My daughter is the apple of my eye, the center of my world.  I would do anything for her to make her happy or to feel loved.

My name is Wendy Sue Gutman.  I live in Radnor, Pennsyvlania, with my husband, Erick, and our two children:  nine-year-old Clay Erick, and six-year-old Winnah Grace.  My husband works for the city, where he is a sanitation worker; meanwhile, I stay home with the children, where I take care of them and homeschool my oldest as well as my youngest.

Winnah was born with special needs.  She was born with spina bifida and is paralyzed from the waist on down.  She cannot walk excepting for very short distances, and then when she does walk, it's on a pair of crutches strapped to her elbows.  In addition to that, she also has epilepsy and suffers from seizures from time to time.  It's always scary when Winnah has a seizure because I am so scared that she is going to stop breathing.

Both Clay and Winnah could go to public school, but I don't like how public schools are undermining our children or the fact that they've taken God and prayer out.  I'm sorry; I'm a Christian, and I refuse to have my kids laarn about things that I find highly unappropriate; so I teach them here at home.

I also can keep an eye on them, especially Winnah; this helps in case she has another seizure or develops an unforseen problem.

I love to play with the children and help them learn.  I also love attending picnics once a month with the home school group that I belong to.  I have made many wonderful friends, and I and the kids benefit from getting out and doing exciting things, such as going to the museum, to the park, to the mall, out to eat, or perhaps taking in a football or baseball game.  On Sundays we take the children to our church; we go to a Nazarene church up the street from where we live, and we enjoy the services so much!

Winnah has had over thirty surgeries, mostly on her legs, hips, and lower back.  She's been in the hospital for far too many times than I can count.  When she is sick or has to have surgery, then Erick takes time off from his job, so he can spend time with Clay, so he doesn't feel left out.  Meanwhile, I live at the hospital until I know for sure that Winnah is out of danger.

I don't like it any better than she does, but I want to be there for her and show my supoort.  After all, I am her mother!

I thank God for my friends in the homeschool group and also our friends from church.  They bring me food or other necessities when Winnah is sick or in for yet another surgery; it really helps having friends when you need them the most!  I don't know how parents who have kids with special needs can handle crises when they don't have anybody to back them up!

Well, I am going to get back to teaching the kids (they both had a nap; it's time to get back to schooling them), so I will go for now.  I also have to give Winnah her epilepsy medication; it's time for that. I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Wendy Gutman saying so long and God bless! I hope you enjoyed reading my story!

~Love, your new friend in Pennsylvania, Wendy Sue.  :)