The Special Mother Dedicated to Sean

Speech by Lisa Young

Poem by Erma Bombeck

‘Most women are mothers by accident, a few by choice,

a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. This

year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of

handicapped children.’

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‘Finally he passes a name to an angel and smiles. Give this one a handicapped child. The Angel is curious, Why this one, God? She’s so happy. Exactly smiles God. Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel.’

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Sean was a premie- born at 28 weeks – Weight 4 lbs. 5 oz.

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Sean - Eight months

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‘But, has she patience? Asks the Angel. I don’t want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off she’ll handle it.’

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Types of Cerebral Palsy

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‘I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I’m going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world and that’s not easy.’

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’She does not know it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never consider a step ordinary.’

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‘I will permit her to see clearly the things I see…ignorance,

cruelty, prejudice… and allow her to rise above them. She

will never be alone.’

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Horseback Riding

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Challenger Baseball

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Special Olympics, Riding Bike, Skiing

& Karate

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Master Fawcett

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Sled HockeyThe Mighty Penguins

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State College High School Graduation

ITT Tech Graduation

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Challenges & Triumphs

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Erma Bombeck’s poem ends with:

‘She will never be alone. I will be by her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side.’ And what about her patron saint? Asks the angel, his pen poised in midair. God smiles, A mirror will suffice.

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Learn more about Cerebral Palsy & Activities:About Cerebral Palsy - http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/facts.html

United Cerebral Palsy - http://ucp.org/

Riding for the Handicapped in Western Pennsylvania - http://www.rhwpa.org/

Hidden Valley Disabled Ski Program -http://www.hiddenvalleyski.com/disabled_program.html

Challenger Baseball - http://www.bcchallenger.org/

Special Olympics - http://specialolympics.org/

Info about Martial Arts: http://fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=6

Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey: http://penguinssledhockey.org/

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The Special Mother by Erma Bombeck

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