More like Beirut than Holland

I read a great essay a few years ago, describing the author's feelings about the essay "Welcome to Holland", describing what it's like being the parent of a child with disabilities. I am sure all of you have been given that article by some well-meaning soul...Anyway, this other essay which I will try to find said that it is actually more like being welcomed to Beirut...you never know what is going to come flying out and hit ya.

My beautiful daughter Ruthie is the youngest of my three girls. She has a rare metabolic disorder, galactosemia, as well as mild cerebral palsy, mild mental retardation, and now, the latest addition, epilepsy. After being transported via ambulance from school three times between November and January, she had "the big one" at home in February and we spent 9 days in the hospital, 3 of them in ICU with her on a ventilator. Made reading labels for her metabolic disorder seem remarkably simple by comparison!!

Ruthie is brave and funny and playful. She can be obstinate at times (can't we all?) and is just so loving. Since our scare in February, she sleeps with me and always finds a way to cuddle up directly behind me.

I am beginning to ramble and thus, will close.