Janet L. Givens

Mom . . . Can You Move My Legs? Janet L. Givens

It is always difficult to see a grown man crying and writhing in pain for whatever reason. What is even more difficult is when that man is your child. This is the situation my son Brad and I currently find ourselves. Our new normal includes frequent episodes of gripping pain induced by the searing bullet of an enemy sniper. A badge of honor from the Iraqi Freedom War, Brad's injury is a constant reminder of how quickly life can be turned upside down and hurtled into crisis mode.

Regardless of the situation, or how families end up there, caring for a child of any age that suffers from a debilitating disease can be devastating as both patient and parent experience every kind of agonizing emotion one can imagine. Millions of caregivers can attest to this fact. It is equally heart-wrenching and demanding; however, all is not lost. For those who are seeking to find solace in an upside down world, the answer is nearer than you think.