My sister is an amazing mother. No one plans on having a baby with...I'm not sure what word to use here. "Special needs?" I don't like it, it sounds too PC or something, but I don't know how else to phrase it so...No mother plans on having a baby with special needs. But sadly, it happens I don't know how many times every day. And sometimes the parents of these babies have a chance to prepare, but sometimes the problem goes undetected for days, weeks, months. And then the world turns upside down. And those mothers can feel the dreams they nurtured while growing their children slipping away. The future becomes more abstract, and the only thing that matters is this moment, this struggle, this (occasional) victory.
My sister was in a situation like that. She has been through more than I can imagine surviving. But she did much more than survive. She is raising a wonderful little boy. I feel blessed to know my nephew, and to have been a witness of God's plan that is so evident in his life. While God's hand can't be denied in his recovery, my sister gets a lot of the credit, too. It's awesome to see all of those things that used to annoy me when we were young (her unwavering resolve, her inability to ignore a mess, her love of a schedule...) being used to benefit her family. She never fails to make me laugh, but she is also there for me whenever I need her. I don't want to sound too much like the older sister, but I am so proud of her. I am looking forward to watching my little neffy-poo grow, and seeing my sister continue to handle each new phase with grace and strength.