The Most Beautiful Things

I was so grateful Jocalyn shared this trailer and film on her blog. It truly inspired me for many reasons, so I thought I'd share it! Here is the trailer and the actual, full film. Truly amazing.

Life is Beautiful

Remember this movie?

Do you ever feel like your life is this movie trailer? Things are going great, and then something changes it drastically? Do you feel like day by day you're making it up as you go, and hoping that your kids...or nobody for that matter...catches on? Does your story "prove that love, family, and imagination conquer all"? I'm not sure if I'm doing it, but that's what I want our story to be. I don't think about it like this, like I'm out to prove something to the world, but when I think about it, I do want to prove that love, family...and yes, perhaps even a little imagination...conquers all. The only other thing I'd add is faith, hope, and charity conquer all, but that's a different topic for a different day.

Recently, I've been reminded of how beautiful life is. It really really is. I have felt so many hands reach out toward our family in the past few months, so many people approach us with huge open hearts, and I have felt beauty. It can be felt. Beauty. Inner-beauty of those around me. Beauty of creation -- even those things that seem imperfect are full of beauty (if not more) than the average perfect model. Beauty of creativity -- all that can be accomplished with a little creativity/imagination and energy! Beauty of love, sheer joy, the warm-heart-effect. Beauty of family. There is a scripture that I think of often that talks about having hearts knit together. There are few things more beautiful than to see a small, or large, group of people whose hearts have been knit together in one purpose and to be able to go forward and fulfill that purpose. It is a beautiful thing.

I have been reminded that life isn't just beautiful, but my life is beautiful. Sure, sometimes I have to fake it to make it. I have to pretend to know what I'm doing. I have to dry my eyes when my kids are around. But it's all things I choose to do. I choose it all, and I'd choose it again. I think I really would. Because my life is beautiful -- despite the heartache and pain, when this movie is over, I think I'll be glad I lived it.

Just for good measure you can watch this clip. Such a great movie!

I Am Not My Body

I Am Not My Body is a full length documentary premiering April 5th. It is the story of Marius Dasianu, a young Romanian boy who was left with 3rd and 4th degree burns after a severe house fire in 2007. Both of his parents died in the fire, and Marius didn’t find out they had passed away until more than 5 months after the fire.

The fire burned away his nose, made it so he couldn’t blink, and doctors amputated all 10 of his fingers because of the infection and dead flesh.

Two students interning in his hospital from Brigham Young University met him and fell in love with him. With their families help, they brought him and his brother to the United States so Marius could get better medical care.

Doctors from the generous Shriner’s Hospital for Children have repaired his eyelids so he can blink, completely rebuilt his nose, and turned two of his toes into thumbs.

But that’s only part of the story…

His adoptive mother was diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer. While he had surgery in Los Angeles, she would receive chemo and radiation treatments and then drive from more than two hours to be with him. She did this every day he stayed in the hospital.

While he has his moments (he is a kid), he always smiles, rarely if ever complains about his burns, situation, or surgeries, and has an incredibly positive attitude.

He goes swimming, wrestles, plays trombone, does karate, plays foosball, drives a go cart…all without hands.

The movie premiere will be held in Provo, Utah on April 5th. Tickets are complementary, but you do have to register. If you can come, go here to register! (I'm going, so let me know if you decide to come so we can try to meet!)



For more information, go to mariusmovie.com.

Cerebral Palsy & Certain Proof

Today is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day.
If you didn't read the post, Dear Cerebral Palsy, by Mo, then go read it!

It's poignant and lovely.

I also wanted to share this video with you.
I believe it captures the essence of Cerebral Palsy.

"Different... Not Less"

Temple Grandin: an HBO Movie.

Try This Tuesday: Recommended Books & Movies

Here are a few book and movie recommendations, in no particular order....

Viri's Recommendation:


Last [weekend] we went and saw a movie downtown at the Broadway cinemas. We saw Adam.. it was about a man afflicted with Asperger syndrome, a form of autism. It was great.. sweet.. funny.. and the actor with the role of Adam was amazing. I think he did a great job at portraying someone with autism.. but mostly the movie gave me hope for the future.. hope that one day Logan will be able to function in the world, and even might be able to have a family of his own. Definitely a must see!!!

