Walking through "the Fire", when life gets HARD!
Dr B
Does anyone know what I am talking about? Walking through the
"fire", the "valleys" in life?" When everything seems to be
against you. Well, I have been there, personally!
When they tell you to "abort the pregnancy", your child, your
daughter will be born paralyzed. When the "evidence", (in this case
the ultrasound and repeated blood tests), are compelling and its ALL
BAD NEWS! Here I was, in training to become a rehab physician and they
are telling me what "they" think we should do. Well, THANK GOD I
didn't listen. Good doctors, well intentioned, but just plain WRONG!
She's fifteen today and NOT paralyzed. NOT even close! Her name is
Angelina. Not only that, but her passion since she was five years old
has been to have a riding (horse) academy to teach special needs
children how to walk. They now call that "hippo therapy". She told
me that when she was five years old! And has never stopped talking
about it since!
Well that was ONE of the hardest struggles, i.e. "fires",
"valleys" that I have been through.... There were others! I mean,
believing in faith that she would be ok and trusting that if she
wasn't we would be able to cope and care for her. Wow!
I was raised Catholic and "knew or believed" there WAS (a) God. But
to be honest, beyond that I did not really know much about miracles and
sure didn't expect that I would deserve or get one. Well, over the
next several months (until her delivery date) and in the years to
follow, things were about to change.... For the better mostly.
Years and years later, Angelina and I got to have dinner with Ginny
Owens (one VERY special young lady) before her concert in Orlando.
Ginny is AMAZING! I don't know what an angel sounds like, or if they
can sing, but if they can sing they would sound like Ginny. Do
something great for yourself right now and listen to her sing a song
called "if you want me to" (sometimes called "The Valleys").
You can find the lyrics and listen by clicking on or pasting the link
at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000JKPN/104-2969847-9575119?v=glance
Go to song #5.
Years later, when I faced many more struggles, valleys in my life, and
those around me... this song gave me comfort and hope. When faced with
caring for a "special" child, life can get overwhelming in a hurry
and often. We all know what that means, (special). It can be hard! It
can be difficult! It can be painful!
For me, lyrics like... "The pathway is broken, and the signs are
unclear, And I don't know the reason why you brought me here, So if all
of these trials bring me closer to you, Then I will go through the
fire, If you want me to.
It may not be the way I would have chosen, When you lead me through a
world that's not my home, But you never said it would be easy, You only
said I'd never go alone".
So I ask you again... Have you ever been "through the fire", or in
a valley? Are you there now? Ever wondered why? Why this path, this
time, why me?
As a rehab physician, I have had the opportunity, the pain, the (gift)
of walking thru valleys with countless people since 1986. If I have
learned anything in my 45 years of life, it is this; If you want to be
foolish, tell me what IS going to happen tomorrow. The truth is, WE
don't know, and sometimes doctors don't know either!
So if you have been told, "your baby will NEVER....... (fill in the
blank)", you DON'T have to believe it!
If I had taken my doctors advice, my child would have never been born!
They meant well, they just didn't know.
I want to encourage you. I want you to know that "valleys" were
meant to be walked through. I want you to know there is help out there.
I have also learned that faith (I am not talking about religion), FAITH
mixed with ACTION yields results. Don't give up! Don't stop
believing for more for your child! Seek answers and you WILL FIND THEM!
Even after I had practiced for many years, and was highly sought after
in my profession, and had attained "worldly" success.... I still
didn't know anything about the things that can help special needs
children. In 2004 I learned (for the first time) about INTENSIVE
PEDIATRIC THERAPY and related therapies. I thought it was a miracle!
One by one, kids were excelling and achieving what they were told
"they would never do"! Because of what I have seen, I now have the
honor and the blessing of being able to dedicate my time to a group of
people and a foundation making a difference.
Write or call me anytime. I would be delighted to share my experiences
with you. If you are interested, I will tell you about this amazing
journey that continues to amaze me!
With love, with compassion, with encouragement....
S. Steven BiFulco, M.D.
drbi...@msn.com
tel (813) 417.7447