Christ First Forum

I took my son to the spine specialist last Friday. The doctor took one look at him and said that his condition is typical for people with cerebral palsy. I told the doctor that he had never been diagnosed with cb.

Over the years, my son has seen several different neurologists and even had brain surgery at one point but cb never came up. I think he does have cb because he meets all the criteria. I think it has just taken 38 years to fully manifest itself.

Please pray for my son's continued contentment in the Lord. When I helped him into the car and put his seatbelt on after the appointment, I leaned over him and looked him in the eyes and said, "Who's in charge?" He flatly answered "The doctor". Again I said, "Who's in charge?" He looked up and me and smiled and said, "God".

januarie wrote:I took my son to the spine specialist last Friday. The doctor took one look at him and said that his condition is typical for people with cerebral palsy. I told the doctor that he had never been diagnosed with cb.

Over the years, my son has seen several different neurologists and even had brain surgery at one point but cb never came up. I think he does have cb because he meets all the criteria. I think it has just taken 38 years to fully manifest itself.

Please pray for my son's continued contentment in the Lord. When I helped him into the car and put his seatbelt on after the appointment, I leaned over him and looked him in the eyes and said, "Who's in charge?" He flatly answered "The doctor". Again I said, "Who's in charge?" He looked up and me and smiled and said, "God".

Lynda, What a sweet and loving way to put your son's situation into a positive and loving perspective. I know that it must be hard, but at least you can now know what is wrong with him and we can pray for him more specifically.

Father, I come asking that you give Lynda strength and Her son the ability to cope with whatever you have planned for his life. We know that you have marvelous plans for him, to give him a hope and a future. Bless this dear mother for her undying love for her son. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen!

Thank you very much Frank!

Jeani, because Richie is mentally disabled (I.Q. 50), that label trumps all else and he receives the services he needs. It wasn't always like that. He qualified for services for years but the funds were not available. At 34, he finally received adequate services, as God opened the floodgates and the funding became available. If Richie was diagnosed with mental illness only, I think he would be in the same boat as your son. I really feel for you because I know how hard it is when your son has a mental illness. When Richie is not on the proper medication, he wants to die and he hates everyone. We live from one day to the next (as you do too) hoping that the current med will keep his thoughts stable.

As the years pass, we continue to see more evidence of the damage that was done to Richie's brain during birth. Things we couldn't even imagine when he was born. For as disabled as he is now, he was actually relatively high functioning as a little boy. I didn't realize how blessed we were. His sister was even able to teach him to ride a bike when he was 10. The seizures began when he was 6 and as he moved into adolescence, he became less agile and hand tremors increased. Then the voices came at 15. He was mercilessly teased and the older he got, the worse it became. He was sexually molested more than once while he was in school (the one place I thought he would be safe). And even today, if he didn't have full time care, he would fall victim to sexual predators. Richie has been scorned by the world and the organized church. He is not accepted by family members because he makes them uncomfortable. But he is full of God's Holy Spirit and having him as a son is the biggest blessing God has ever bestowed upon my husband and myself. Those aren't just noble words. It's the truth. Having Richie has caused us to trust God in ways we may never have known if we hadn't had such a special child.

I'm sorry I have no words of wisdom...

I'm awed by the strength God has given you ladies.
May our sweet Jesus continue to keep you and fill you with His joy.

Jeani, I know your heartache. I am devastated for you. I will continue to pray for your son's protection and for the protection of those around him. When my son has been taking into "emergency protective custody" (in handcuffs), it's like arresting a 9 year old child and the police do not want him in their jails, so he his taken to a mental facility. Fortunately, he is not released until his meds are stable.

What I want to know is this, would it be possible, or even desirable, to file for limited legal guardianship of your son? What I mean is, when your son is lucid, would he agree to such a thing? If you have enough documentation, you probably wouldn't need his approval but I would think it would be best to get the guardianship when he is not in crisis. We have full guardianship of our son but there are different types of guardianship, depending on the needs of the person. Then, perhaps you could legally make decisions for your son's medical treatment. Years ago, when Richie was in a mental facility, I called the facility for an update on his condition. The nurse said he was 21 and she did not have to give me any information (!!!) I replied, "You mean he could just walk out of there on his own???" She said "Yes". She also said it would be unlikely that I would be granted guardianship because he didn't act like he needed it. He was 75 miles away, a "child" who was mentally ill and they would let him walk out. When the nurse hung up, I called my son on the pay phone that was in the patients' lobby. I said, "Richie, would you like to come home". He was crying and said he would. I said, "Go tell the nurses you are leaving. I am coming to pick you up. Wait inside for me". Needless to say, the you-know-what hit the fan at the hospital. But I picked him up and my husband and I filed for full legal guardianship and were granted it.

Anyway, if you had guardianship over your son's medical issues, it might be a protection for him. I'm just grasping at straws because I haven't looked into it in a case like yours.

By the way, Nebraska only has one long stay mental hospital but it is overcrowded and always under investigation for mistreatment of patients.

As I read these post it is hard to put in words what I feel and the words that I would like to say. We in the body of Christ rejoice when our brethren rejoice and weep when they weep. Right now I am weeping with you.

The old Negro Spiritual song use to go like this:

No Body Knows The Trouble I See, Nobody Knows My Sorrows. I can't imagine what you dear mothers feel or have gone through.


I can only imagine as a Father watching my son drink himself into oblivion and serving in the Marines in Bosnia the things that one goes through as a parent. My prayers are with each and everyone of you.

Your prayers are a treasure. Thank you.