Our daughter Hazel turned three in September of 2016. She just started attending school and we love the new experiences she’s having. She loves being outdoors, petting our cat, and looking at lights. She was diagnosed with Bohring-Opitz Syndrome when she was 20 months old. It is a rare genetic condition that is very severe. Before our diagnosis, we spend a lot of time trying to figure out why she wasn’t growing, both physically and developmentally.

Like any mother, Hazel is my reason for everything. Her happiness and quality of life have been my top priority since she was born, I am recently learning, however, that I need to care for myself in a close second to her wants and needs. I think that’s a lesson that every mother must learn in order to thrive.