Loving Michael: Everyone Has Special Needs

By Virginia Nolan

This story begins with the unexpected birth of a Down syndrome baby boy to an unwed couple and tells about the events in his life up to the age of ten. It shows a family's courage to deal with the realities of life's happenings. Yes, we all have special needs. The events in this story will challenge the reader's thoughts and cause you to rethink your attitudes and actions in dealing with the unforeseen. Baby Michael is unique, and his father constantly tries to figure out what's best for his little superman and never gives up. As the Bible tells us, "Seek and ye shall find." Loving Michael.....Everyone Has Special Needs is a life changer for all those who read this story. This novel is about loving a child who isn't perfect but is able to alter the lives of those around him. The events in the story force us to read on to find out how negatives become positives. Accepting the unanticipated is not always easy to do, but this story will connect the missing links that lead the way to happiness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Unapologetic Voice House LLC
• Release date: Sep 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781955090087

Virginia Nolan

Virginia Nolan is an American author, teacher, and presenter in addition to being a wife, mother, grandmother, and volunteer that helps children at all levels with a variety of needs. She was born and raised by immigrant parents in the Bronx section of New York and now divides her time between Phoenix, Arizona and Long Island, New York. Virginia values education and has been known for teaching more than academics. She has been honored in Whose Who Among America’s Teachers. Her novels show the importance of dealing with the needs of others. Virginia Nolan’s sensitivity to unexpected happenings in life captivates the reader and shows you how negatives can become positives. Loving Michael…. Everyone Has Special Needs is definitely an inspiration to all.

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Loving Michael

Everyone Has Special Needs

by Virginia Nolan

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, names, characters, organizations, places, events and incidents in this book either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental.

Published by the Unapologetic Voice House

www.theunapologeticvoicehouse.com

Scottsdale, AZ.

Identifiers:

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-955090-09-4

E-book ISBN: 978-1-955090-08-7

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021913375

Cover designer: Heather Brown (https://www.culturalsponge.com/).

Editor: N. Amma Twum-Baah with Amma Edits LLC.

Copyright © 2021 Virginia Nolan.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other— except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Dedication

Loving Michael…. Everyone Has Special Needs is dedicated to all Down syndrome children throughout the world along with their loving parents and caregivers who help them as they grow up.

Reality

From the moment they met, Tom and Janie loved being together. They felt well-suited for each other. They enjoyed taking walks, sharing a bite to eat, watching a movie, and just being close to one another. He loved making her happy. They spent serious time together for a year before the unexpected happened. Janie was pregnant!

After her fifth month of pregnancy, Janie gave up her little studio apartment. Once she felt that first kick, fantasy gave way to reality. Having a baby was now real, and the thought of getting married was no longer a page in a fairytale book. It could happen. A baby….me, a mother….how will I do this?

Tom’s bachelor pad was about to be transformed and Tom was as excited as a kid in a candy shop when Janie consented to move in with him. Where should I start; what colors would Janie like; how will we arrange the furniture to make it ours; where will the baby’s crib go?

There was so much to do and only four months left to get it done. First, he dusted and vacuumed, cleaned out the refrigerator, and threw out the paper clutter. Making Janie feel comfortable in her new abode was important to him, and this apartment was a great setup for a young couple starting a family. It was close to work and affordable. It had an oversized closet adjacent to the master bedroom which was the perfect size for a little one. They decided to paint the room a light yellow and then they bought a small crib and a dresser that had a changing table on top. Excitement was in the air. Now all they needed was the birth of their baby to make life complete. They’d soon have their very own family.

And that time came quickly. Janie had a good pregnancy which led to a quick birth. Everything so far had gone according to plan, so the concept of a healthy baby had simply been assumed by them both. However, they would soon find out that their baby had some medical issues that needed to be addressed. At six pounds four ounces, Janie had been fortunate to have a quick and easy delivery.

Since the baby is jaundiced, he will have to stay a few extra days, but you can go home later today, Janie, the doctor said.

Tommy sat patiently in the chair next to Janie who was sitting up in the bed trying to focus on her doctor’s words. Seeing the frightful look on her face, he reached out to hold her hand, but she withdrew it immediately and grabbed her cell phone as if it were a lifeline to another world. The message was clear. She wanted no part of Tom.

Jaundiced? I’m not quite sure what that is, doctor.

Well, there’s a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes. It’s caused by a high blood level of white bilirubin. We’re going to treat it with phototherapy.

What’s that? Janie asked.

