Clayton’s Mom knows Potential with Cystic Fibrosis: Updated Story

May 1, 2011 By Potential Leave a Comment

****UPDATED****

A year ago, I asked Brandy to tell her story of her son, Clayton. This past Wednesday, Brandy and her family lost their home in the tornado that hit Pleasant Grove, Alabama. Please pray for Brandy, her family and all the survivors and victims of these terrible storms.

If you want to help, please see www.BirminghamMommy.com, Al.com/BirminghamBargainMom, or contact your local Red Cross.

Like most moms, Brandy looked at her son, Clayton, for the first time and saw all his potential. She still does.

This is her story.

I grew up in a small town with loving parents and grandparents that lived right down the road from me. My mom took me to church on Sundays, always made sure I did my homework. Some how she found time to to drive me to softball practice, my brother to baseball, my sister to cheerleading or band practice, and cook dinner. My Dad worked hard to make sure we had money to be involved all of those things. I never once thought about how lucky I was to have all of that. I am now a parent that is cooking, cleaning, helping with schoolwork and just thankful I can find time to shower each day. In life we often take so many things for granted. I grew up, had my own children and thought that my life was perfect. On Sept. 11, 2001 the bombing of the World Trade Centers started a huge change in my life. My husband was sent on a year deployment with the Army National Guard Unit that he was in. I thought that was the worst thing that could happen to a mother of 3 small children(ages 4, 3, and 1). Like always, I wrong. When my youngest son was born of course we were happy to have a new baby in our family. We did notice that he seemed to have some medical issues, a never-ending runny nose and cough. He would also have lots of bowel movements. We took him to several different doctors that would just say it was sinus problems and we were never happy with that answer so on to the next doctor we would go. Finally I found a doctor that wanted to have him tested for Cystic Fibrosis. I will keep this short and say that I got the test results back and Yes, he was positive. I felt like this was my breaking point and I began to question God with “Why Me”….My husband was still serving our Country and I had three babies at home to deal with by myself. Looking back I am not really sure that I ever said Thank you God for giving me the gift of motherhood three times or Thank you God that my soldier husband came home safe. Can you believe that I am not even sure if asked “why did this happen to him…my little baby” all I was worried about was me. It has been 9 years since that day and I sometimes still get a little frustrated that my son has to deal with things that he has to, but I try to never ever ask “why”. God told me that he would never give me more than I can handle and it is true. I hold on to the fact that he gave me three children and husband that needs me and I need them. Don’t get me wrong because we do have our days where I just want to cry. The best part is that Most days ….I am just a mommy, a wife, cook, maid, nurse, and taxi driver and my son is just a boy that is catching bugs, playing in the dirt and taking more medications than my other children. No matter what you are going through you are not alone and there are people out there that can help you…..you just have to look for them. My son having CF has brought us lots of new friends through fundraisers and hospital stays. It has also opened my eyes to other people struggles. If you just look around and you will find someone that is in the same boat or worse than you.

“God Has a Plan for your Life. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11.

You never have to handle anything on your own if you ask God for help, he will send you someone. He gave me a family andHusband that always loves me. Great friends that to listen. It may have taken what seemed like the world was falling apart for me to see but now I do know I AM SO BLESSED!

Written by Brandy Bates, Mom to Clayton, Cystic Fibrosis Warrior

Filed Under Cystic Fibrosis, Featured Slider, Latest Posts, Profiles in Potential!

Profiles in Potential: Meet Damien And Learn How 4 Paws Can Help Him

April 19, 2011 By Potential Leave a Comment

This Story was written by Damien’s Mom, Samantha.

Profiles in Potential are brought to you by Make Good Choices Apparel Company

Meet Damien. Bright. Loving. Compassionate.

And ready for his best friend!

My son Damien will be nine on May 9, 2011. He is a compassionate, loving, and smart boy who also loves animals. He just so happens to also have PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, form of autism), Tourette Syndrome (motor and vocal tic disorder), dysgraphia (neurological disorder dealing with the function of writing), generalized anxiety, obsessive compulsive symptoms, ADHD, and weaknesses in executive functioning along with sensory processing at times. All of this put together leaves Damien feeling scared, stressed, over-sensitive, angry, and alone.

Even though Damien is high functioning autistic, he still has issues going though every day life. He still has episodes of meltdowns where he can not verbalize or be calmed. During these meltdowns, he tends to want to run away and isolate himself. This causes concern for his safety for so many different reasons. To have a service dog trained in search and rescue would be very reassuring to us as we know he can always be found and even tethered to the dog to hinder him from darting off in the first place. He looks like a “normal” kid but does not perform at the same socially acceptably ways that come naturally to most. He has a difficult time making or keeping friends. He still likes to do all the things that other kids like such as swimming, painting, watching movies, and going on family vacations.

By giving a service dog to Damien, we hope that it will alleviate his stress and frustration with everyday tasks such as getting dressed, brushing his teeth, and even playing. We hope that the service dog will be able to prevent any future meltdowns before they occur with the behavior disruption training. This service dog will make Damien’s confidence go up, help socialize and make friends easier, as well as getting the attention of the public to see there can be a disability there even when someone looks “normal”. Right now his interactions with the public are generally negative as he appears to be a healthy child with behavior issues, the service dog will also act as an ambassador prompting questions and conversations instead of stares and snide comments. Which will be of great benefit to the low self-esteem that accompanies most of these disorders.

