Someone I love relies on me in ways you will never understand.

Someone I love endures pain and challenges that break my heart and renew my spirit at the same time.

Someone I love is unable to advocate for themselves for things that most of us take for granted.

Someone I love will never have the opportunities that every child should have.

Someone I love will need unconditional love and support after I am gone-this frightens me to the core.

Someone I love encounters pity, stereotyping responses and prejudice at every turn, because they look, act and/or learn differently from others.

Someone I love has needs that require me to allow outsiders” to have power and input in areas that should be mine alone to meet.

Someone I love will continue to look to me for everything in life long after other children are able to assume a place as part of the world.

Someone I love has needs that require more time and energy than I have to give.

Someone I love has needs that mean I am not able to meet basic needs of my own.

Someone I love has needs that have become the driving force behind major decisions my family makes.

Someone I love has changed me in ways I will never be able to describe.

Someone I love has taught me about love and about the really important things in life…

Dedication from: Living in My Skin: The Insider’s View of
Life With a Special Needs Child Copyright 2000 by
Communication Skill Builders, a Harcourt Health Sciences
Company. Lori A. Hickman is the author.