Let me tell you, 2015 has been a year for the ages, at least from my point of view. Hopefully, if your reading this post, you’ve been keeping up with Super Mighty Max’s story, through our voices and can remember what our family has experienced thus far this year. From those experiences, I have distilled what I think are the most important lessons I’ve learned this year, and believe others who parent and love someone with special needs and disabilities can benefit from. Here is a list of 10 lessons that I learned and they are not in any particular order.

1. I’ve learned to be more disciplined. Every morning or evening and sometimes both, I spend at least an hour to administer medicine, feed Max, give breathing treatments, and get him ready for the day. On top of that, there is the job of taking him to and from multiple appointments, which are on occasion several times a week. It takes a lot of discipline to care for someone, because literally their life depends on your attention to detail.
2. How MUCH I LOVE SUPER MIGHTY MAX. Having the privilege to spend time with my son, has increased my love for him; he’s a fighter, he’s beautiful, he’s resilient, and he’s an answer to prayers.
3. It’s stressful raising a child with special needs and disabilities. Multiple appointments, yet to be answered prayers, unanswered prayers, difficult diagnoses, lack of vacations, lack of trustworthy/confident people to help care for your child, thousands of $$$ in medical bills, difficulty interpreting pain, and etc. It’s just a lot.
4. Self-Care is Essential. You cannot take care of someone effectively if you don’t take care of yourself. Enough said!
5. I have more compassion. I’m more compassionate with my son and therefore, I’m more compassionate to the pain of mankind.
6. The need for advocacy. Navigating the world of disability, hospitals, bills, doctors, appointments, therapists, equipment, and pharmacists is not a walk in the park. I’m blessed to have good people in my corner helping us along the way and we need to help others along this journey.
7. Super Mighty Max is not a mistake. He’s not a mistake. He’s not a result of God’s wrath. He is created in the image and likeness of God! He is fearfully and wonderfully made.
8. The Village. Never would’ve made it without the help and love of family, friends, church members, and good hearted people!
9. Facing Facts with FAITH. Despite what the doctors and experts say, listen to their opinions, and face those facts and opinions with FAITH. God has the final say!
10. I’m stronger than I thought. This year has taught me to be emotionally and mentally resilient! I’m much stronger from these past experiences this year and I will continue to be so.

Bonus:

1. Lack of Ministry to those with special needs/disabilities and those who care for them. The church overall, especially the Black Church has done a poor job with ministering to those with special needs/disabilities, and their families. Too often, I’ve heard stories about families being asked to leave with their children, because the church wasn’t equipped to serve them. I’ve heard stories of parents either no longer attending church or leaving their children at home, because the church wasn’t prepared to minister to them. This is the elephant in the room that Black Church needs to deal with, as we deal with ministering to other marginalized groups.

Stay Super, Make Mighty Moves, Be Blessed!

Brandon