Getty Owl Foundation

Getty’s Two!

From Mark:

Getty’s two.

GETTY’S TWO!

There was a time when I couldn’t imagine having a child. Then there was a time when I couldn’t imagine having a daughter. Then there was a time I could easily imagine years filled with playful laughter and fun with Daddy’s little girl – and she would always be just that.

Then there was SMA.

“It’s degenerative.”

“It’s terminal.”

“There’s nothing you can do.”

“Take her home and love her.”

“Just because we CAN do certain things doesn’t mean we SHOULD.”

“There’s no data to support that.”

“It’s not medically necessary.”

“It’s excluded.”

“Are you sure you want to do that? Why would you want to do that to a child?”

“She probably won’t live to see age two.”

These are doctors’ words. They echo throughout the SMA community. They are words of fear, defeat.

“You will soon know more than your doctors about SMA.”

“Don’t trust the doctors.”

“SMA parents know their children better than any doctors.”

“Advocate for your child.”

“You need to tell the doctors what to do.”

“Your doctor is wrong.”

These words also echo throughout the SMA community. They are words of empowerment, hope.

Newly diagnosed families are flooded with conflicting opinions and advice at a time when they are already lost, confused, traumatized, and afraid. Our family was no different.

If you intervene, are you prolonging life for its own sake? Will you cause more harm than good? Is it best to let nature take its course?

These are enormously important and infinitely deep questions that needed answering very quickly after being told Getty wouldn’t make it past two. We managed to answer the question fairly quickly though, with a vow to give Getty the best quality of life possible in whatever time she has with us. “As long as she’s happy, we’re doing the right thing.”

Getty’s second birthday is a huge milestone. It’s a sigh of relief. It’s an opportunity to celebrate life and love of family. It’s a time to look into her eyes and admire our sassy little fighter. It’s a time to give a huge middle finger to her obstructors and naysayers. It’s a time to reflect on life. It’s a time to thank all those who helped get her here – thank you! It’s a time to honor my wife, Getty’s wonderful mother – both the nurturing mom and the dragon mom. It’s a time to re-imagine visions of our future … GETTY’S future.

My girls are beautiful, intelligent, wise, and strong. I love them so much and can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring. Daddy’s baby is now Daddy’s little lady, and she’s beating the odds every day.

Getty’s happy. We’re doing the right thing. With love and pride, we hoot from the mountaintops …

GETTY’S TWO!

In A Moment

From Kate:

In a moment:

I gave birth to a beautiful little girl.

We became a family.

Our lives changed forever.

Our lives changed FOREVER.

I stubbornly let go of what  I thought motherhood was going to be like.

I lost control.

We embraced every second of every day.

The future seemed uncertain at every corner.

My heart skips a beat when I catch Getty looking at me and smiling.

You simply no longer have time nor energy to sweat the small stuff.

There is a celebration of every toe twitch, finger tap, head roll, and smile.

The world can stand still when there is an emergency.

There is a sigh of relief when all is okay.

SMA doesn’t even know who he messed with.

Realizing that I never knew love before Getty. She encompasses every sense of the word.

Becoming a mother is so incredibly awesome, the best “job” a person could ever have.

You can become a nurse, a respiratory therapist, counselor, advocate, nutritionist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and teacher, in a moments notice and all at the same time.

I became a world renowned singer to Getty’s ears. (If she only knew!)

Having marathon book readings is the coolest, but can’t deviate because she knows exactly what is happening in the book.

I feel like the luckiest mom on the planet for letting me be Getty’s mommy.

I will hear the sounds of coos coming from her room as they will travel throughout the house like a breeze. It is her polite way of letting me know that she is ready to start the day.

A sense of relief that she is getting the nutrients she needs to continue to beat the odds healthy and happy.

Making her bed and keeping everything nice and tidy feels comforting.

I am realizing that I need her just as much as she needs me. For so many different reasons.

Noticing that Getty’s hair is getting longer and thicker.

I realize that she is turning into a little lady.

Understanding that I have far more strength and energy that I ever thought I had. And then with a lot of coffee I can go to another level.

Getty is a proud a girly girl. I love it!

I can go from nice mom to dragon mom in a nano second if Getty needs something. (Doctors, insurance providers, DME, Apria; you know what I am talking about.)

I realized how smart Getty is and then I became even more desperate to find more ways to communicate with her.

Getty is defining what she is accomplishing and there is no test, no evaluation, and no professional that can label her abilities. She is our super hero, our genius, and master of her own destiny.

I was humbled.

I am in awe of her giggles. Her timing is impeccable.

I stopped fighting the loss of control and allowed myself to just be.

My eyes see a different world.

I realized who my friends are.

The celebration of 1st and 2nd birthday’s bring such overwhelming comfort. Seeing ahead to the 3rd and 4th and 5th now does not seem unattainable like it once did.

A cure will be found.