It is hard to go back to the day we were given Leo’s diagnosis of SMA. Emotionally and mentally, it seems so long ago (21.5 months!). Terminal diagnosis, life saving equipment that we would need to become experts at using every day, medical ramp on the front steps of the house, accessible van, ever changing diets…..it was a never ending list of new things. Intimidated by the amount of supplies and equipment would not describe it. How are we going to do this? How are we going to give Leo everything he deserves if we are having a hard time seeing past what comes with SMA? Faith in God. Realizing the special opportunity we have been given to love and care for Leo. To raise a child. And not unlike any other parent, make mistakes but give it our absolute best…together. Faith and Together are the key words here, and the unlikely leadership that came from our dog Wyatt.
You read that correctly, leadership from Wyatt. As new parents we saw a beautiful baby boy, entrusted to us. We felt the unconditional love and bond with our son. And we saw a mountain of SMA hurdles in front of us. But Wyatt only saw Leo. Curious at first, then interested and now inseperable. Wyatt reacts the same to Leo whether he is in his wagon, on his medical stroller or laying down watching cartoons. Leo could be on his bi-pap surrounded by his equipment and if invited Wyatt would clear a path and settle right in next to him. In his mind the medical ramp on the front steps is equally for him as it is for Leo. An accessible van gives him more room to be close to Leo on trips to the park. SMA has not impacted any decision Wyatt has made when he is with Leo. Wyatt was never intimidated by all the equipment, he didn’t waste time on the diagnosis and has not proven responsible enough yet to make changes to Leo’s diet. Dogs are not programmed to react to whether or not somebody is in a wheelchair or walking on their own . They respond to love. Wyatt reinforced our decision on how we were going to live our lives. No sense in trying to be in control of what is out of our control. We will put that energy in to our faith, and let the resulting love guide our decisions. It is all in how you see things, and sometimes that is better through the eyes of a dog.
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