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Mark Brown lives in Shakopee, Minnesota with his wife, Audrey, and their children, Ryan, 9, Kelly, 6, and Nicholas, 2. Mark is a manager at Anchor Glass Container Corporation. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting and fishing.
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Building Our Future
Mark R. Brown
Remember when you were young and you built a snowman or a sand castle? You were so proud. Then, the next day, you went out to the back yard or down to the beach and found total devastation. That's how I felt the day my son was born. When the day started I was filled with excitement and anticipation; just hours later I was running down the hospital hallway beside my sister-in-law and a nurse, who was pushing my wife's stretcher into the emergency room. Days seemed to pass before the doctor came out and said my wife was fine, but the baby might not make it.
My new son, Nicholas, was going to be sent to Children's Hospital, and I went along. The ambulance ride seemed to last forever! I kept wondering if my son would live and how my wife must be feeling, all alone at the other hospital. What a mess! How could something so beautiful turn so ugly?
The doctor at Children's said that Nicholas had suffered oxygen deprivation and was having seizures. Nicholas was on a lot of medication and the doctor told me, "The prognosis isn't good, but time will tell. Kids are tough." I didn't want to leave for fear he would die without family by his side. So I waited. And every day, as I waited, the medications started to wear off. Finally, Nick started to wiggle.
During those long days, Nick became a passion. "Think positive!" I kept telling myself. I sang to Nick, read to him, talked to him; I still don't know if it was because I was tired or going crazy. Then one day, exhausted, I fell asleep next to Nick's bed. When I woke up and looked at him, he was looking back at me! At that moment I knew he was going to live. I was so happy, I felt a burning deep inside my heart.
Finally, mom got to visit for the first time. That visit made me realize why God made moms and the important role they play in a child's life. Nick started eating a little. After nine days in the hospital, Nick was ready to come home.
For our family, everything changed the day Nick was born. Nick ended up with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Our life consists of braces, doctors, testing, neurologists, eye patches, physical therapists, occupational therapists, adaptive equipment, tight schedules and a whole lot more. But our family and friends have come together to give us love and support.
Though Nick is only two years old, he has accomplished so much. Our family and friends came together to give us love and support. Yes, Nick has disabilities -- he can't walk, sit or talk very well. But he can smile, laugh, and cuddle. He can nod "yes," shake his head "no" and make the sign for "music." He dances, hugs, and gives kisses. Nick is beautiful, he's ours and he's here!
Our whole family keeps building those snowmen and sand castles -- no matter what the next day brings. Every day we hope to build one better and stronger than the one we built the day before.
Mark R. Brown
Shakopee, MN
Mark Brown lives in Shakopee, Minnesota with his wife, Audrey, and their children, Ryan, 9, Kelly, 6, and Nicholas, 2. Mark is a manager at Anchor Glass Container Corporation. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting and fishing.
This article was published in the "Fathers Voices," Exceptional Parent magazine, September, 1995.
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