Griffon Daniel is my pride and joy. I cannot imagine life without him.
He was born with significant special needs; he requires medical care 24 hours a day. Let's see ... it would be easier to say what's not wrong with him. He has damaged lungs, spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy that affects all four limbs and his trunk (he is nonverbal and cannot walk or talk; he also cannot eat on his own), significant brain damage, seizures, and will probably never get to live independently on his own. It's hard, but it's a job I wouldn't trade for all the gold in the world.
I love my son with all my heart and soul.
We adopted Griffon when he was a baby from China; he's now five and has grown into a beautiful little boy with thick, blue-black hair, upslanted dark eyes that have a mischevous twinkle to them, a round, moon-shaped face, a tiny snub nose, and dimples for days. They're the first thing people notice whenever he smiles. He is a very handsome little boy, and I am very proud and honored to be his mamma.
Besides Griffon, we have two other children, one born to us (that's Jillian Natasha; she's 10) and the other, also adopted (that's Ludmila Katerina; we call her Lucy; she's nine; we adopted her from Russia when she was three, six years ago). Our lives are very busy, but satisfactory; we (my husband, Don, and myself, Catherine) are very happy. God has truly blessed us, especially when Lucy and Griffon came into our lives. We are at long last a happy, complete family.
We don't know what will happen with Griffon but one thing is for certain: we are not putting him into an institution. People have suggested that idea to us in the past; we're like nothing doing. We can take better care of him here at home, and he would probably remain healthier in doing so. So far he has; the last time he was hospitalized was three years ago, when he had pneumonia. He nearly died, but thanks to many prayers, he made it and is now thriving.
Well, I hate to run, but Lucy wants to watch skating; that's her passion, and she wants us to help her root for Team USA. I will run along now; I'll then make supper once the skating is overwith and done. I'm going to make chili with mashed potatoes; it's perfect for a cold, snowy day. Take care and God bless; I will write in here another day!
~Cahterine Ebersole, Nashville, Tennessee.
P.S.: We're supposed to get anywhere from 4-7 inches of the white stuff here in Middle Tennessee. Good thing Griffon doesn't have any doctor's appointments tomorrow; we would have a dickens of a time getting out, since we live on a hill. It's murder trying to get down our driveway when it snows and especially when it ices over; it's also hard maneuvering our son's wheelchair in the snow!
