My Other Child

I talk a lot about my "special" child but I really have two special children. As mentioned in previous blogs, GiGi has a little brother and today he is turning six, (I have made several requests of him to stop aging after age seven but he refuses my pleads and will hear no more on the subject). He's been through a lot in his six years but he is a very well adjusted boy who is tender, wise and loves his life . . . and his big sister.

He was only three when GiGi got sick. I used to ask him once in a while what he remembered about GiGi before she had a "bug in her brain". He would tell me about spending time with her under the neighbor's smoke tree. For a while his most vivid memory of her was of the night before she went into the hospital, "remeber GiGi was screaming and crying mom?"

Now, he doesn't remember anything about her from before. His fading memory of her was a hard thing to accept but that's just the way it is. Selfishly, I wanted to be able to share my memories with him. Once in a while we look at old pictures of the two of them. Lately I've noticed that those albums are being pushed to the back of the shelf by new albums filled with new memories and fun times had in the last two years.

I did a lot of research on how having a disabled sibling affected people. I asked family and friends that had disabled siblings, and found some articles and books on the subject. Most of what I found was that it could be hard at times but mainly it made them stronger people. I see that now. Taki has grown so much in the last three years. Don't get me wrong, he is a typical six year old in a lot of ways but there is something that seperates him from most of his peers.

I don't know if I can articulate it but it's there.

He is very protective of his sister and celebrates the loudest when she smiles or laughs. At bedtime we usually spend time in GiGi's room playing on her bed. Sometimes she will jump on him or pat his head. He gets soooo excited. Luckily, he doesn't notice the stares and remarks yet.

My wishes for him are what all parents wish for their children; they are very simple: peace,happiness, health, self-love, safety, and freedom.

One special wish just for him would be to be blind and deaf to some of the "normal" people for as long as possible.

I want to thank all of our family and friends who swooped in during the hard times to keep our house a safe and happy place for Taki. He never went without attention and love. Because of our "village" our family survived intact.

George and I are so blessed to have such a great life with two wonderful kids.

We watch our children grow and learn and live life every day.

This is a picture from his third birthday party. We had it at the hospital outside of the PICU where GiGi was.

George and I thought, how horrible to have his third birthday in the hospital but he didn't mind, he actually really enjoyed himself.