Catherine - Erica's Big Sister
Our daughter, Catherine—known to us as Cat—was a huge part of Erica’s daily life and care. From an early age, she helped in countless ways: changing diapers, assisting with feedings, babysitting, and simply being present. More than anything, Catherine brought joy. She had a natural way of keeping Erica engaged, whether through playtime, gentle interaction, […]
Happy Anniversary
Happy 40th wedding anniversary! Destined to share a life together!
What is Lissencephaly?
Lissencephaly is a rare neurological disorder that affects the development of the brain. It is characterized by the lack of folding in the brain's cerebral cortex, which is the outer layer of the brain that is responsible for many higher brain functions. These include thought, movement, and sensation. As a result, individuals with lissencephaly may […]
Buckeye Invitational
In 1995, my chorus placed 3rd in the Mid-Atlantic District contest in Ocean City, MD. We earned an invitation to the Buckeye! What an honor. In 1996, the Heart of Maryland Chorus was invited to participate in the Buckeye Invitational by placing third in the annual Mid-Atlantic District Contest. This mini-convention invites only the 3rd […]
Jared - Good Times With Erica's Big Brother
Jared, our son, was and still is an amazing, handsome young man. Here are some pictures of our favorite times together! So many beautiful memories.
Heaven's Special Child Poem
HEAVEN'S VERY SPECIAL CHILDA meeting was held quite far from Earth.It was time again for another birth.Said the Angels to the Lord above – “This special child will need much love. Her progress may be very slow Accomplishment she may not show. And she'll require extra care From the folks she meets down there. She […]
On a Wing And a Prayer
I relived the birth of our three children, in a public speech titled On A Wing and a Prayer."
Runaway Wheelchair
Speaking to Erica like a "normal" person was a good thing to do but sometimes lead to unexpected results, like a runaway wheelchair! On one sunny afternoon at Sesame Place, in Philadelphia, PA, Erica was told to "sit still for a moment, Mommy needs to tie Jared's shoe." Simple enough but Erica did not hesitate […]
Archie, the Helpful Dog
This story is easier to laugh about now. At the time, it very much was not. About a year after moving to our new home in the country, we found ourselves missing the companionship of dogs. Then, one day, a very large dog began wandering through our yard. He kept coming back. No collar. No […]
Erica vs. Pneumonia
October 2000 - Only a month into the school year and Erica missed a week of school! Why? She caught pneumonia again and this time spent three days in the hospital. This made three years in a row that she wound up with pneumonia after going back to school. This was the 1st time she had […]