A Day In The Life Of An Ambulance Driver - Latest Comments in A Love Song for KatyBeth

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Crystal — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:40:45 -0000

Absolutely beautiful and amazing. Thank you for sharing!

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

The Keeper Of Odd Knowledge (K — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:59:05 -0000

amazing. Not much makes me cry or even gets to me like that. I can't stop reading your stories though. really excellent.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Niki — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:47:00 -0000

As the mother of a former 26 weeker...thank you! One of the most beautiful things I have read in a long, long time.

Amazing.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

George — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:25:00 -0000

I would be very remiss if I didn't thank you for this wonderful letter to your daughter. The bond of love between you is stronger than anything we could imagine.< />< />KatyBeth is lucky and so are you. But then, you both know that.< />< />Regards.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

academicsuicide — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:12:00 -0000

Read the blog cannot sleep my spastic diplegia causes joint pain keeping me awake. < />< />I am 19 now and though I would comment. Seriously it's too late for me I am far to cynicaldue to the CP amd peoples attitudes to it. But keep on keeping on as they say keep pushing, You may feel a shit at times for it but keep her challenged, my old man did it for me and it made me. Tell her she can do what ever she dreams of. It will be hard and possibly upsetting and she will probably get angry at her body limiting her at some point but keep her keeping on man.< />< />I am sorry if this sounds harsh but it is hard work both for you and for her but with a fathers support CP does not and will not limit us.< />< />Oh and tell the Lil Lady good luck in whatever she dreams of from a British Spastic Diplegic who walks with a cane like house.< />< />by blog is http://deathbyacademia.blog... If you want to contact me please do so, I am glad Katybeth has someone like you as she will never feel worthless with support like that.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

jenny — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:59:00 -0000

Wow. And wow again. I just found your blog through a blog of a blog of a blog recommendation. Thanks for sharing this- what a treasure.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Kellie — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:46:00 -0000

Does that come with tissues please? Thank you for sharing a wonderfully heartfelt letter to your beautiful daughter. I truly needed to read it this week. < />< />Our 25 wkr (now almost 4) has had more complications with his health related to his CP (spastic diplegia) and it has been a hard week. He's been asking questions about his AFOs, why we have to thicken his drinks, and why he still has a "button". It doesn't get easier....just different but God bless their determination to always get that next skill and to "do it their self".

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Ambulance Mommy — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:14:00 -0000

I don't really have anything better to say than:< />< />Thank you.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Bernice — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:25:00 -0000

I am speechless. < />< />You are one hell of an amazing man with one hell of an amazing daughter.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Jay G — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:56:00 -0000

AD,< />< />This post is one of your very best. < />< />I started reading it a couple of times, getting about 1/3 of the way through. Finally cleared some time and read it all.< />< />Impressive, my friend; simply impressive.< />< />While it is certainly not on the same level as the difficulties KatyBeth has faced, my son had trouble gaining weight the first month of his life. It had to do with elective surgery on my wife's part as younger woman combined with a crazed insistence on feeding "naturally" (I blame the "Nursin' Nazis" of La Leche League...)< />< />In a nutshell, the first month of his life my son *LOST* over a pound. He was born weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces; he left the hospital weighing 6 lbs., 7 ounces; at the end of the first month he weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces.< />< />We tried *EVERYTHING* to get him to nurse. All the tips, all the hints, all were in vain. If I never hear the verb "latch" again I'll be a happy man. We scoured the parenting magazines, books, and websites for ideas on how to get our baby to eat.< />< />For a long while, I fed him with a tube taped to my pinkie (it's the most like breast feeding we were told; I suspect it was just to make me do something silly). < />< />Naturally, a month of starving took its toll on my son - which, naturally, took a toll on my wife and I. He was always hungry, which meant he was always crying. Always. Colic doesn't even come close - it would have been a welcome distraction.< />< />It meant he never slept for more than an hour or two before waking up with hunger pangs. He, like KatyBeth, would sleep best laid out on Daddy's chest - I suspect it's the warmth of the area combined with the rhythym of the heartbeat. I loved those moments more than anything else on this earth, when my son was close to me, happy, no longer crying, and asleep.< />< />Finally, after a month of this I said "ENOUGH". Went to the store, bought formula and a couple of bottles, and started bottle-feeding him formula. < />< />The change was nearly instantaneous - he fell asleep after the first bottle, and slept contentedly for nearly 3 hours.< />< />It was pure unadulterated bliss.< />< />Of course, we then had to deal with the manner in which his body processed the new nutritional material...< />< />(think Three Mile Island, only concentrated...)< />< />Anyhoo, thanks so much for sharing this. She's a very lucky girl to have you as her dad and you already know how blessed you are to have her in your life.< />< />And one last point: I'd like to proffer a "mysteriously disappearing boyfriend exchange program" - KatyBeth's heartbreaking boyfriends can disappear in the woods of N. MA; BabyGirl G's can disappear to the bayou.< />< />Heh.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

