I'm just wondering if any of you have kids with special needs. Fiero owners are a special breed in themselves, but those of us with special kids have something doubly unique to share.

My 1-year old has Down Syndrome. He is the greatest kid in the world! HIs older borther and sister keep him busy, that's for sure. I'm looking forward to having him out in the garage, helping me on my cars.

Anyone else have someone special?

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SBC "FinIERO"
87 T-top (soon to get the FinIERO transplant)
'86 SE
www.finiero.com

I have a 28 year old son, Bryan with CP (cerebral palsy). He also has hydrocephalus (water on the brain) with a shunt. When he was born, the doctors said he would pretty much be a vegetable, but it hasn't turned out that way. He walks with the aid of a wheeled walker. He is dependent on his parents. Bryan probably has more physical handicaps than your son will have. He attended school over the years with many Downs Syndrome kids. Bryan is brutally honest, and is happily "retired" now and spends his days at home doing pretty much whatever he wants. Don't we all wish for that sort of lifestyle!

You are just starting out on your journey with a "different" child. You will get used to the odd stares and wisecracks after a while...people can be rough on these kids. Hopefully your son doesn't have too many medical issues as a result of the Downs. They are special people...love em like a son...

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Tim
Red 88 Formula Auto 2.8 100K+ Miles

I don't care how much money you have, free stuff is always a good thing.

Hello Saxman

Our daughter has Type 1 diabetes. She was diagnosed at 2yrs and now she is 8yrs old! Where did the years go? Hard to believe
we have been dealing with this for almost 6 years now. She loves the Fiero, she calls it the "Hot Rod" and loves to go for rides.

Jen

quote Originally posted by FrugalFiero: You will get used to the odd stares and wisecracks after a while...people can be rough on these kids.

It really pisses me off that people are so arrogant and ignorant to actually say stuff like that and throw odd looks. I will look at the child like every human will, but it will more be a smiling "Hi there" than what the rest of the people mean. I'm glad to know you can handle it though, it makes the person scouling look like the freak.

Good luck with that, I have no idea how hard it must be to raise a child with these conditions.

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"all pushrod motor are better than the dohc because it has less rotational mass"
-rick17, MyMonte member, owner of a 3100 Monte Carlo LS

Well I'm a bit young for kids, but I'm both a Fiero owner and autistic.
I realize it's not quite the same as downs, but I have Aspergers syndrome. Makes things interesting.

Little Kale has been very lucky. His physical conditions are very mild for a child with DS. He is right on par for speech and only a couple of months back on motor skills. No crawling, yet, but he scoots well. He is so personable. We have a blast - and he sleeps 12 hours a night, just like his older brother and sister.

Here he is...

Have any of you been involved with Fiero related fund raisers to support your kids? Maybe we can start something?

[This message has been edited by Saxman (edited 02-10-2006).]

You people make me realize how lucky I am, I have six kids and my only problems are 2 sons with goth disorders and a 3 year old with a massive case of diarrhea of the mouth.

Children with Special Needs are special people and have a special type of love to give.

quote Originally posted by Saxman: Little Kale has been very lucky. His physical conditions are very mild for a child with DS. He is right on par for speech and only a couple of months back on motor skills. No crawling, yet, but he scoots well. He is so personable. We have a blast - and he sleeps 12 hours a night, just like his older borther and sister. Here he is...

Kale is very cute! Before you know it he will be shaving every day like Bryan...

[This message has been edited by FrugalFiero (edited 01-16-2006).]

My youngest daughter is now nearly 9 years old, she suffers from cerebral palsy like Frugalfiero we were told not to expect anything,
she now goes to mainstream school where she holds her own. She enjoys playing on her playstations, gamecube and her ds.
As with the others you have to get used to the odd stares and comments by unenlightened people.
Here`s a picture of the kids singing karaoke.

my wife (26) has an older brother who is 30 and is mentally handicapped,
he lives on his own and does well, rides the bus, works 2 jobs, they say he has the mentality of about a 9 year old,
but he does well

personally i think he would do MUCH better if the parents treated him more like an adult and stopped babying him so much.. he is smart.. its like they dont gove him the credit and chance to do/learn things on his own

he has his own apartment, but spends most of the time at home on the farm

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~|(O)_____(O)\
02 Jetta 1.8t
86 Fiero V6
AIM:Onefast2M8

you guys rock.
god bless.

quote Originally posted by NY_FIERO: you guys rock. god bless.

