The Disabled (ALL) Creed

Yeah, the Ghost Writer again (aka, husband/father/john).  This post is from "an inspired non-believer."  What I am inspired by/what I believe in (that is for me).  What you take away from these writings, if anything, is for you.

The background of this post: For Catholics and Non-Catholics, I am Catholic and look to God (the Church at times, but mainly to God).  This is my version of the Nicene Creed (Google it):

The Disabled (ALL) Creed

I believe in the potential of a disabled person, a maker of tears of joy/sorrow, and Creator of that which I have become and am willing to defend.

I believe in my Son, Riley, begotten by God's Will and at times a stranger to the world we (the functioning) take for granted.  Hit by seizures, forces unknown, nights without peace, rises again and teaches me to appreciate every small thing in life (a laugh, a sound, a smell, a step).  Night after night, day after day, in accordance with God's Will he is my son and his story I will share with you (as he shares it with me).

His Story, for those readers and for our understanding, was given to me by Heaven and incarnate by the Will of God and cast upon to tell this (his/our) story so that we may appreciate life, love, suffering and healing.

I acknowledge the limitations that they (the disabled have); and I look to help them overcome their limitations and fight for their cause, in this world, until they find peace in The Next. 

I believe in the Helping Guides-- the parents, the relatives, the friends, the supporters and the caregivers; who come to us to overcome limitations of the disabled.

I believe that this is one messed (*edited) up world.  I believe that life is not always fair.  I acknowledge the limitations of humanity/the disabled and the way the world is; and I look to make it a better place for the disabled (all) and those who care for them; pray for them or are willing to understand their world (and if I am Blessed enough, share mine).

This is my Story. 

Linking up:

Stacie's Theory of Relativity

Stacie's Theory of Relativity.... 

R.espite

E.quals

L.oving

A.ll

T.hose

I.

V.alue

I.n

T.he

Y.ears... Me, my child, my family For a Moment in Time....

Respite is a moment in time, no matter how brief.

It is spending time with you and going back in the past to remember who you are.

It is spending time with a spouse and remembering why you got married or even said hello to them.... creating future memories.

It is holding on to a moment in time that is for you, even briefly, that reminds you of who you are (the person you were or thought you would be)...

It is living in a moment with those you love....

It is spending time with a child and forgetting the disability...

Respite is not about the hours in a day you have to take care of a child.  It is about the hours in life you are given and how you will spend those moments.  Respite is about spending time with the most important  or more importantly, share those moments with others....

This is 10 minutes of my life to post.,.... share with others... my respite.

Written by my Sweetheart

Sharing Freedom Through Boating for Special Children

http://freedomwatersfoundation.org/2010/09/29/sharing-freedom-through-boating-for-special-children/

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=122843054436505

September 29, 2010

By fwfwebmaster

 

“Special needs basically means the Loss of Freedom: Loss of the senses… smell, taste, hearing, feel/touch, sight. Freedom Waters Foundation gives our blind, deaf, and paralyzed child his senses back,” wrote John Buck, Father of Riley Buck, age 8. “The smell and taste of the salt water air; the vibration (hearing) of the motor or gentle rocking of the waves; the touch of the sun and wind in his hair. As for sight, the organization gives us something to look forward to every time we participate. For a moment in time, our son/family, are “normal” and a part of something very special.”

(Photo above, John and son, Riley Buck, Age 8 )

Zach, 7, who is on the most part non-verbal, sometimes has a hard time adjusting to new places or situations and although he has been boating before with FWF, his last trip was on a different boat, from a different marina and he approached with great trepidation and many tears. With a great deal of affection, comfort and support, Zach slowly adjusted to his new surroundings and we left the dock. Soon there after, he wanted and did explore the vessel, helped at the helm, and he was smiling with the joy of his boating experience.

By the time the boat returned to the dock, Zach was so relaxed that he nearly fell asleep.

“Freedom Waters Foundation allows children, whose lives are full of therapy and work to be free. The water allows them to just be a kid for a day, not a kid with special needs or multiple problems. Just a kid, who can set sail and relax in the sun. To see them laugh and feel the wind on their faces is such a wonderful sight. As a mom I take great joy in seeing my son sail on the open sea! His joy brings me joy and for that I am thankful!” stated Rebekah Aldridge, Zach’s Mom. She even wrote a little poem:

Water is so much fun,
then you add a little sun,
A little sail and special friends,
and the fun just never ends!


(Photo Above – Zachary Aldridge, 7 and Volunteer, Donn Schulte)

Today's discovery:

Christmas Cards from About the Small Stuff by Cary

Christmas cards featuring disabled children: Janet Harrold of Painting for Hailey

The romantic life of a couple with a disabled child

The romantic life of a couple with a disabled child.

(I, John Buck, being of  relatively sound mind (yeah, who am I kidding) take credit for this contribution.

