Wil,
age 11, born prematurely at two pounds, neglected and severely abused
as an infant (the second worse case of child abuse in a large metro
county), came home to us at age one year the size of a three month
old...body broken from head to toe, lacerations and extensive bruising,
malnourished, curled in fetal position, a little body of broken bones
unable to make a sound or suck a bottle.
He lives with spastic cerebral palsy and several co-morbid issues...including but not limited to ARND (alcohol related neurological disorder), PDD-NOS, Sensory Processing Disorder, strabismus, and food allergies. As an infant Wil had a feeding tube and later surgery to control extreme gastroesophageal reflux. He has undergone numerous eye surgeries and lower body surgeries. He will need additional surgeries.
Wil also suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to severe physical abuse the first year of his life. He has no conscious memory of the abuse, but his body reacts involuntarily to quick movements and certain touches as though he is about to be struck or otherwise physically harmed. I cannot list all the horrid things my child experienced the first year of his life.
While working to physically heal Wil as an infant, I spent every other waking moment insuring his abusers were imprisoned for the maximum of 20 years without parole...not enough. He has a life sentence due in most part to the abuse.
Wil is easily frustrated when socializing with other children. He is frequently asked “why do your eyes do that weird thing where they go different directions?” He never retaliates toward others, but when he feels the burden of being outcast…such as being told you can’t play this with us because it’s too hard or your legs don’t work right…he comes to his dad or me in tears.
When Wil is angered he becomes completely unmanageable, difficult to restrain and must be removed entirely from the situation. He often takes hours to calm, usually with the aide of music. Still, Wil greets each day with a smile, a kiss and a hug for me. He has taught me to push through every challenge put before me because it is what he does. And despite having every reason to distrust the world, Wil loves everyone unconditionally.
Wil also loves NASCAR...ask him anything about NASCAR, anything. He also enjoys country and Christian music and banging his drums. Wil's eyes are beautiful, deep pools of blue, and who could resist that dimpled chin. He was never expected to walk, talk or have measurable intelligence…just try to keep up or hold your own in a debate with him. He never ever gives up.
Wil is my soulful child. He has an insight and love of life beyond compare. His thoughts and the way he is able to simply, yet meaningfully, express life's truths never fails to touch my soul.
I adore the joy found in Wil's zest for living, his kind spirit and his ability to make everyone smile.