Amen to that! I just hope that when I grow up I can be man enough to face a problem or challenge like the fathers here have. Hats off.

There is a man down the street from me with some sort of disorder, of which I am not sure. He cannot walk well, doesn't speak too well, but is a great person. He lives with his mother and pretty much supports himself. I'd say I see the fire department there about once a month, but the next day at 7:30 am he is riding his bike to work again! He rides a 3 wheel bike to the bus stop, locks it up, and rides the bus to the hospital where he works. Then come 4:00 he comes ridin back home. I admire his determination, and he is such a nice guy. I gave him a ride in my Dad's 55 Bel Air once, and he had a smile ear to ear. That made my day, and I hope it made his too.

quote Originally posted by jsmorter1: You people make me realize how lucky I am

Very true

quote Originally posted by jsmorter1: 3 year old with a massive case of diarrhea of the mouth.

I got a 2 year old with the same condition

quote Originally posted by NY_FIERO: you guys rock. god bless.

Amen

"We" as a society really dont realize how luck we are to have good health. "We" like to point and stare at others that are not "like us" . "We" pass judgement on those others before we get to know who they are. One of my good friends has a daughter that is my age that is mentally handicaped. We used to ride the same bus together and the kids would mess with her and make fun of the fact that she was different. I was the only one of prob 40 kids on the bus that would stand up for her. She is one of the funniest people that I have met and am glad that I defended her instead of joining society.

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88GT 3.4SC
88GT T-TOP
87GT VERT (build in progress)
www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/053203.html

My brother has a very rare handicap, so rare that the name is too long for me to remeber. He is mentally handicaped, no use of one side of his body, cannot talk, however it seems like he understands what you are saying to him. He just turned 25.

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Custom Fiero Fiberglass

i guess i'll throw mine in here. not really a special needs but special. my g/f's daughter (she calls me daddy so i consider her mine too) has alopecia. that's where hair doesn't grow in certain areas. her's don't grow on her head so she's bald. i think she has a tough time at school but won't sat so. i love her with all my heart and she gets treated just like my daughter. it's heart wrenching when we go out somewhere and people start staring and talking below their breath. some day it's going to get me to the point where i'll put a smack down on someone but for now, i just hold her closer and tell her shes a beautiful little girl. it's hard. but i swear on my life, she'll be one happy little girl growing up. or i'll die trying anyway. god bless everyone who doesn't just walk away from things like this post. you're all saints as far as i can see.

My expectations were right on. You guys/gals are too cool-

I'll keep shots of little Kale handy since some of
you will meet him at Carlysle in a few years...

quote Originally posted by NY_FIERO: you guys rock. god bless.

/\__What he said!

quote Originally posted by Saxman: My expectations were right on. You guys/gals are too cool- I'll keep shots of little Kale handy since some of you will meet him at Carlysle in a few years...

i'll tell you what i see...

one happy little guy! my hats off to you and him! i hope to meet you both one day riding in a fiero with that smile on.

Well, I don't have kids yet but I am a bilingual preschool teacher and we have 4 children with DS and one little sweet girl that is physically deaf but can hear thanks to technology and her cochlar implant.

Take care everyone,

Mike

P.S. Both of my Fieros have special needs.

[This message has been edited by FierosinKY (edited 01-16-2006).]

We found out a few months ago that our daughter has Type 1 diabetes. She's been a champ about the whole thing. As a parent, I'm supposed to be helping them, but I am continually amazed at how much I learn from my kids.

