Guest blogger Kathy Guzzo is back. Today and tomorrow, she writes about special needs anxiety, an emotion common to parents like us. As always, her perspective as the parent of an adult child with medical special needs gives those raising young children hope.
From Special Needs Anxiety to Pride: A Mother’s Marathon, Pt 1
Have you ever considered running a marathon or do you know anyone that has ever run a marathon? Prior to this year I would’ve answered ‘no’ to both those questions. Although two of my daughters ran track and cross-country in high school, they didn’t get the desire from me. I always said the only time I would run is if someone or something was chasing me.
The Requirements and Improbability of Running a Marathon
Running a marathon takes immense dedication, training and stamina. Most healthy adults are unable to accomplish this feat even if they try. That’s why when our 27-year-old daughter, who has suffered with many complications of lupus and Epstein Barr Replication, signed up to run this year’s Chicago Marathon on October 9, 2011, my first thought was, “What is she thinking?” After all, for the past 10 years she has needed extra rest, fainted several times without really exerting herself and dehydrates extremely quickly.
Thinking Through The Situation
Luckily I wasn’t talking with her when I found out, so I had time to rethink my reaction and try to look at this major endeavor from her point of view. She was very athletic prior to her illness. Her degree is as an athletic trainer, and she’s been training college and even a few professional athletes for 4 years. So she is well aware of all that’s required to be able to run a marathon. I also realize all she’s given up in her life, both small and large, because of her illness. Yet, it was when I thought about all those that would tell her she was crazy to try, that it may possibly exacerbate her illness to a critical stage requiring months to recuperate, that I decided to be her biggest supporter just as I did all our children when they made a decision to do something.
Share Your Reaction
I think Kathy’s daughter takes after her mother. They’re both incredibly brave women. What’s your reaction to her daughter’s goal and Kathy’s response? Could you let go of special needs anxiety like Kathy did? Leave a comment to share your thoughts. And come back tomorrow for Part 2 of Kathy’s story.
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