The 2016 National Conference on Childhood Apraxia of Speech has come to an end. As I sit in the plane, I look at the burnt orange, red, and brown sunset setting over wispy clouds and the windy city. Since I live in Denver, we are flying west, and it feels like we are literally flying into the setting sunset sky. I get to reflect on my time here in Chicago,
It’s been three years since I last attended the national conference on apraxia. At that time, my daughter had been diagnosed with apraxia for just under a year, and I was still scared and sad about what the future held for my sweet Ashlynn. I re-read my blog post I wrote after that conference, and it didn’t begin to capture all the emotions I had at that time, or what
Well, Ashlynn completed Kindergarten. It was pretty anti-climactic to be honest. For some reason, her school doesn’t believe in Kindergarten graduations. Okay, it’s not for “some reason,” it’s because the philosophy of the school is that graduations signify an end and Kindergarten is just a beginning. I get it…kind of. Actually no, I don’t get it at all. If that were the case, we wouldn’t celebrate any graduation because technically
I Walk for apraxia for my son Kellan and for all of the other precious kiddos that battle apraxia alongside of Kellan. I want Kellan to be able to receive all of the crucial services and therapy he needs in order to be successful, and by walking for Apraxia, I can help other children in need receive those services too. I Walk because I want to help educate others and
This 4th Annual Apraxia Awareness day (it was trending, did you hear?), I organized a fundraiser at a local Chipotle to benefit the Walk for Childhood Apraxia of Speech. I have a HUGE goal of 30K. The walk last year made 16K, so basically I set this goal to double that. I’m probably crazy, but I set that goal with good reason. That number ensures a visit for a free
I love Apraxia Awareness Day, ever since I celebrated my first one when Ashlynn was new to the dx. It’s always a time of excitement, renewed hope and resolve, support, and community who comes together filling up facebook and my newsfeed with their apraxia fighters. I’ve been honest and open about telling my own early experience with apraxia, which wasn’t much. I’ve been the first one to admit I barely