Mama Always ~ L.A. Brown, Author

As I was doing my dusting today, which is not a daily occurrence mind you, I came across a poem that I hold near and dear to my heart. It was published on May 11, 1980 and its called The Special Mother by Erma Bombeck. As I watched my "Chatty Cathy" do her chores today, I really had to smile at God's sense of humor, or at the very most, His wisdom in bringing the Mouse into my life. Because of her presence, my life turned upside-down and, Praise God, it has not been the same since. When I found this poem initially, I was living in Denver and it had been reprinted in the local newspaper. Immediately I connected with the poem and sent her a letter, in care of the paper she syndicated out of, telling her how much the poem meant to me and thanking her. I received a letter back thanking me for my letter, signed by Erma Bombeck. It is still one of my treasured items. So, in honor of Erma, my Mouse and all of the Special Needs Moms and Kids, here is The Special Mother by Erm...

In January, it will be thirty years since my life changed. No, there was no traffic accident that marred me for life; no personal disaster such as a crippling disease; no death of a parent or loved one that so impacted me; no crime committed against me. No, a baby was born. Not your ordinary baby, but one who had gained my love and attention during the forty weeks while she was formed. During that forty weeks, I was able, through the miracle of technology, to hear her heartbeat and see her suck her thumb. My husband and I witnessed a miracle that we never thought would happen. On January 15, 1983, at 11:45 p.m., Andrea Michelle Lane was born. What we thought was a miracle quickly turned into the biggest challenge of my life and forever altered any dreams that I had for her. She was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, and sixteen hours later, the genetic markers were identified and we were hit with the confirmation. The pediatrician who was on duty came in and calmly and clinically proclaimed...