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5 Reasons I'm Grateful for My Son's Disorder

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My sweet 7-month-old son, Fynn Tucker, is in the fight for his life. It’s a fight he has been fighting since birth, something we were told was just raspy breathing caused from still having a little fluid in his lungs because he was born via c-section. But I knew in my heart my son was battling the same battle his older brother battled years before.

Seven months later, countless tests, countless sedations and a 5-day hospital visit later, we’re still fighting. He was finally diagnosed with laryngomalacia in January 2015. He was also diagnosed with obstructive apnea and severe reflux in October 2014 and asthma in December 2014.

I have so many negative things I could say. I could express my hate in watching my innocent child struggle to breathe or quit breathing all together. I could write about all the negative things laryngomalacia has done to my family. But I would much rather turn this part of my life, of my son’s life, into a positive and talk about all the good things it has done…

1. It has showed me what a blessing life is. Life is so fragile that I won’t waste another second. I will cherish ever piece of my children, and for that I am grateful.

2. It has made my husband and me stronger. Watching your child struggle to live is an eye-opener and has taught my husband and me to work together… so for that I am grateful.

3. My son isn’t just a normal baby… he’s a fighter. He’s fought so hard in his first year of life that he is ready to fight anything, and for that I am grateful.

4. It has showed me who my true friends are… the friends who are there whether you have the time for them or not, the friends who visit the hospital when you are there for five days watching your child struggle to breathe… those are the friends I will keep in my life, and for that I am grateful.

5. I have met some amazing people among this journey, some people going through the same battle and some going through a different one. But regardless of their battles, they always keep a smile and love life and because of them, I have learned to put my faith in the Lord and found peace with God. I believe he did it so I could be his voice and fight for him, beside him, and I have been blessed to love him… and for that I am grateful.

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Originally published: April 1, 2015
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