Today's the day! The day where you are ready to bring a piece of yourself into this world. You're so excited you can barely think straight and your heart is going a buck fifty, praying that your newborn miracle will be healthy.
You start thinking to yourself; WOW I'm going to be a parent. I'm going to teach my child how to ride a bike, help them with their homework, and when that big day comes, when I finally have to let go, I will feel pride in knowing that I raised a person who will help shape the world.
Then, in a blink of an eye, you hear a code blue over the NICU intercom and you've just learned that medical personnel have brought your daughter from the brink of death. You see that your child is in shock and needs to be moved immediately to another hospital with more advanced medical equipment. The only problem is, if you move your child, there's a possibility she will never make it alive.
I can imagine how easy it would be to just give up and completely break down. Honestly, I don't know what I would do. However, for the man who I call "The Fighter" giving up is not an option.
You see, "The Fighter" was born in a Christian household and knew that the fate of his daughter was in God's hands. He quickly searched for the nearest chapel and begged God to save his precious daughter. The next morning, he was the first family member to visit her. As "The Fighter" walked up to where his daughter lay, he grasped her right hand and said, "you are my little angel."
Immediately after, his daughter opened her eyes for the first time. That's when "The Fighter" knew that him and his wife were going to be able to eventually bring their daughter home. "The Fighter's" daughter had received damage to her Cerebral Cortex due to lack of Oxygen too the brain and needed to receive blood transfusions to help counteract her seizure disorder.
Two weeks after his daughter's birth "The Fighter's" prayers were answered and he was finally able to take his daughter home. Amazingly, she had no seizures for a little over a year, and could walk with her parents help. Although, shortly after, the seizures had regained control of her body forcing her too only be able to crawl for the next seventeen years.
When "The Fighter" would see his daughter suffer he would suffer too. But he would never forget his promise to keep pushing and help his daughter live a fulfilling life. Her seizure disorder would require numerous medications over the years and she is non-verbal. But "The Fighter" is able to understand what his daughter wants through hand movements and different emotions.
You see, there is more to his daughter then what meets the eye. She is loving, caring, and a great human being. People just need to take a little more time too see it and look at the great person within. Despite her physical pain, she always manages to smile and giggle. "The Fighter's" daughter even managed to attend special ed classes and was able to dance at her prom with her class. She is a true example of how it is possible to beat the odds.
Her Cerebral Palsy has caused her muscle control too diminish over the years. But three decades later, with the help of her parents and a heart that's bigger then life itself, she keeps going. As far as "The Fighter" is concerned, they are going the distance!