Danyele's Recommendation:



Sesame Street has a book out that we use called, "We're Different, We're the Same." It's great for a number of things...we're interracial and have some special needs children too, so it fits well.


Tara's Recommendations:


"This is the story of two driven Harvard academics who found out in midpregnancy that their unborn son would [have special needs].... What they did not realize is that they themselves were the ones who would be 'born,' infants in a new world where magic is commonplace, Harvard professors are the slow learners, and [special needs] babies are the master teachers."

Reading Martha Beck's book 'Expecting Adam' really changed me. It went to a place so deep, I think it actually touched my soul. I don't agree with all of Ms. Beck's philosophies, but I respect her ability to see her special needs son in his proper light, to recognize the miracles that he brought into her life, and to have an uncanny ability to put her experiences into words. I highly recommend this book -- not just to a special needs parent, but to anyone.



While I was pregnant with Chloe, I read 'Love and Logic,' and considered myself a bit of an expert on the subject of children's discipline. That makes sense, right?... An execting mother thinking she knows it all. Then - boom - reality hit, and all of the 'typical' rules were thrown out the window (right along with my pride). Thankfully, when Chloe was about six months old, I came across this book that takes the love and logic theories that I respect so much and teaches you how to apply them to your special needs child. I am anything but an expert on disciplining special needs children -- they are just too cute and sweet, so it's hard to stand firm, but this book has helped give logical yet loving guidelines so I can take a step in the right direction!


Cristin's Recommendation:




The 'Signing Time' series of DVDs are AWESOME. We all learned so much from them. The Mom who makes them has a Deaf child. The Signs are all ASL, the music is fun and catchy and the videos are so addictive. There are also books and other stuff on their website.

April's Recommendation:



One of my favorite movies when I was a teenager was "Awakenings." It touched me so deeply that I started volunteering at a local rest home. When I watch it now, it has an even deeper meaning...In the movie a doctor asks a mother if her comatose son ever speaks. She replies "of course not, not with words..."

Janis' Recommendation:


I just finished THIS LOVELY LIFE by Vicki Forman. She is of “Literary Mama” fame. Once I read her essay The Mother at the Swings I was really drawn to her writing. 'This Lovely Life' is an awesome, gripping story about her twin birth, her daughter’s death & the disabilities (cerebral palsy & seizures) that her son had as a result of premature birth. It may not be everyone’s style as it is not all roses & sunshine, but it is REAL.

Ashley's Recommendation:



I'm not usually into reading books about cerebral palsy. Especially the "self-help" ones that promise some miracle treatment. But after hearing so many moms talk about 'Blue Sky July', I had to give it a look-see. And I'm so glad I did . . .

It's not about how to help your child, not about how to deal with different therapies, just a simple memoir of a mother whose child has severe CP. It's written so beautifully . . . I don't know if it's because she is a writer by trade or a combination of that with her UK brand of the English language, but she has such a way with words. It's the story of the first seven years of her son's life, and it's almost like poetry. It's hard to imagine someone could write so eloquently about such a difficult subject matter, but Nia Wyn does!

If you are the parent of a special needs child (especially a severely disabled one), please pick this book up and read it--it'll do your heart good!

Kristina's Recommendation:


I heard about a documentary called Including Samuel from one of my yahoo groups. The film was created by a photojournalist that has a son with cerebral palsy and looks at the challenges and opportunities to include Samuel in their everyday experiences and in school. It also shows several others with disabilities and shows their varied experiences.

I just looked at the extended trailer - 12 minutes - on the documentary and I can't wait to see the whole show! It's playing in the Philadelphia area on WHYY (Channel 12) at 7pm on October 9th. I'm setting my DVR to record it. I hope anyone reading my blog takes the opportunity to check out the trailer here and then decides to watch the documentary on your local PBS station.



If you have any books or movies relating to special needs that you'd like to recommend, please leave a comment!!!