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The Story of the Delivery
March 19, 2011 // 56 Comments -
Guardian Article
November 14, 2009 // 36 Comments -
What's God's plan for May?
November 25, 2011 // 35 Comments -
Milestone for May! Her first steps! (VIDEO)
July 18, 2012 // 27 Comments -
The Amazing Half-Brained Baby blog has been taken over. ...
January 30, 2011 // 24 Comments -
May made me cry today. My amazing half-brained baby.
September 19, 2011 // 24 Comments
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Extra! Extra! Good news about May
May 20, 2013 // 1 Comment -
WIN! Family tickets to In the Night Garden LIVE (worth ...
May 13, 2013 // 0 Comments -
Councillor expounds further on why kids like May "shoul ...
May 12, 2013 // 10 Comments -
What do you think of our theory about May's pain?
May 11, 2013 // 6 Comments -
Why you haven't heard from me...
May 10, 2013 // 10 Comments
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All great. Thanks for the update.
May 20, 2013 -
As was said on Facebook: " Does being born withou ...
May 18, 2013 -
I agree with you, Karen. I'd be rather sentime ...
May 18, 2013 -
Good God, that's horrific. I wouldn't want this ma ...
May 18, 2013 -
Just love her. I don't think you have to "be stron ...
May 18, 2013
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Win tickets
By popular request: May’s first steps!
2010 photo of May I used in the speech
Today, I received an emailed bulletin from BabyCenter. Subject: Is your baby walking?
It landed in my inbox because my baby, Ieuan, turned one only two weeks ago. He is like any one-year old, more of a toddler now than a baby. Crawling everywhere. Standing on shaky legs, with a big grin on his face and one small step away from delicious trouble.
And, that’s wonderful. That’s exactly how it is supposed to be.
But, I have another child. My daughter, May, who is also a “toddler” though she has never toddled. She is three.
May is severely brain-damaged. After she was born, the only things the doctors could be sure that she would ever be able to do was pee and breathe. Pee and breathe.
How did I deal with that information? I didn’t really. On so many levels, I didn’t. I love her dearly, but I’m not one of those mothers who has a disabled child and would never change a thing about her. I would. In an instant, in a heartbeat. My heart. I’d give up my heart.
For one single, wobbly step. I’d give up my heart for her to be able to feel the world move beneath her feet. For her to control her life that little bit. For her to propel herself. Independently. One step. I would give her my heart.
The BabyCenter email I received said, “Your baby’s first steps– this is huge. It’s exciting to watch your new walker’s bowlegged locomotion, but it’s equally fun to see the look on your baby’s face: part surprise, part joy, part holy-moly-I-can’t-believe-I’m-really-doing-this.”
The video below was taken yesterday. It shows May about 45 seconds after being strapped into a walker for the very first time. Walking is not a miracle for May. It is three years of work, devotion, heartbreak and fury (and fun too, let’s not forget the best part) – all that went into every step. That is no miracle.
Holy-moly-I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening.
May, I give you my heart.
SIDE NOTE:
This post is here at the request of the medical community – I love that, it makes me sound so important. By request, I mean the tiniest bit of encouragement from the doctors I gave a speech to tonight to the Barts and London/ Queen Mary Neurological Society. It doesn’t take much to convince this mama to share a post and video of May!
You can also see an additional BONUS footage here on my post Walking and giggling: That’s how we do it!
I hope you enjoyed it. And, a huge thank you to Anna Nagy who invited me along to speak and all the doctors. Your perspectives are so interesting!
such a fantastic video (though may was great in slow motion too..) was lovely to have you speak tonight, thanks so much for coming down x
I really enjoyed it! Thanks for inviting me!
Dear Mama Lewis!
It was SO great to meet you today! Thank you so much for re-posting this! Your talk was such an inspiration for a new generation of doctors who can hopefully learn something from all your experience! we are so grateful that you made the time to visit us. Please look out for some pictures coming soon at www.qmblneurosoc.com. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you and many many thanks and cuddles to May for being such a photographic sensation!
Such a beautiful post. Sebastian loves walking in his walker. There is a sense of freedom, independence and control. I accept Sebastian for who he is, but if he didn't have cp, that would be awesome. If he could use his hands to play with toys, definitely. Have you seen his video for filmpossible.ca contest? SebCanDo.
Stacie & Gareth, Loved to see your blog and watching May walk again is always wonderful to see and a true joy! We hope your speech went well and as always, we are very proud of you!! Love, Ellen & Dad
Yay for May! I adore the look on her face! What an achievement. I am so happy for you all. I was going to say that I have missed May's cultural musings in "Yes May, but is it?" but clearly you have been busy with more important things.
It has been so long since I asked May about art! I have to do one soon - thanks for reminding me. They are my favorite posts to write.
what a lovely video,go May! I've been reading you since 2011 and have really enjoyed watching May grow xoxo
I still love watching this
hahaha - How many times do you think I've watched it???
Just watched the video AGAIN! Love it and all of you too!!!! May is awesome!!!
Love, Ellen Ruth