs.  She is what is known as spastic-quadriplegic, meaning she has no control over her arms and legs.  She will never be able to walk; she will always have to use a wheelchair.  She cannot talk; she can only make sounds; her sounds tell me what she wants or how she is feeling.

Her face is also a clue.  If she is happy, she will have a big, ear-to-ear grin on her face, her eyes will shine merrily, and she will coo like a dove.  If unhappy or sad, big tears form in her incredibly large blue eyes, and her mouth will be pulled down on both sides in an unhappy frown or scowl. 

Abbi can eat, but I have to feed her; her body is too weak to be able to manipulate a fork or spoon.  It usually takes about an hour to feed her; it is a messy job, but she enjoys food.  She eats just about anything, as long as it isn't too spicy.  If it is, then she will throw up all over, and I have a huge mess to clean up.  LOL

Abbi has been in and out of the hospital for various surgeries to lengthn or loosen stiff, atrophied muscles, or she has had pneumonia or a cold.  She can get sick at the drop of a hat; with a child like her, one has to be extremely careful, or problems will develop.  It's never an easy time when she is sick; when she is ill, my whole world stops until she is well again.

Abbi is my only child.  I would do anything to ensure that she have a happy, joy-filled life.  If people can't accept her or get past her wheelchair, braces, or palsied limbs, then I don't want to have anything to do with them because they refuse to see her potential.  I see her as a valuable human being who can contribute much to this world if she is only given a chance.

When I am not taking care of Abbi, my mom watches her.  My mom is in her fifties, but she is in reasonably good shape.  She lives close by, so we see Mother just about every day or so.  Mother is very good with Abbi; she just adores her!  And Abbi loves her NeeNee.  They are one of a kind!

I work at a factory; I work four days a week.  Monday through Thursday, work from 2 to 11 p.m.  I have to work in order to provide for my girl and pay her (or my) bills.  I have no choice; if I didn't work, we'd both be out on the streets, and to be on a street with a handicapped child would be my worst nightmare come true .  I don't want that for Abbi (or myself), so I work.  Simple.

Well, I am going to take Abbi for a bite to eat at McDonald's, then come home, and get ready to go to work.  Mother will be here by one, so Abbi will have someone to watch out over her while I am away.  I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Abbi's father signing off!  God bless and take care!

~Sincerely, Willard Kirkman.