The Catholic Writers Guild

The author’s four sons ready for Judo

Battle Fatigue was the name given to the state soldiers experienced due to the stress of combat during World War II. Today the condition is known as Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome and it can be experienced by anyone involved in extreme situations. For some families, every day holds the real possibility for a life-or-death crisis. A child with a heart condition, severe allergies, brittle diabetes, or asthma requires keen and constant vigilance. The day-to-day responsibilities of caring for a medically fragile person eventually wears everyone down. For those of us gifted with Special Needs children, the need for respite is vital. Our daily routine can be what others consider a code red day. With skill and experience, we manage challenges of transportation, dressing, feeding, and behavioral and medical issues that would have others perplexed, defeated, and possibly calling 911.

But there comes a point where we just need to have fun and unwind. Laughter, exercise, companionship without criticism or judgment, and a chance to just be ourselves are necessary for our health and sanity.

There exist opportunities to find such times, and they are widely available. They will provide a chance to have fun, to have your body and your soul refreshed, to meet other parents who do understand what your life is like, and to build a network that can provide guidance and support.

Some of these opportunities are well known, like Special Olympics. Others are less familiar, like Miracle League, and still others require some digging to find, like Therapeutic Riding and K.I.C.K..

These venues offer parents a chance to make memories that they can share with their children for years to come. The opportunity is not to just sit and watch but to become involved, as volunteers are needed to make these activities work. Special Olympics has coaching, volunteering, and an opportunity to play in the Unified Team Sports. Miracle League has volunteer positions such as Staff, Coaches, and Buddies, also known as Angels in the Outfield. All of these activities can use your help in the fundraisers they run, as they are 501(c) nonprofits.

The very existence of these organizations proclaims the pro-life message that all people have value. Instead of embracing the apparent limitations, they encourage growth as they urge the participants to swim one more lap, kick ten more times, or even swing for the fence when the bases are loaded. Another aspect is when the able-bodied volunteers are given the chance to compare their problems with that of the participants; this can be an eye-opening attitude check.

Finding resources and opportunities for their child is one of the tallest hurdles new parents face when given the diagnosis. Doctors and schools will give you the names of other doctors and therapists, but there is much more to life than that. Parents who have started down the road earlier than you are a font of information on life-enriching opportunities, and it only takes finding that first group to open up to you what the world offers. As you gain wisdom, you can then help the next newbie who is desperate for something for their child.

The author’s son Devon at Miracle League