My name is Abriela Marie Concha.  I live in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with mi esposa, Manuelo, and our two children.  We have a daughter, Esperanza Maria (5) and Angelito (Angel) Gabriel (2).  My husband works at a convenience store; as for me, I stay at home and take care of our kids.

I am happy to say that Esperanza is healthy.  She will be starting kindergarten in the fall (September).  She is very smart and is even trying to teach ME how to work on the computer!   LOL  

Our son, meanwhile, has special needs.  It makes me very sad that he will probably never walk.  He has cerebral palsy and it has affected his whole body.  He is what they call "spastic quadriplegic".  He had brain damage while being born and it has marked him for life.  He is in a wheelchair and it takes so long for him to eat.

I have my days where I get impatient with my son, but I know he cannot help what has happened to him.  This is when I rely on friends (or mi madre) to come help when I think I cannot.  He has therapy (physical, occupational, speech) three times a week; if I am not taking him there, I am taking him to the doctor's for one thing or another.  This winter he has been so sick with colds and pneumonia; the last time he had it I thought he was gonna end up in the hospital.

He gets a flu shot every year but Angelito still manages to get sick with a cold or two.  His lungs and immune system have never been that strong.  I worry about him and I would do anything in the world to take his suffering away!!

It is not known at this time whether Angelito will talk, and walking right now is highly doubtful.  His body is just too spastic.  He has his little wheelchair and it does help him sit up, but I still hate it.  It is so clunky and so ... so ... MEDICAL ... looking!!  It's ugly!!

And whenever I take my boy out in public, people always stare or make rude comments and it makes me very uncomfortable!

I still love my son, more than life itself.  I will do everything possible to heop Angelita reach his fullest potential.  

Well, Esperanza wants me to see what she created on her computer, so I will go.  I also have to feed Angelito his supper and then get him ready for bed.  We have church tomorrow and then we're going to go to see my sister, who lives in Fargo.  It is going to be a vey busy (not to mention, long!) day.  

Until later, this is Abriela Concha saying adios!  I hope you liked my story!  Hasta luego, mis amigos!

~Abriela.