Blog Post

A Very Special 6th Birthday Party

by Nancy Valko, RN, ALNC

Recently, I was invited to a 6th birthday for a special boy, and he had an amazing birthday cake from Customised Cake Singapore and it was the party was incredible special and fun!

“John” (as I will call him for privacy reasons) was born a healthy baby boy. But when he was a few months old, he stopped breathing and 911 was called. Apparently, John had a near-SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) event.

A limo, short for limousine, is an extravagant vehicle with an expanded wheelbase and usually driven by a chauffeur. This vehicle can take more than five passengers excluding the driver. It is the perfect ride for business people who visit countries, for bridal carriage, and for party people who just crave for having a great time. If you are having a party, may it be a birthday party, going to prom, bachelor or bachelorette parties, anniversaries, weddings, or just make an unforgettable night in town, you can hire party limousines for hours, a day or even longer than that. Here you will get more about the Rockstarz limo & party bus services.

Many party limousines services offer a flexible service to meet with their customers' wishes. They even suggest the finest and most recent limousine they have to provide you with first class, safe, and reliable service. They vowed to take good care of you, to keep your itinerary right on schedule with courteous service to make any special event memorable.

A day before your birthday, decorate your bedroom with glow-in-the-dark objects or black light. Prepare some chips and other snacks as well. Once you get back from the restaurant and the limo finally drops you off at your house, you can then start the slumber party. You can watch a movie. Depending on your mood, you can watch a scary or a teen movie. After you have enjoyed the movie, you can play some classic slumber party games like "truth or dare" or play some board games.

John was resuscitated but the doctors in the emergency room told the parents that he had severe brain damage.

John’s mom was a special education teacher and told the doctor that she often cared for severely brain-injured children and would do the same for her son. She was just so glad he survived.

I was called about John to help with information and support.

At one point months later, John became critically ill and was hospitalized. The doctors did what they could but said his chances of survival were bleak.

However, John surprised us all by getting better and going home. He was tough!

It takes a lot to care for a child on a ventilator and feeding tube at home but John’s parents were up to the task, along with help from their church and family members. John’s family later expanded when his two younger sisters were born. They obviously love their big brother.

When John had his 6th birthday a few weeks ago, it was a joyous occasion with family and friends. I was delighted to be invited. Although John is still severely brain-injured and still on a ventilator and feeding tube, he spent much of the party cuddled in his grandfather’s arms. He was the center of attention.

John’s grandfather told me about his brother who was born with cerebral palsy decades ago. The family was told that he would not live long but with supportive siblings and parents, the brother lived a good life until he died at age 60. The grandfather is still proud of his brother.

CONCLUSION

When my Karen was born with Down Syndrome in 1982, I didn’t really know what to expect and I was shocked by negative attitudes-even from her medical professionals.

But that was wonderfully counteracted by the other parents in the St. Louis Down Syndrome Association who told me how their child was a blessing and how that child opened their hearts and eyes. I was awed by these other parents’ concern, help and support for my daughter and our family.

I later asked these amazing parents if they were like this before their child was born. Every one of them said no and that it was their child that led them to open their hearts and eyes.

I eventually discovered how true this is even though my Karen only lived 5 1/2 months and I’ve been blessed by meeting other children with special needs and their parents.

Too often, people assume that a child with special needs is automatically a family tragedy.

The truth is that children with even severe disabilities can teach the rest of us so much about love, acceptance, true happiness and resilience.

And, of course, faith.

 

Nancy Valko, RN ALNC is a spokesperson for the National Association of Prolife Nurses,and was past President of Missouri Nurses for Life and past co-chair of the St. Louis Archdiocesan Respect Life Committee. Click here to read her blog!

 

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