It’s a light therapy treatment whereby we expose an infant’s skin to a special blue light which is quite routine with infants who are jaundiced.

The doctor then informed them that their baby’s breathing also needed attention.

Easy for him to say, she thought as she fidgeted with her cell phone, scanning to see if there were any messages. Tommy was anxious to walk down the hall to the nursery to see their little miracle of life, but instead, he sat quietly trying to get a grip on what was happening.

A pediatric cardiologist will be examining him shortly.

Pediatric cardiologist….get me out of here….I can’t breathe.

Janie heard the words but didn’t quite understand the medical jargon. Her thoughts were spinning like a windmill. She only grasped bits and pieces as if she were a cartoon character with a bad connection – wah, wah, wah.

Tommy knew that Janie’s mind was wandering. As good a mechanic as he was, he couldn’t fix what was wrong, but he did know what was right. And their baby boy was right. He had to be patient with Janie while she struggled to come to the same realization and thought it best to give her a little space.

Doctor, would it be alright to go down to the nursery and see our son?

Sure, Tom. In fact, the pediatric cardiologist is probably down there right now. Let’s go see. Oh, I see the nurse is here to talk to Janie. Welcome.

Great! He knew they needed all the help they could get.

Tommy stood to give Janie a peck on the cheek. Even though it was like putting his lips on a block of ice, he had high hopes that her postdelivery depression would subside.

You rest a bit, honey. I’m just going down the hall to check on our baby. I’ll let the nurse talk to you about some of the important things that you need to know. Then Tommy joined the doctor who was lingering at the door waiting for Tom so they could walk and talk.

It’s a pleasure to see your excitement, Tom, the doctor said when they were out of earshot. However, Janie does worry me a bit. It’s quite natural for a woman’s hormones to change after childbirth, and the nurse did mention that she only held the baby once, in the delivery room, right after the birth, which is the regular procedure. Some sadness and depression are normal, but to be frank with you, if this persists, I suspect she may have PPD.

Tom clung to the doctor’s words hoping to find some answers to what he had been witnessing. Janie’s sudden change in behavior worried him intensely. They had been so excited awaiting the birth of their baby boy, this miracle of life, and now that he was here, she had no desire to go down to the nursery to hold him again. Tom was searching for some answers. Was it fear…? Was it because he had the extra chromosome…? Was it because he was jaundiced…? Was it because a pediatric cardiologist needed to examine him?

What does PPD mean doctor?

Well, let me explain, Tom. When a new mom gives birth, two hormones, estrogen, and progesterone drop very quickly. This change triggers mood swings. The common baby blues that sometimes occur are less severe. However, Postpartum Depression will need medical intervention because the baby’s mother can’t snap out of the deep sadness and anxiety after the birth. This hospital does have in-house counseling programs if needed. Perhaps you’d like to see if she’ll consent to see someone. Physically she checks out to be fine and therefore can be released later this afternoon. Let’s hope she’ll be able to snap out of her depression and be fine. The nurse will be talking to her about all these things. I know that there are pamphlets that they give to new mothers which may help them deal with a variety of things that new mothers need to know including feedings, breast milk, or formula.

Thank you, doctor, for taking the time to give me some of your words of wisdom.

You’re so welcome. Oh good, here comes Dr. Gazolla, the pediatric cardiologist. Let me introduce you.

Tom could feel his heart racing as he extended his hand to greet the cardiologist.

So glad to meet you Dr. Gazolla. I understand that you are the expert who can help our son. How do you do procedures with such a tiny one? Tommy asked in a pleading, desperate voice. He was yearning to cradle their baby in his arms. I was told our little one will be here for a while until he gets stronger. Can I come and hold him when I come to visit?

Of course. You’ll be able to hold him, Dr. Gazolla replied. The nurses will give you the scheduled visitation times. I’m going in now to give him a thorough examination, and then after I check him out, I’ll make a diagnosis and we’ll talk so you’ll know what to expect. If you like, you can sit here and wait.

I’ll be right here doctor. My partner is resting in her room. Tom knew that Janie needed some quiet time alone.

Within the hour, Dr. Gazolla approached Tom who was anxiously waiting for his diagnosis. Your son will be fine, he said. He will just need a bit of extra care. Hearing this gave Tom great relief. We’ll be going into the tiny office to the right of the nursery’s viewing room. I’ll ask one of the nurses to ask your partner to come here so I won’t have to explain everything twice. Sit and relax, Tom. I just have to get your baby’s chart.