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Vin

Registered since March 2003
http://www.latuslink.com/fiero
86 SE 2M6 Deceased
86 SE 2M4 Burned
87 GT Black
87 GT Med. Red over Silver

Well, I have a 31 year old daughter that looks 8. She's physically and mentally challenged with very little motor skills and approx a 3 yr old mentality. She waddles like a penguin and requires full attention. Still not able to communicate her needs clearly. But she knows WE have a car, WE have a van and DAD has fieros. She insists on coming out in the garage with me and loves to come to local classic car meets. We usually do not take her with us on trips, one the wife comes with me on trips, the other is she needs constant watch. I feel guilty for leaving her behind when I go to one of London's cruises with Pete and Becky. My fear is who will treat her properly when the wife and I are unable to do it? But I hope the guy upstairs has that planned also. Having said all that, I realize she makes me a better person (I think), cuz like you guys said already, I am very lucky to be able deal with the small problems the fieros throw at me. So my hat is off to you guys, cuz I can relate. Oscar.

I have a 6 year old autistic son. He is the love of my life next to my wife and 10 year old son. My son Zachery goes to a private school here in New Jersey. I never gave a moments thought to ever having a disabled child. But here I am, and I still have my fiero.... For those of who don't know it New Jeresy is most likely the BEST in the nation to have a child with Autisim. The autisim schools here start thier ranking at #2 nationwide for taking care of your kids. I'm military and not rich by any means. This state, for all the jokes I make about it takes care of my two kids better than any other. And I do not get sent bill one. Getting stationed turned out to be blessing in disguise.

I agree that the world around me is always looking down disabled children. Other kids can be the cruelest of the lot, even more so than some parents. At the end of the day I know where the little SOBs get it from. Mom and Dad, or a lack there of. As a parent I struggle to make sure my kids don't grow to be little derelicts to society. My kids, even the "boy" as I call him at times are wonderful when we go out. They conduct themselves with pride and a sense of dignity.

I'm glad to see this subject came up. I didn't realize that this may Fiero owners are in the same situation as I am. In some cases thier children are far more disabled than my own child. My hat is off to you folks.

Paul
aka 88Ironduke

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Pilots with out maintainers are just pedestrians with a cool jacket and sunglasses.
I.Y.A.M.Y.A.S.

[This message has been edited by 88Ironduke (edited 01-17-2006).]

We have a 29 year old autistic son. The Washington state school system is not one of the best.

you know, its the people who treat these kids like they are outcasts that pisses me off the most, ive had some talks with people ive known with things lke muscular distrophy and CP and they said just want the same hello you give every one else. Which is exactly what i have done since before that.... we all have abilities and disabilities, some are just more visable. some were meant to work, and some were meant to love and be loved. this world needs to accept that.

to all you parents, i respect you and commend you as it must be heart wrenching. but i belive it is beyond worth it

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https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/050262.html "Ritalin"
See all of my movies!

My son was born with Russell-Silver Syndrom 16 years ago( don't bother to search your memory banks on this one-something like 250 total on Earth). At the time, I didn't know what life would bring him(us), but I made a promise to stick with him no matter what! Well, he's surpassed ALL expectations and cleared all hurdles. He is my hero, and as a teacher, never once have I encounterred another child that I'd trade him for! The Lord blessed us with him!

Well I'll add my family, first I just lost an uncle about 2 years ago with downs, he was in his sixties, never learned to talk, but he could let you know what he wanted, he always brought the groceries in and put them away and kept everthing arranged in the cabinets and fridge, after my granparents died he was placed in a group home with 5 other mentally disabled people, you would not believe how well he was taken care of and loved at that home, when he died they brought everyone frm the group home to the funeral, about 200 miles.
I also have some cousins with problems, one was born with water on the brain, not sure the medical terminolgy and later had polio which left him with one leg much weaker than the other, he must be in his late 50's now, another cousin has CP she is near 40 and had a sister that died at an early age with CP, a second cousin had spinial menegitias and has very little motor skills, all these people are very special in our family, as for myself everyone in the family have always told me I was retarded, sometimes we all are.
These children are very special and will always be your little children no matter how large they grow, I am very lucky to have a 12 yr. old son that is perfectly normal now I gotta go play some x-box with him.

Well I have no children, but I have a 21 year old brother who has CP.
Tony has always been a good and (mostly) sweet boy It is hard to
believe that he is 21 now.

