Introducing: Angelica

When Jackson first starting showing symptoms and the ER doctor told us he was fine and there was nothing wrong with him. She and I both knew better. What is so odd, is before Jackson’s diagnosis, he stopped crying for food. Looking back, I think he stopped crying because his blood sugar would drop so low, he didn’t have the energy to “communicate”. I kept pushing him at home to eat and she did the same when he was with her. I told her the doctor said he was fine. In my heart, I knew something was wrong, but I seriously second guessed myself. In her heart, she too knew something was wrong. So unknown to both of us for a few days, we both were pushing Jackson to eat on a strict schedule. I really think most people would just assume, he’s not crying, no need to wake him and make him eat. Or think, he’ll cry when he gets hungry. But, not her. She’d push him to eat every three hours, giving him carbs – fueling his body and his brain, she did this day in and day out, every three hours, like clockwork. Once I got to the point where I was convinced something was truly wrong, despite what I was being told, I talked to her about it. I’ll never forget the look of relief on her face when I told her I was moving on and getting another opinion.  The look on her face was what I needed to know that I wasn’t losing my mind. Something was wrong and she agreed.

Angelicia is Jackson’s daycare teacher. I have thanked her and cried with her more times than I can count but it never feels sufficient. How do you thank someone for helping to preventing brain damage in your child? How do you thank someone for keeping your child alive? You can’t. No amount of thank you’s or tears, is ever enough. We owe so much to her.

I dread the day when Jackson outgrows her classroom. I feel queasy just thinking about it. She continues to take such great care of him. She checks his blood sugar, feeds him, is helping me to push him to meet milestones, and provides a safe place for him to learn and grow every day. I want to keep the two of them together forever. I trust her as much as I trust myself, and that says a lot.

Angelicia, thank you. Thank you for being kind, loving, intelligent, and for trusting your instincts. We’re very blessed to know you and I’m honored to be able to share my son with you.

There are plenty of great things to say about his daycare too, but I’ll save that for another day or post. This one belongs to Angelica only.