Tom, grateful for a few quiet moments to himself, tried to sit and relax, but his inner thoughts exploded. Me, Tommy Catalano, a father……wow, I can’t believe this miracle of life.

Since he couldn’t contain his emotions, he walked over to stand in front of the hospital nursery window and craned his neck in search of his little Super-Man who was in a blocked-off area at the back of the nursery. Tom knew that their baby was struggling to breathe on his own. He’ll be fine, he’ll be fine. He’ll just require a bit of extra care. As he patiently waited for Janie to arrive, Tom felt his rapid heartbeat slowly returning to normal.

Janie was escorted in a few minutes later. Tommy stood up as she entered. He scanned her face for visual clues as to her current disposition….negative, negative, negative. He could read her like a book but wasn’t about to give up on winning her over to the positive side of loving this beautiful baby boy that was theirs.

Here, Janie, he said, as he held a chair for her to sit. He was trying to lift her spirits. The doctor said he’ll be back shortly. He’s going to go over our baby’s chart with us and tell us how our little one can be helped with his breathing.

His breathing….look at my breathing….I’m suffocating.

Janie didn’t utter a word. She sat still, clutching her cell phone as if it were an escape mechanism that would transport her to another planet.

Even though it was only minutes, Dr. Gazolla’s return seemed like hours. Since he was a busy doctor, he got right to the point. He explained that in cases of PDA, Persistent Ductus Arteriosus, the duct in the heart that usually closes shortly after birth doesn’t close completely. The oxygen-rich blood that should be pumped away from the baby’s lungs leaks back into the lungs through that duct.

So folks, this is the plan. I’ll need to put an IV ibuprofen in him for at least the next two weeks. He will need to stay here at the hospital for constant observation. We like to avoid surgery. Therefore, we use this special procedure where we insert a long flexible tube, a catheter, into his vein or artery which is guided into the heart. We call this cardiac catheterization. It’s quite common; so, don’t be alarmed. I’ll be able to do this procedure at 1:30 p.m. today. You might want to wait back at Janie’s room while I do this.

His explanation was extremely factual. It was obvious that this procedure was routine for Dr. Gazolla. He came highly recommended by the staff at the hospital.

Do either of you have any questions?

Tommy glanced at Janie who hung her head and shook it from left to right and back again.

No doctor. We don’t have any specific questions right now, but I’m sure you’ll keep us informed, Tom replied. We’ll walk back to her room and wait for the procedure to be completed. Janie and I have to figure out a few things.

Earlier that day, the clerical staff had come up to drop off and explain the birth certificate and social security form. It was required that they complete them within 24 hours of the birth for their newborn’s birth certificate to be processed by the hospital and then filed with the Town Clerk. In approximately three weeks, the Town Clerk would mail the birth certificate to their home address. The social security card would be mailed in about six weeks. However, with all the complications, Tom and Janie hadn’t even discussed what they would name him.

Now that they knew their baby was a boy, Tommy was secretly anxious to name him Michael. They had shared some of their family’s histories during their courtship.

A multitude of thoughts raced through Tommy’s head. Maybe we could name him after my deceased brother. I think Janie will go along with that. Yes, I think she’ll be agreeable to that.

Suddenly, the nurse arrived, interrupting Tom’s desire to ask Janie about naming their little one.

We just got word that you’ll be able to go home later today, even though your baby will have to remain here a bit longer. But before your doctor can discharge you, I will need to give you the information about feeding him. Newborn feeding patterns can be unpredictable.

Unpredictable.…feeding my little one…this child with Down syndrome is unpredictable.

You can pump your milk, bottle it, bring it here for us to feed him, or you can feed him when you come to visit. However, if you’d rather use formula, your doctor will suggest the type of formula best suited for your son’s needs. Most newborns need eight to twelve feedings a day. That’s one feeding every two to three hours.

That’s an awful lot of feedings, isn’t it?

That’s quite normal with a newborn. Have you decided if you want to use breast milk or formula?

Janie just shrugged her shoulders and sat silently.

Breastfeeding contains all the essential nutrients and elements to nurture healthy growth, the nurse continued. But today’s formula is designed to imitate the content of human milk. You may like to talk it over with your partner and decide what you’d like to do.

Will do. Thanks.

Will do….can’t believe I just said that. I can’t talk to Tommy. He doesn’t know how I feel. He’s in la-la land. Tommy is thrilled with this baby. His mechanical skills won’t fix this. You can’t just change the parts that are broken as