Thank you Mom for Everything

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I am the blessed mommy of twelve year old twin boys.  Noah has severe, non-verbal autism and epilepsy.  Owen is absolutely typical.

When you have a child with autism, life is anything but ordinary.

Today I’d like to take a moment to honor and THANK one of Noah’s champions and favorite people in the entire universe, his Grandma (my mom) Cindy.

Cindy has been an integral part of Noah’s life since day one.  She gladly accepted the role of caring for our boys when I returned to work after six weeks.

And even after Noah’s challenges became prevalent, Cindy remained committed.

Twelve years later, she still cares for our boys. Her efforts have allowed my husband and I to flourish in our careers without worry while she put her career aside.

Her selflessness and support is beyond measure.

Three years ago, we had an opportunity to transfer from Michigan to Florida for my job.  It was a huge decision, but in the end we took the leap to see if it would satisfy Noah’s sensory needs with warm weather and swimming year round.

Cindy made the sacrifice to come along.  She left family and friends to be by our side, remain Noah’s constant and support us when needed. Her sacrifices are eternally appreciated.

Cindy has been there appointment after appointment, school after school, therapy after therapy.  She is quite simply a Godsend.

Her love and adoration for Noah is evident in everything she does and Noah’s love for Cindy is clearly reciprocal.

From their one-sided conversations to their snuggle parties, their bond is unbreakable.

Cindy has pushed me to remain positive through the good and bad when all I wanted to do was crumble.  Her empathy and compassion are endless.

I would not be the mother I am today if it was not for her guidance.

I know having a special needs grandchild is not something she planned for either.  It comes with a similar adjustment, but her love for Owen and Noah truly knows no difference. They are equally her pride and joy and we couldn’t ask for anything else.

Our family is incredibly blessed to have Cindy on this journey with us.

Thank you mom for being you and all you do!

Written by, Nicole Hill

My name is Nicole Hill and I am the blessed mommy of fraternal twin boys, Noah and Owen (soon to be 13). They are the loves of my life. Noah has severe, non-verbal autism and epilepsy. Owen is absolutely typical. Life with one special needs child and one typical child can be a challenge, but we do our best to find the balance. You can follow our blog at Nurturing Noah.

Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook, subscribe for exclusive videos, and subscribe to our newsletter.

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Kate Swenson

Kate Swenson lives in Minnesota with her husband Jamie, and four children, Cooper, Sawyer, Harbor and Wynnie. Kate launched Finding Cooper's Voice from her couch while her now 11-year-old son Cooper was being diagnosed with autism. Back then it was a place to write. Today it is a living, thriving community of people who want to not only advocate for autism, but also make the world a better place for individuals with disabilities and their families. Her first book, Forever Boy, will be released, April 5, 2022.

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