How Time Flies....My Baby boy is growing so fast!

Me and my baby boy Charles when he was in the NICU

Me and my baby boy at 9 years old

Almost ten year's ago on 4/8/01 my baby boy, Charles was born two months premature.  He suffered many hardships and was hospitalized for two months after he was born and had to undergo several surgeries.  It was a very trying time for myself, my husband and my family. As time went on and I saw my son develop and achieve his developmental milestones I began to worry less and less.  However, a high percentage of premature babies experience developmental delays and Charles falled into this category.  I feared for Charles academic future and have been a tireless advocate to ensure he received all the necessary services he needed in order to give him the best possible outcome for a successful future.  Charles received early intervention services (Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Special Instruction and Speech Therapy) from six months old until he aged out at age three.  Charles then attended an Integrated Special Education Pre-School Program from ages 3-5.  Even though Charles was progressing as he was developing, he still exhibited academic delays that had me worried but I decided to enroll him into his local public school for Kindergarten.  I hoped and prayed Charles would "catch up" and succeed in a General Education classroom with SETSS (Special Education Teacher Support Services and Occupational Therapy).  I worried a lot and had to advocate for Charles' academic needs each and every year with each new teacher he had at his local public school.  I never had to worry about Charles' behavior since he is a very well behaved and sweet boy.  However, Charles struggled with his reading, writing and math skills and would progress but at his own pace and within his own time frame.  With all the emphasis on "test prep" I grew very concerned that Charles would fall way behind.  Charles has taught me to be an advocate for children with disabilities and he has shown that any child can make progress if given the appropriate services, supports, love, understanding and patience to develop and grow on their own and within thier own time frame, not by some "State Standard".  I can't believe almost 10 years have gone by and within this 10 years, my son has taught me to become a better human being by being more compassionate, understanding and patient and for that I am eternally grateful for my baby boy and I will always be his number one advocate and "cheerleader" in all areas of his life.