Why Jeffrey? Why Us?To those many who face the same challenges and heartache we faced, my advice to you is simple: learn to embrace the smallest of things in life, and you will come to realize life is indeed a marvelous adventure, and one well worth the journey. Those tiny victories are the very things that will fill your heart with love and contentment and joy. When their son was born severely brain injured, one young couple was determined to live a life as fulfilling as possible while helping their son grow beyond all expectations. With the help of family, friends, and God, they set out to learn all they could about the injury their son had sustained at the time of his birth and, ultimately, help him live a life as close to normalcy as possible. Why Jeffrey? Why Us? is a heartwarming story of the unconditional love of a severely brain-injured child and the wealth of memories he left those who were truly blessed to have been part of his life. |
Contents
introduction | 11 |
the days of anticipation | 13 |
why it happened | 17 |
the daily routine | 25 |
finding help | 29 |
the importance of friends and family | 37 |
dealing with reality | 41 |
celebrations | 45 |
when it had to | 57 |
advice to others | 61 |
Common terms and phrases
active baby Amish applesauce bathtub began birthday brain injury brain-injured child care for Jeffrey Carol Edwards cereal challenges childcare Christmas church colorful desperate doctors at Riley double-wide stroller easier expose Jeffrey face faithful dog feed Jeffrey feel Foo Foo frey gave Jeffrey gift giggle girls Greenwood Community Schools Halloween head healthy hear heaven help Jeffrey Indianapolis Jeffrey could eat Jeffrey died Jeffrey was born Jeffrey would sleep Jeffrey’s birth Jeffrey’s handicap John journey Katy kids knew Jeffrey learned life-lined lift Jeffrey little boy lives Molly neurologically night normalcy overheat easily parents Pennsylvania player piano port-a-crib realized Jeffrey remember Riley Hospital seemed seizures severely brain injured snuggle somehow stay story stress stuffed animals suck a bottle teddy bear Teddy Ruxpin things tiny toys turn vacations wanted wasn’t Winnie the Pooh won’t wonderful wrong