THE NAUGHTY NURSE:  Yeah after a kid with a disability, the whole nurse/doctor role-playing thing will never be the same.  Instead she is the b*tch  who critiques you on how you handle being a parent and not making the mark.  Unlike a spouse who will never criticize you for not making the mark :)...  esp. when s/he is overtired, stressed and covered in XX (fill in the blank but it always originates with Riley).

LOTS OF MOANING: With a disabled child in the bed 7 feet away you will constantly hear moaning during "the moment"... move to another room and the baby monitor will provide the background "music."  The best part is when the diaper gets really full, you are "in the moment"/almost at the end and there is a huge giggle/laughter in the background.  Nothing says romance like laughter in the background.

A THREESOME : frequent breaks "in-between" to put a pacifier back in the mouth; change a diaper or lift a drooping head.  Trust me, a threesome is TOTALLY OVERRATED.

BEING CATHOLIC:  yeah with a disabled kid you don't get that much and probably every 2 months you get your virginity card back.  One more card and I can apply for canonization.  

THE CRYING SCREAM:  Back molars are coming in and no matter what you do, cries of pain come out.  The cries are nothing like the people in "the movies."  Even "the Hedge Hog" would have backed away from that one.  But, when you are the parents of a disabled child, you plow though!  Take your chances/"Embrace" the moment (and for those of you who do know get the joke/ Do not Google "hedge hog movies adult."

A THOUSAND AND TWO USES FOR A BURP CLOTH:  Yeah, we are trying to keep this blog PG-13.  You fill in the blank.  (Legal claimer:  Any profit made for using the burp cloth in this way will be forward to >>>> :)

COULD HAVE BEEN TWINS:  My FAVORITE  story... Ronan was conceived while my mother-in-law watched Riley for 30 minutes.  Considering it took 10 minutes to get to the room.  Ten minutes to get back.  Five minutes to remember what the hell we were doing.  We had 5 minutes to enjoy.  His joke:  Had we had 10 minutes it could have been twins!

 

I SHAVED FOR THIS?:  When you have a disabled kid you will be happy that they just showered (in the past 3 days).

YOU'RE DONE ALREADY?:  As a supportive/contributing husband, I took 7 minutes and wrote the above.  When I told Stacie I was finished.  She replied "you are done already?"  Again, it is amazing what you can/will/DO accomplish with a disabled child!  Even without a disabled child, in the context of this blog, it still fits!

by John Buck

aka The Shark Tooth Guy

Link

Success Story...

Pleasantly surprised to find a photo of my husband this morning as I was reading the paper.  In fact, it was the only sight of John I have had today since he was out the door by 5 am for work.

John Buck, a technician for The Client Server, works on a customers computer at the company’s office in Bonita. / ANDREW WEST/news-press.com

Success Story: Technology firm The Client Server Grows

Daddy Ramblings: First Day of Summer School

8:01 am:  Call from neighbor “Is Stacie OK?”  Yes, I reply, “Why?”  

In response: “I saw her running down the street screaming at a bus in her night gown.”  

Me: “oh, that, yeah I noticed that too.  First day of summer school. (pause)  Went better than I hoped for.”… some time earlier….

First day of school for a Special Needs kid.  When the bus driver who never dealt with a special needs kid (or protective " mother bear" as I call them) expects kids to be waiting on the corner, even though the route is a specific address, she will do a 30 second count and quickly drive away (bus schedule).  Bus pulled up, Stacie sees it and promptly finished brushing Riley’s teeth.  Started to wheel him out/at door 15 seconds later.  Bus starts to pulls away.   

Stacie looks to first person she sees Ronan (younger son),  “Watch Riley” who then looks to me (Dad standing next to Riley~!?/chopped liver?... Ronan's expression is like "watch him do what?") I tell Ronan I will be taking him to summer camp late. 

In her momentum Stacie starts to exit with wheelchair in hand (at door!!) and quickly is out (The Greeks really should have used a wheelchair for a battering-ram). The door flies open.  Stacie is off. The bus is off.  Third time in my marriage I saw my wife actually run.  Bus pulls away.  Ronan, Riley and I standing at the door:  Ronan asks “what is mommy doing?”  I sip my coffee as we all look out the door.... Stacie (running), bus (driving) and curious neighbors (standing) on street... and I reply “being mommy.”  So begins the first day of summer program.

Again, better than I hoped for as far as first day of summer school goes.

--
John Buck
Facebook: The Shark Tooth Guy

Daddy Ramblings: Laugh Often (first installment)

A friend of ours had their child at a popular restaurant chain.  The child was screaming (severe autism).   The parent looked around and told the folks staring at them, the sight that they were, "I told them no Pickles!... he really hates Pickles"

 "Laugh Often" with Ronan is a reminder of our amazing gift to spend time in the village of Give Kids The World.

by John Buck, The Shark Tooth Guy