AlisonH — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:22:00 -0000

What an exquisite post. Thank you. Beautiful.< />< />I do believe, too, that there are things KatyBeth will be able to accomplish in this life BECAUSE of her physical imperfections that she wouldn't be able to otherwise. She will see more clearly and be more wise than the kids who grow up having it normal and easy.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:35:00 -0000

I have to admit this was not the best post to read when a person is 30 weeks pregnant with a little girl. Excuse me while I wipe the snot of my keyboard. My son was born at 37 weeks and had to spend 5 days in the NICU, and I have to admit it was probably some of the worst days of my life. (this was 3 years ago) I'll never forget watching an episode of Ellen in the hospital after a really bad night and seeing a picture of a little girl who had decided she wanted to be spiderman for halloween and drew horizontal lines down her entire face with permanent red marker. She was so proud of herself and had the most hilarious expression on her little face. I belly laughed for the first time in a long time, and suddenly I had an overwhelming feeling that everything was going to be ok. After reading your post, I now have that feeling again. Thank you!!< />Melissa

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

The little tech that does... — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:21:00 -0000

Another great one, AD! Quite a journey you have chronicled there, and the best part is there is still more to come.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:30:00 -0000

I cried.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Matt M — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:10:00 -0000

Everyone should click on "A Day Well Spent," as it is a great counterpoint to this story.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Alisa — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:09:00 -0000

This was such a wonderful thing to share with us. Thanks for giving me as a parent inspiration to keep doing the best job I can and leaving a legacy for my children to help them at the difficult times in their lives.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

grandmamargie — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:24:00 -0000

You sound like an awesome daddy. And Katybug is a little gem. Thanks for sharing.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Linda — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:35:00 -0000

A beautiful post, thanks for sharing with us. KatyBeth is just the cutiest thing. She is so lucky she has you for a father. I just adore the picture of her in her camo!

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

KK — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:58:00 -0000

wow..........

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Matt M — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:25:00 -0000

Hey, man: Best of.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Jo — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:24:00 -0000

Thank you so much for posting - another wet keyboard on the other side of the Atlantic.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Ian — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:02:00 -0000

thank you for the letter to your girl.< />< />It means so much to me at this time as we have just buried my 11 year old boy who had severe cerebal palsy. he contracted a virual infection in his lungs along with a bacterial infection and the doctores also thing he assperated some sick into his lungs as well. He fought long and hard to survive (6 days on max-output on a ventilator) but did not make it. < />Your letter says everything about my boy that you said about your special lady.< />again many thanks from the heart.< />Ian

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Danielle — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:01:00 -0000

Long time lurker, first time commenter. Thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful, personal gift. KatyBeth is one lucky little girl, and you are one hell of a father.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:39:00 -0000

Wow. Just wow.

Re: A Love Song for KatyBeth

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:39:00 -0000

Thank you for sharing yourself and your daughter with the rest of us.