Every.Life.Inspires

Before Ronnie joined our family I knew almost nothing about spina bifida. Once I knew he would be joining our family, I did a lot of research and read some very scary things.

Having been through a lot of equally scary things with both Ashley and Jessica, I knew I was up to the task of being his mother and his lifetime advocate.

I have always chosen my children with special needs. I have approached their adoptions fully aware of the challenges we all would face, and the choice to proceed with the adoptions were always mine.

But what if you were a first time parent - a parent who has just been told only a third of the way through your pregnancy that your child would have spina bifida? What would you do?

The video below may help families answer that question.

The McGinley family struggled to become pregnant. After many struggles and miscarriages, their dream was realized and they became pregnant with twin boys. Just a few short months later, their lives took yet another turn when it was realized that one of the boys, little Elijah, had spina bifida.

The McGinley family, along with other families, have put their feelings, their thoughts, and their journey to spina bifida into the video below. Their efforts, labeled Project Eli (Every Life Inspires) and this special documentary is about parents being prenatally diagnosed with spina bifida.

If you have a child with spina bifida, are pregnant with a child with spina bifida, know someone who has a child with spina bifida, or are just interested in learning more, please take about 30 minutes out of your busy day and watch this video. You could even substitute another severe disability for spina bifida and this video's message will still move you.

Love Joey's!

Our plans for a Christmas break spent in the Outer Banks of North Carolina didn't work out, but we did have a wonderful time exploring our home city. We went to the zoo, played games at Dave and Busters, made glass creations at a place called All Fired Up, and ate at an awesome hot dog joint.

Joey's Hot Dogs used to exist in the corner of an Exxon gas station about a mile from our house. I had heard about how good they were, but eating at a gas station just held no appeal for me. But a few months ago, Joey graduated to a real section of a strip shopping center, and we had been wanting to try it.

We actually went on New Years Day. There were no crowds when we arrived, but people did start flowing in before we left. The hot dogs were every bit as good as I had been told, but the experience was even better.

Joey's is a small place crammed with tables and chairs. Chip told me before we went in that we would have a tough time moving two wheelchairs about. It was almost as if he was warning me so I wouldn't get upset once we did go in (what? who me?)

But I was very pleasantly surprised. The owner (Joey?) and his helper were wonderful. They helped us moved some tables, asked what we wanted (instead of having us go to counter like everyone else), brought our drinks to us, and the absolute most important thing? They didn't stare!!

The whole experience was a perfect example of accommodations being made, not singling out my family, or acting exasperated that we required some changes. I felt like we were a normal family, out for a normal lunch, and that we were welcomed by the establishment. Go figure.

So Joey, we loved your hot dogs and your apple pie a la mode, but we love you and your business even more. We will be back!!