It's Kind of Fun To Do The Impossible

Growing up in a small community comprised of many large families, I honestly can't remember any children in our extended family being wheelchair bound.  Never gave "disabilities" much thought.

In September of 1984, our healthy, "normal" baby was experiencing respiratory problems. The emergency room doctor told us that she should stay "overnight - just as a precaution". Six weeks later, we brought her home, totally paralyzed - 100% dependent on a ventilator for every breath.  Diagnosis - unknown.  Prognosis - unknown.

Her baby stroller was equipped with plexiglass to hold the ventilator, suction machine and necessary supplies to sustain her life.  The doctors ordered round-the-clock nursing at our home to care for Ashlei.  Our three bedroom ranch house was transformed into a mini ICU.  For the next 16 years, our lives were consumed with weekly emergency room "runs", hospital beds, expensive medications, heart monitors, suction catheters, tracheotomy tubes, IV meds, wheelchairs...

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible" - Walt Disney

It was fun.  Fun to be able to bring our daughter back to our home and create what would become our "normal" family life.  Fun to introduce her to as many life experiences as we could.

This was the mid 80's when insurance companies were "kinder and gentler".   Denials of coverage or attempts to cut back coverages were basically non-existent.  With our round-the-clock nursing care, Ashlei's dad and I were both able to maintain our jobs, pay our bills and provide a somewhat "normal" family life for the four of us.

Ashlei passed away 12 years ago today.

With today's medical advancements and technological innovations, there are hundreds of Ashlei's that are blessed to be able to live at home with their families.  Unfortunately, insurance companies are not as "generous" as they used to be.  Many families have to fight their insurance companies to receive the benefit of ANY nursing care in their home. Without assistance, one of the parents may have to quit their job to take care of the family member. You see, your average Day Care Center or school is not equipped to handle a special needs child.

Enter Redwood.

Redwood, located in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, provides programs for the most medically fragile individuals, from six weeks to the elderly.  The caring staff at Redwood provide nursing support,  personal care, education and social interaction as a supplement to the family unit.  Being able to take your family member to Redwood, be it one day or five days a week, can make the difference in the continued existence of a family. Ashlei would have had fun at Redwood.

Redwood's major fundraising event, The Redwood Express, will be held on March 1, 2013. To support the event either by attending or donating in any fashion, please click the Express link.  If you are interested in supporting in a more direct way, please contact me or the folks at Redwood.  If you are already supporting another nonprofit, thank you.

I am not sure how many of Ashlei's doctors or nurses envisioned her living 16 years, but she did.  More importantly, she lived 16 fun years.  Please help other families continue to create fun in their "normal" family lives by supporting Redwood today.  Thank you.