My Son The Artist

Tim was born with a chromosomal abnormality called XYY syndrome, a deep brain seizure disorder, and a brain injury caused by birth trauma. It has been a long hard journey for us, but this year is marking many more milestones.

We celebrated Tim's 32nd birthday at the Olive Garden - he wanted a "grown up birthday, not one for a little kid." So we compromised ... an adult dinner with an adult beverage made with ice cream, some adult gifts of new sheets, a sweater and some videos, and a couple of electronic toys. It was an amusing yet bittersweet moment to see his eyes light up at the toys, despite his protestations that he wanted a "grown up" birthday party.

So today, as I remember, sometimes with tears I admit, the hard way he entered the world and the 18 years of wrong diagnoses, painful and terrifying separations when he was hospitalized, and rejoice that he's come farther than medical professionals ever thought he would, I am celebrating by putting some of his drawings on Zazzle. Whether he ever sells anything or not, I am certain he will be delighted to see his work on the web.

Maybe even as much as he liked the toys we bought him.