Jude is Sick

Poor little guy is sick. He has such a problem with coughing and secretions -- not to the point of needing to be constantly suctioned but enough for him to be miserable. I can tell he feels bad as he is not rolling all over the floor like he usually does and only has the weakest of smiles for everyone.

What will I do?

I read an article in St. Anthony's Messenger about a seventy year old couple caring for their 50 year old disabled child. When Jude is 50, I will be 91 and probably unable to care for him. What will we do? Will one of his siblings have to care for him or will he be able to care for himself? What does the future hold?

He can be so delightful, so charming, so patient. But he also can't sit up, can't crawl (though he can motivate himself around the room and roll over). The medications he takes makes his head control even iffier than it was before. He is able to swallow rice size pieces of food and eats enough to avoid malnutrition -- though I can't see him as even close to chubby. I want to break out in tears every time I see a child younger than him able to stand, sit, crawl or walk. I want to strangle the girl next to me in close when she complains that her one year old is so "bad." Be thankful that she can be!