What Life is Like for Special Needs Families during the Coronavirus Pandemic

For most of us, the Coronavirus Pandemic is an inconvenience: Our dining and entertainment options are limited, we’re figuring out what homeschooling our kids looks like (and appreciating their teachers more and more each day), and we’re still trying to understand why everyone is stockpiling toilet paper. Life looks really different these days.

The way we’re living our lives today is the way many special needs families live their lives every day.

Leah Deason’s son Ozzie is a remarkable fighter who lives with a rare diagnosis, epilepsy, and hydrocephalus. Leah recently shared this perspective:

I know after this chaos is over and things settle down, everyone will go back to their carefree lives.

Unfortunately, we don’t get that option. If you’re in a state of fear right now over COVID-19, then think about living in this state of worry every single day. Now you understand what having a medically fragile loved one is like. This is how we live 365 days of the year. We have to take every precaution to keep our loved ones safe. We have to miss out on family gatherings. We aren’t able to go on trips. We often have to say no to visitors and can’t attend large gatherings. Our entire lives revolve around trying to avoid life threatening illness. This is our real life.

So, maybe this pandemic will open your eyes and hearts to those living this medically complex life. Give us some grace. Be compassionate. Be empathetic. But most of all, please continue to take the same precautions that you’re doing now.

In this season when we are tempted daily to practice negativity, let’s open our eyes and look for the opportunity to practice empathy. Let’s offer our support to families who are not just inconvenienced by Coronavirus but are vulnerable during this season—and other seasons. Let’s put others first by enduring some temporary inconveniences that protect these vulnerable ones from a dangerous virus.

During this unprecedented season, the Who Is Carter Foundation is privileged to do our part to support special needs families with the resources available at TheBrainPossible.com. In particular, we’re offering some advice on stress relief for parents and caregivers during the Coronavirus epidemic and natural ways to boost your family’s immunity. Please share these resources—and this blog post—with families who could use the support during this trying time.