From the mouths of Dads.

I have a guest poster today! Tork is a Dad that is fighting growing up whilst talking about his life as a father.  Sometimes things go right in his life, sometimes things go wrong.  His dad jokes are terrible, but they are always there through the good and the bad, and you can't help but laugh at them. You can read more at his dad blog.

Dealing with Child Health Issues

Thought I'd share with you my story.  Perhaps you may find it useful...

See, I have a son.  A wee little boy who is the spitting image of his mother but slowly growing to look like his Dad.  A special little guy who is the apple of our eyes, and who has been diagnosed with Tracheomalacia and Vocal Cord Palsy.

Don't be sad for him though, he's not sad.  He's the opposite. He laughs and smile until the cows come home, even though we haven't got any cows.

He laughs and we laugh now too, but first..

What is Tracheomalacia

Tracheomalacia is the symptom where the wind pipe is so floppy that it will constrict to 50% of it's diameter, therefore making it difficult to breathe.

My son's airways aren't as bad as 50%, so he technically doesn't have the condition, but was still diagnosed with this.

His trouble breathing would keep him awake at night.  He would make bird like noises when breathing. It's very common and can easily be pushed aside by unknowning parents thinking it's just baby noises.

It's fixed with age. As a kid becomes older their windpipe becomes stronger and less floppy. Until that time, he's on oxygen 24 hours a day and will be gradually weaned off with age.

What is Vocal Cord Palsy

Vocal cord palsy is the condition of the vocal cords not moving.  It can be either cord or both. It is yet to be confirmed on how it is caused, but it could be pointed towards trauma to the cords or brain dysfunction.  Eeep huh?

Again, it is a condition that kids can grow out of after a few years, but I remember almost passing out as soon as we were told he had Vocal Cord Palsy.  My immediate thought was "he will never speak?"

I remember turning white, sweating and dry heaving. I couldn't tell you what my wife was doing because I was too much in shock.

Fast Forward

Hitting the fast forward button on our parenting life, past the anguish of sitting through tests and in sick kid hospital, past the months of wondering if he has this condition or not, we reach a certain point in our child's life.

"Da-da"

The sweetest words a father could ever hear, especially me. At four months old, for a child that isn't supposed to speak, I'm his first word.  Not even a plastic surgeon could wipe the smile off my face.

Ok, we might have had a few mumbles and wah's out of our boy previously, but that was the biggie that let us know he was incorrectly diagnosed.  Now, we can't shut the bugger up!

...and I love it.

He's still got oxygen attached to his face at night, but he'll be off it soon for good. But during the day those adorable cheeks are pinched, kissed and smeared with the food of the day.  And he loves it.


So I'll always think about how lucky my boy is. Even though he has health issues, he is growing out of them.

I think of how lucky we are to have a child where others may have trouble even getting pregnant.

I think how lucky I am to finally be a dad.


So what's the point to my story?

Knowing that a few of Kate's readers have differently abled kids, my story might be a story of hope.  A story that one day something will happen where you know everything is going to be OK.

A story that shows time can be a great healer.

So take each day as it comes, with the support of your partners, your family and friends, and with every smile your child gives you, you'll realise just how good things are.