SO... TODAY IS THE FIRST EVER NATIONA APRAXIA OF SPEECH AWARENESS DAY! What does that mean? What is apraxia of speech? It is a speech disorder where the signals from the brain get mixed up before getting to the muscles in the mouth and throat in order to form words. The best analogy I have seen so far is the satellite signal in the rainstorm. There is nothing wrong with the television station. The signal leaves there just fine. There is nothing wrong with your television. The rain mixes the signal up. There is nothing wrong with Grant's brain and there is nothing wrong with his mouth. His signal is just mixed up. Thank heavens it is something that he can overcome. It will take a lot of speech therapy and practice at home. He has made great strides since entering therapy, praise God.
So what does this mean for Grant? Well, imagine being in a classroom full of kids chattering up a storm. You can understand them and want to respond, but your mouth won't make the words so easily as theirs. You are hungry, thirsty, hurt, scared or mad but you can't find the words to tell anyone. When someone asks your name or how old you are, you know the answer to both, you just can't say it. You hear other kids, and adults too, asking what is wrong with you. You just can't tell them "nothing. I am a normal little boy who just wants to play. I just can't get my mouth to do the right things."
So what does this mean for me? A roller coaster, to say the least! I have this beautiful, smart, funny, energetic, ingenious little man that is the light of my life. He is perfect because he is just the way that God made him, yet I can't get others to see that. He is the problem child. He is different. He takes extra time. I have news for those who don't/won't understand. I will fight tooth and nail for this beautiful child. I sit and listen to other parents telling stories of all the cute things their children have said, and I am jealous. This disorder has robbed me of those moments with Grant. I know he has stories he wants to tell me. I can see it in his eyes, he just can't find the words. There have been endless times that he has tried with all his might to tell me something and for the life of me I could not figure out what he was saying. The disappointment in his eyes breaks my heart. I watch him in awe of his ingeniousness (is that a word). When he is trying to tell me something and I don't understand, he will do his best to come up with another way to tell me. Even if it means making a monkey sound to tell me he wants to play with his barrell of monkeys in the bathtub.
So, back to the beginning. Today marks the first national awareness day. I have worked to do my part to raise awareness, and I must say I am humbled. I am blessed. The amount of support I have received is overwhelming. I have had to go back to the store TWICE to buy more supplies for ribbons. At my last count I have made and handed out over 50! Over 50 to support my precious boy! God is sooo good!
