This is so very true ... the endurance that it takes to have a disabled child is something I never knew was in my character. After choosing a career that was w

This is so very true ... the endurance that it takes to have a disabled child is something I never knew was in my character. After choosing a career that was well-known for death-marches, that's the closest analogy I can offer (this crowd). Unlike a death-march, you never grow to hate the process: sometimes you grit your teeth just to take that next step, but your heart demands you continue. After reading your story, I realize I walked a much easier path - my son was born with trisomy-21 (Down Syndrome) and it was easily diagnosed (though not so easily accepted by us parents). It turned out he had several more genetic disorders, but as each was identified, it was (more easily) dealt with. I can't even imagine going through his first five years gathering questions but receiving no answers. We have two children older than our disabled son, and when people asked me what I wanted them to be when they grew up, I was always quick to answer "happy". You've given so much (both for Betrand and the others you've gathered together) that I don't want to take anything away from your amazing journey. I do want to give you what I can here - a simple blessing. May God bless you and your family so that you always find strength in him and in each other, and may your eyes be quick to see those small joys and victories so many people miss in their hectic lives. Thanks so much for sharing both the original story and the follow-up! EDIT: There's so much to say! I'll keep it brief though. I should have noted that growing up in a household with a disabled child has had a profound impact on my other three children. My older two are adults now (and Sam just turned 18) but from a young age they had empathy and sympathy that far exceeded what most adults feel. It's actually shaped their character in a tremendously good way. [1] Exceptional Lives - http://www.blurb.com/b/651459-exceptional-lives http://www.blurb.com/b/651459-exceptional-lives [2] Your Special Chef (Cookbook) - http://www.blurb.com/search/site_search?search=your+special+chef http://www.blurb.com/search/site_search?search=your+special+... [3] Your Special Chef (Website) - http://www.yourspecialchef.com http://www.yourspecialchef.com [4] My favorite molecular geneticist - http://annamoyer.com/assets/resumesum2013_moyer.jpg http://annamoyer.com/assets/resumesum2013_moyer.jpg