Tony was born 3 months premature, and I remember it being 6 weeks
before I ever saw him for the first time. I was just a young boy myself
at the time. He has always been blessed that he did not so much look
like he was handicapped. Always a good looking boy, would have been
a real lady killer

He loves his country music, and loves his dad because he plays country
A rare moment it is indeed if you see tony without A. his guitar, or B. his
headphones.

Man I miss the little bugger

Wow this makes me feel so greatful for my healthy girl. I was so scared she would have DS cause a defect on the 21st chromosome (sp) runs in my family. I'm very proud of all of you guys that have disabled kids. They are very special and DS kids are so loving. Also to the guys with CP kids, don't give up on them cause my aunt never gave up on my cousin and she finally learned to walk at age 5 and went to school and is now a speech therapist and is married with healthy 2 kids.

https://images.fiero.nl/pffimages/misc_1051.jpg

Our 19 year old daughter was born with DiGeorge Syndrome. 50 perforations in the heart wall, no aorta, no thymus gland, no T cells, no immune system. During the 12 hour open heart surgery, done when she was 1 1/2 days old, she was frozen most of the time, and incurred brain damage, and inherited a whole new round of learning diaablilty problems....

But this gal is the strongest willed and sweetest person I've ever met. She has overcome most of her problems. She wants to live on her own, one day, and I've no doubt she will make it.

These kind of kids need support, as do their parents and families. The school systems are hot and cold reguarding so many facets of these kids upbringing. We have almost monthly ARC meetings to get things right at Morgen's school. And on the other hand, we occasionally run across that rare teacher who can make a difference in someones life. If "normal" kids parents spent as much time with their kids as we do with Morgen, the world would be a very different place.

My heart is with each of you special parents out there.

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Pantera Rebody Kits

My wife and I adopted Erin last August. We traveled to Kiev Ukraine for the adoption. She was overlooked in the adoption program for 2 years because of her being a dwarf!
When we went to visit her (we were the first to ever do so!), we just fell in love with her imediately! What a wonderfull disposition! She's bold, ambitious, and chearfull! (as any 3year old should be!) Although the expense of adotion has been a strain, I'd never go back to not having her in my life!

“Home is where the heart is.”,
at least that's what they say.
But I know that you're out there,
and you'll find me some day.

Life as an orphan,
is not all that great.
For Mama and Papa,
I wait and I wait.

Today they came!
This is so great!
They'll take me home.
I just can not wait.

We've made it home.
My new place to play.
I could never have imagined it...
half a world away.

(I hope everyone likes my poem! It's the first I've written since grade school!)
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86GT Daily Driver

[This message has been edited by KA (edited 01-18-2006).]

I'm sitting here with tears rolling down my face. How lucky your kids are to have such great and caring parents as you all are.
I have three kids with no disabilties, and I feel lucky for that every day. I only hope I could be as good a parent if I was in your positions.

I'm sure you all feel blessed to have your children, and wouldn't trade them for the world.

I truly believe that god will only give us as much adversiy as we can handle.

We have a 16-year old with motor verbal Apraxia (limited fine motor skill in hands and mute). Even with her special needs she has been an honor student, in a normal public school. From my perspective a great feat when verbal commication is not a strong suit. As everyone with special need kids know they view the world with a deferent perspective from "the normal" people. They seem to always have a smile and see no evil in the world.

TTT

Thanks for the great response everyone. We have some wonderful folks on this forum.

My little guy turns 1 on Wednesday!

Bump in case anyone interested missed this one...

if i can be half the loving parent all of you have displayed my future children are going to be in good hands...thank you for sharing ..tim..

Kale is now 1 year old. What a great kid!

(Yes, he has a sense of humor - he already makes me laugh with that strategic rattle placement )

Great thread! My wife is has a handicapped and a Resource Specialist credential and we have had great joy taking part in many special kid's lives.

Our quality as a society is measured by the love and care we give to those who have special needs. The interesting thing is, when we think we are helping these kids, they end up really giving to us.

Gary

My 1.5 year old daughter has a potentially deadly peanut allergy. We have to be sure that every bit of food she eats is safe. We just found out about it.

I am thankful that that is all we have to deal with. I am sure that many of you would trade challenges with me in a heartbeat.