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All Posts By: Elissa Sagoskin

Cerebral Palsy, Parenting

Clearing The Way

I heard a new parenting term the other day – snowplowing… you know, like clearing the way. Any obstacle that comes into your kid’s path – bust out the snowplow and smooth the way, ensuring an easy open path to success. I got a good laugh from that. My general approach to life is the opposite. Leave the obstacles – we learn from them, we grow from them, we become better because of them. I’m not saying to add extra, or to ask for more – but whatever is put in front you – ya, lean in. ...
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Cerebral Palsy

Graceful Anger

Amichai had tendon lengthening surgery in the beginning of April. After much research, deliberation, second opinions, and more deliberation – we decided to go through with the procedure. The surgery entailed lengthening two muscle tendons in his right hand and arm – the adductor and FPL. The goal of the surgery was to bring his thumb out of his palm so that he would be able to use his right hand more efficiently. Explaining to a five-year child that he will undergo a surgery is ...
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Cerebral Palsy

The Search for Surgery

After being in the NICU for two weeks, the nurse called me early one morning and casually said, He can come home today. I needed her to repeat that. He can come home today. I felt a wave of relief, happiness, excitement… but it was short lived. Soon those feelings were replaced with another wave of emotion – panic. While Amichai was deemed strong enough to come home, how were they so sure I was up to task? If any mother ever tells you that she left the hospital with absolute ...
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Cerebral Palsy

The Limitless Nature of Limitation

Lately I’ve ditched the music on my runs and started listening to more podcasts. I find podcasts more engaging. It takes my mind off the running, allows me to focus on something else besides the treacherous hills of Jerusalem. My body seems happier with this arrangement also – left alone to just do the work without my constant complaining and nagging. On one of my longer runs last week, I listened to a recent edition of Sarah Spain’s That’s What She Said. Spain always manages to keep my ...
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Uncategorized

Managing the Microscope

My friend has a child with special needs. Like Amichai, her son attends a special needs preschool and we often find ourselves sharing experiences and swapping stories. Recently, she relayed a conversation had in passing with a staff member. My friend was lamenting that her son had trouble sleeping the night before, which in turn left her sleepless and wrecked before the new day had even begun – a feeling any parent can relate to when raising a toddler. The staff member looked at her ...
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