Brandon’s 13th Birthday Invitation
We’ve never had a real birthday party for Brandon and I think he thinks that’s normal. I think this year was the first year he asked me about it and I kinda redirected him and he hasn’t asked again. It’s frustrating because I know he would be more focused and confident if he had friends and social events that weren’t just me, him, his dad and his sister ~Kathy Blue
We can all agree family is great, but so are friends, especially those who go the extra mile by accepting our differences. Brandon didn’t speak until age 7 due to his apraxia, a speech disorder he’s had since birth. He has been in therapy since age two, and today, even though he speaks, it’s rarely spontaneous. Add in developmental delays, hearing loss and a sensory processing disorder which causes him to stim, it’s no mystery why he can’t keep up with the other kids his age. Some kids are just plain mean to him when they see all this.
When I read about another child having the same issue on the Cherab group, I shared that my son didn’t have friends has never had friends to come to his birthday party, Lisa Geng told me to private message her about a new idea she was working on, and I did.
Brandon had one amazing teacher last year in 4th grade who paired him up with a “buddy” so for one time he was invited to a birthday party. Once summer arrived, however, that child matured differently and he’s never been invited anywhere or to any other birthday parties since. We did try to make connections in Boy Scouts but again, he couldn’t keep up with the activities that come so naturally to his peers in regards to sports, music and video games.
…. it’s frustrating because Brandon is a nice, sweet caring kid who loves Legos, books, puzzles, Alvin & the Chipmunks , Ninja Turtles and Frozen, but kids his age just think these things are babyish and weird and don’t have the patience for him.
Brandon has never had it easy, even from birth. Born at 25 weeks, 5 days, he was a weak, compromised 1 lb 8oz micropreemie. Kathy is still emotional about this even 10 years after the fact, so she claims the details of their 8-month stay in the Johns Hopkins NICU are intentionally blurry. Doctors think an uncommon infection transferred in utero causing premature labor. Head to toe issues prevailed, including lungs, high blood pressure, intestinal, ears (he now has cochlear implants), eyes (retinopathy of prematurity) and accompanying weakness. Brandon’s early days consisted of hospitalization, feeding tubes, surgeries and medical interventions. From age 2 life has been therapy sessions after therapy sessions, but for the most part what could have been a disastrous situation turned around for the better.
Bedridden for the first 8 months and home bound for the next 8 months left him with no muscle tone, hearing loss and developmental delays. As much as early intervention, therapists and educators have tried to close the gaps, Brandon still has little to no connection with friends.
Brandon will be turning 12 on May 23, 2017. If he could have a crowdFunnit birthday party I asked him what type of party he wanted. He said he loves the Baltimore Orioles (thanks to his Maryland roots and he also loves the color orange) plus he loves Superheroes including Spiderman, Captain America, Hulk. That would be his (our) dream.
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Brandon’s 13th Birthday Invitation
We can all agree family is great, but so are friends, especially those who go the extra mile by accepting our differences. Brandon didn’t speak until age 7 due to his apraxia, a speech disorder he’s had since birth. He has been in therapy since age two, and today, even though he speaks, it’s rarely spontaneous. Add in developmental delays, hearing loss and a sensory processing disorder which causes him to stim, it’s no mystery why he can’t keep up with the other kids his age. Some kids are just plain mean to him when they see all this.
Brandon had one amazing teacher last year in 4th grade who paired him up with a “buddy” so for one time he was invited to a birthday party. Once summer arrived, however, that child matured differently and he’s never been invited anywhere or to any other birthday parties since. We did try to make connections in Boy Scouts but again, he couldn’t keep up with the activities that come so naturally to his peers in regards to sports, music and video games.
Brandon has never had it easy, even from birth. Born at 25 weeks, 5 days, he was a weak, compromised 1 lb 8oz micropreemie. Kathy is still emotional about this even 10 years after the fact, so she claims the details of their 8-month stay in the Johns Hopkins NICU are intentionally blurry. Doctors think an uncommon infection transferred in utero causing premature labor. Head to toe issues prevailed, including lungs, high blood pressure, intestinal, ears (he now has cochlear implants), eyes (retinopathy of prematurity) and accompanying weakness. Brandon’s early days consisted of hospitalization, feeding tubes, surgeries and medical interventions. From age 2 life has been therapy sessions after therapy sessions, but for the most part what could have been a disastrous situation turned around for the better.
Bedridden for the first 8 months and home bound for the next 8 months left him with no muscle tone, hearing loss and developmental delays. As much as early intervention, therapists and educators have tried to close the gaps, Brandon still has little to no connection with friends.