I will never forget the phone call from my daughter eight years ago after just giving birth to Simon. Instead of the expected tears of joy at just having delivered her second child the tears were interrupted by her words(“DAD, there is a problem”). No parent or grandparent ever wants to hear those words and my heart seemed to stop for a few beats as I tried to create some sort of soothing answer which I don’t remember. I know I raced to be with my daughter and hear what the problem was. In a gut wrenching 48 hour period we listened as doctors tried to figure out what the problem was and what to expect. Because he was born with such a rare syndrome we did not know what to expect or how to react since we were in uncharted waters….Our perfect little life was about to take a turn. (more…)

Our grandson Simon is 8 years old. When he was born he was diagnosed, within days, with an extremely rare chromosomal abnormality: 49XY. I was with my daughter Mollie and her husband Guion at the moment of Simon’s birth, and thereafter through the next days, which were scary beyond words. The fear came from our ignorance. (more…)

It is the workings of his mind that we admire most about Luke Jackson Howlett. One moment he can be laughing uproariously at the wildest slapstick. Then the mood changes, and he is onto C-SPAN, or the political talk shows. He even occasionally gives the evangelists a break.

And his mind sends signals to his body and together they send out messages to us. He does not have to hug us or kiss us, although he will. But what we treasure most are the love vibrations which emanate from his presence. And we are sure he feels the love emanating from us. Just to see that sly smile crossing those darling lips is enough to melt anyone.

And that is what we want to tell the world about our dear grandson, Luke. Gum and Poppy