Audrey – What’s important for parents to understand?

I think that it’s accepting that life is going to be very different.  It’s that the child’s hopes and dreams are going to have to be readjusted.  That your hopes and dreams for the child are going to have to be adjusted.  I think you become a lot more grateful for what you have.  That’s not a conscious decision; I think that’s what kind of happens, at least in my case.  It felt like there was suddenly this re-shifting of priorities, and recognition that regardless of how obnoxious the person talking to you is, or how silly something can be, all that doesn’t matter.  Whatever it is, how wonderful it is that this child is still alive, and we’re still able to get on with our lives.