Chloe, my niece, was born prematurely at 26½ weeks. She faced insurmountable challenges, as do most preemies. One difficulty was that she did not begin speaking until she was about four years old. Chloe was diagnosed with apraxia.
Apraxia is a neurological disorder that affects the brain pathways responsible for planning the sequence of movements required for speech production. This indicates that the brain understands what it wants to say but is unable to properly plan and sequence the required speech sound movements.
In therapy, Chloe was encouraged to "use your words." She was not to express herself through gestures, inaudible sounds, or emotions. Her parents prayed for her and spoke words of encouragement to her. And Chloe flourished.
Chloe has put in a lot of work over the years. She's come a long way from weighing two pounds at birth and being hooked up to tubes and needles that kept her alive.
The dream was such an encouragement and a confirmation for all of us that Chloe would be just fine; she would use her words and hold witty conversations.
She is now a college student pursuing a marketing degree. She self-published a poetry collection called Revelations of Freedom: Poems for Humanity. Chloe's tenacity, strength, kindness, and generosity inspire me. She is brave and does not back down from any challenge thrown her way. She is an exceptional young lady.
Remember, whatever you are going through today, especially if it involves your children, I encourage you to keep your head up. Use your words to bring life to others because words have energy and are powerful. Be diligent and consistent. Don't give up just yet... You've come too far. Dreams do come true.
Thank you for joining our community.
Creatively yours,
Lynette