READING TIME: 2 MIN

On the first day of Christmas, my Peanut* gave to me

A life lesson in dignity.

* As I wrote about a few weeks ago, at home we call Gabriella the Peanutgirl, or our Peanut.

 

On the second day of Christmas, my Peanut gave to me

Two decades (and three) of love

And a lesson in priorities.

 

On the third day of Christmas, my Peanut gave to me

Three dogs at school

Two meows from Luna

And the aura of pet-therapy.

 

On the fourth day of Christmas, my Peanut gave to me

Four wheelchairs

Three vans with ramps

Two bath-chairs

And a life lesson in adaptability.

 

On the fifth day of Christmas, my Peanut gave to me

Five magical clicks;

Four gifts from strangers

Three spontaneous blessings

Two lucky breaks

And a whiff of divinity.

 

On the sixth day of Christmas, my Peanut gave to me

Six moms event-planning

Five grateful clicks;

Four preschools seen

Three special needs trusts

Two years with Diverse Abilities

And a lesson in advocacy.

 

On the seventh day of Christmas, my Peanut gave to me

Seven months a-blogging

Six stages of grief adding

Five expressive clicks;

Four communion dresses

Three sensory-friendly shows

Two thumbs-up

And a lesson in humility.

 

On the eighth day of Christmas, my Peanut got from me

Eight syringes a-plunging

Seven meds a-taking

Six times transferring

Five echoing clicks;

Four respiratory treatments

A three-part bedtime routine

Two rounds with the toothbrush

And a lesson in constancy.

 

On the ninth day of Christmas, my Peanut gave to me

Nine teachers teaching

Eight aides Halloween-parading

Seven bus drivers loading

Six proms a-weeping

Five welcoming clicks;

Four devoted nurses

Three therapists a week

Two wheelchair techs

And a lesson in camaraderie.

 

On the tenth day of Christmas, my Peanut gave to me

Ten beach wheelchairs rolling

Nine pools a-swimming

Eight zoo-birds a-cheeping

Seven hours driving

Six times Auto-training

Five adventurous clicks;

Forever in motion

Three trips to Disney World

Two nights on a cruise

And a lesson in accessibility.

 

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my Peanut gave to me

Eleven surgeries succeeding

Ten fingers crossing

Nine months’ dreams a-wilting

Eight IV bags dripping

Seven monitors beeping

Six peds nurses caring

Five resilient clicks;

Four respiratory infections

Three stays for seizures

Two lithotripsies

And a lesson in tenacity.

 

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my Peanut shared with me

Television video watching

Leavened with loud laughing

Tender hugs embracing

Nonstop memories flooding

Ate so that I’m bursting

Servin’ creamy icing

Sicknesses avoiding

Favored loving clicks;

Forgetting all your worries

Tree awash in presents

Too few days together

And the essence of family.

 

 

Happy Holidays!