Tribute to all the bravest moms and dads

They don't appear on television. The bravest moms and dads do not receive awards or tributes, in fact, they are invisible. All their efforts, their secret tears, all their trips to consult specialists, to receive diagnoses, double diagnoses to ensure the ailment, or the label that a manual likes to give our children, always remains in private corners.

They are anonymous heroes. In addition, every father and every mother of these children with physical or mental deficiencies or educational problems are an example for our society. However, society itself relegates them back to its silent battles. Without help, without recognition, without authentic inclusion. In "Mothers Today" we want to offer our tribute to them.

Brave families with great challenges

When a couple or a mother discovers that she is having a child, she projects an idyllic horizon. We imagine a boy or a girl growing normally, moving hand in hand to discover the world with freedom and autonomy.

Fear appears from time to time as a shadow that we instantly dissipate. However, a premature birth, or complications during it, often bring that reality that many families have had to assume or face by force: a child with a disability.

Likewise, genetic and organic problems or accidents also determine a large part of these cases where early diagnosis is always our best ally.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), about 200 million people have some type of disability. However, some terms need to be clarified.

• A deficiency is any loss or a certain limitation of a psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function.
• On the other hand, a disability is a restriction or absence (due to a deficiency) of the ability to perform an activity in the way or within the range that is considered normal for a human being.
• A handicap is a situation where a person is unable to perform a function due to an impairment or disability. Sometimes simple age, gender, or social and cultural factors can also determine a handicap.

Next, we explain what are the main causes of disability that all those brave fathers and mothers must face.

Premature infants

• This data should make us think, but According to data from the WHO itself, about 15 million babies are born in the world each year before reaching term (two months before or less)
• This is 1 out of 10 births.
• Many of these premature babies who manage to survive suffer some form of disability for life.
• Prematurity is the leading cause of mortality in children under 5 years of age. However, the most remarkable thing is that these figures continue to increase.
• However, and as curious as it may seem, the causes of premature birth are not 100% known. Sometimes it is due to infections, diabetes or hypertension; but specialists cannot define or prevent this serious problem.

Autism

• Autism doesn't come with a manual either, it comes with parents who don't give up.
• One thing to keep in mind is that cases of autism are increasing in recent years. As he explains to us “The American Autism Society" 1 in 15 newborns will be diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder).
• In addition to this, we cannot forget that due to this wide spectrum of the disease there are children and even adults who have not yet received their diagnosis.
• The reason for this increase in autistic child births today is also not known with certainty. This disease has a genetic origin, a developmental disorder that still opens many new challenges.

Down syndrome

• According to the United Nations (UN), el síndrome de Down it is the most frequent cause of congenital mental cognitive disability.
• All the courageous families caring for their child with Down syndrome also know how important early care is. In addition, patience and immense love, a child with Down syndrome needs many resources.
• This genetic alteration, which has its origin in an extra chromosome, is also surrounded by many social stigmas. It is necessary to see each person with Down syndrome as unique and exceptional. Likewise, and like other children with disabilities, they do not only seek to be integrated. They need to be included, standardized in equal rights and opportunities according to your personal abilities. Quite a challenge, there is no doubt.

Tribute to the bravest moms and dads

Nobody chooses the child they are going to have. She loves him as he is, with his virtues, with his defects. With its greatness. No one chooses to have a child with a disability, yet the child chooses us and we love him for it. Because of who he is and because he is part of our heart.

You are not invisible

Dear parents of brave children. Dear mothers of special children. You are not invisible. Although society, laws and political bodies have diluted you with an ocean of excuses, for us you are not invisible.

We know about your daily efforts. We know very well the hours you spend at the computer researching your children's illness. Looking for resources, connecting with people who are in the same situation.

Nor you are invisible because you are always present in the consultation of the specialists. All those hours of waiting, of anxiety. The diagnoses that do not satisfy, the trips in search of more professionals and those wonderful discoveries where, finally, they respond to your needs.

Surrender does not exist in your minds

We know that you suffer secretly while giving smiles to your children. There are days when nothing progresses and it seems that everything is lost, however, do not give in. The sole of your shoes has worn away from so many steps, so many kilometers. But your voice is not silent, asking for resources, support at school, advice from specialists.

Because your hearts are fed every day with the caresses of your children, with each advance with each achievement and with each smile of those children who are your own gasoline.

Remember that you are not alone, that you are not invisible and that you are the best example for our society.