“We should just be thankful for being together. I think that’s what they mean by ‘Thanksgiving,’ Charlie Brown.”
As we approach this Thanksgiving Holiday and settle in around our feast we give thanks for the obvious: friends, family, children. This year we were challenged to dig a little deeper…Not that we aren’t thankful for the above; we love our kids dearly and could not, by any means, raise them without the love and support from our great family and friends! But after another year of tests, trials, and intense research into Harper’s condition, I am finding I am thankful for so many things we so easily take for granted.
I am thankful for my vision
Though my eyesight is not perfect, it is correctable and I adapt. I cannot look through a double microscope and see the entire image. However, I don’t have to put glasses on to get out of bed and I can differentiate between colors… I am grateful to see!
Harper has Cortical Vision Impairment (CVI). We recently discovered she tracks objects horizontally when the object is being moved diagonally. She keeps her head tilted to the right side and appears to be looking away from you, where in reality she is using her peripheral vision from her left eye to see better. When she tilts her head to the left she is using central vision to see what is on her left side or ignoring you if you’re in front of her. I am VERY THANKFUL that I have been blessed with this knowledge about her because she lacks the ability to tell me herself. Which reminds me of my thankfulness for the ability to speak and to manipulate my voice to interact with those around me.
I am thankful for my voice
Harper is currently learning to use hers. She is 2 and I have never heard her say Momma or Daddy. I’m not gonna lie… that breaks my heart! However, I have heard her scream at me in fluctuating tones indicating displeasure with the situation and I have heard her laugh. Though limited in ability at the moment, I love her voice!
I am thankful for our access
to a multitude of information
It is because of this access that we have been able to learn about Harper’s disorder and determine the best ways to attempt to help her prosper despite it. We were able to take Harper to see or speak with doctors in Rochester, Minnesota; Boston Massachusetts; San Rafael, California; and Kentucky as well as various locations in our home state of Texas. I cannot imagine trying to help Harper survive during the days of no email or internet. The card catalog system at the local library (although a great and very useful system) would have failed to get me all the information we have obtained these last 2 years.
I am thankful that I live where I can paint my toes purple, shine a purple porch light, wear a purple ribbon, carry a purple phone, purchase purple adaptive aids and drive a purple car (which I do not….yet) all in name of EPILEPSY AWARENESS!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