“We have discovered a magic that exists between children and dogs, a magic that can become a life-saving miracle for a child paired with one of our Autism Assistance Dogs”, states the 4 Paws website at www.4pawsforability.org. You can help bring some magic to a child’s life by making a tax deductible donation to 4 Paws For Ability.

If you would like to help by making a personal donation:

Just use the donation form provided and write Damien Widmer in the memo section of the check. Simply fill out the information and follow the directions to send it in. You will receive a letter of receipt back from 4 Paws for your 2011 taxes.

Please make checks out to – 4 Paws For Ability. Please be sure to write: “In honor of Damien Widmer” in the memo portion of your donation check.

If you would like to sponsor a fund raising event for 4 Paws in Damien’s please contact Samantha or Jeff at 913-1420 or e-mail at 4pawsforDamien@gmail.com.

4 Paws For Ability, 235 Dayton Ave., Xenia OH 45385

Filed Under Current Events and Fundraisers, Featured Slider, Latest Posts, Profiles in Potential!

Declaring War on Brain Cancer: Jeff Skinner’s Story and his Army of Hope

April 3, 2011 By Potential Leave a Comment

PROFILES IN POTENTIAL

Brought to you: Make Good Choices Apparel Company.

To Learn more about Jeff Skinner Brain Cancer Warrior Golf Tournament, go to their FACEBOOK page HERE.

To order your very own Artistry Lip Gloss with proceeds going toward the Jeff Skinner Fundraiser, email Brandie at brandie.brown@brownentp.com.

To learn more about Dr. Nabors and the incredible staff at UAB, click here.

Writing credits courtesy of Brandie Brown.

Filed Under Cancer, Featured Slider, Latest Posts, Profiles in Potential!

SpecialKnowledge.org-The Online Database for Parents and Caregivers of Special Needs Children

November 3, 2010 By Potential Leave a Comment

Potential Birmingham is first and foremost a site to encourage living in possibilities, not disabilities that hold us back. Those things that could “dis” able us can be physical, emotional, economical, spiritual, or a variety of other attempts to hold us from living life to the fullest.

Caring for a child with special needs can be stressful at times but I am amazed at the parents and caregivers that see beyond those special needs and truly see the possibilities of living a life full of accomplishment and success.

Sometimes we all needs a special hand or special knowledge.

My first giving post on 30 Days of Giving-Alabama, I wanted to feature a database that gives parents and caregivers an online resource to services and providers in Alabama. It is a free service to the community.

Now is your chance to give too…pay it forward. If you know someone with a special needs family member, let them know about Specialknowledge.org.

You can also find them on Facebook HERE.

And don’t forget, the Special Needs Expo is coming in the Spring. Check out this link: http://www.paperg.com/flyerboard/special-needs-expo/2431/22074.html for more info. Brought to you by Birmingham Parent Magazine.

The 30 Day Giving Challenge is here.

Here is your first opportunity to give!

Filed Under Featured Articles, Featured Slider, Latest Posts, Our Friends, Profiles in Potential!

Breast Cancer Awareness:The Walk is just a start

October 11, 2010 By Potential Leave a Comment

For the first time in my life, I participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It was eye opening for so many reasons.

In April, I discovered a lump in my breast area. Around the same time, one of my best friends since high school also discovered one. We had them removed and biopsied a day apart from each other. The statistic doubled that day for us. What were the chances that both would be positive or negative? The results: Mine was benign. Her’s was malignant.

I can’t described the fear that sets in when a lump appears in your breast, especially when you are mother. I have two daughters and I cannot imagine life without them. Dana has one daughter. A double mastectomy within a month proved that Dana was a fighter. She was fighting for herself and her daughter.

Three months later, it is a sunny day and I am standing in Linn Park surrounded by 16ooo people. The sun cannot match the warmth so much as the love and unity that has filled the park that day. The survivor walk starts and I am taken back with emotion. Courage, strength, dignity, hope, and smiles- a lot of smiles. These are the winners that day and the Race has not even started.

9:ooam and the Race begins. I have to stand for almost 20 minutes just to enter the street because of the number of people. It is a pink, foot traffic jam in front of Boutwell Auditorium. As different people pass the microphone, a person’s name is spoken-a survivor or someone who fought a hard battle and now is there in spirit and memory. One by one, the names are announced and again, I am taken back.

There is something amazing about community spirit. It lifts us up to go places only the heart can travel. It is a celebration of the essence of mankind. The Race for the Cure is about life and the battles we must face to celebrate life each day with each passing of a moment.

Breast Cancer is the most common form of cancer. According to the statistics from the CDC, we lose approximately 40,000 people a year to breast cancer. More than 4 times the amount of people in the park that day.

The Race was just the beginning. Every step forward is a step in the right direction. But we can do more.

This Month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The racing event may be over, but the Race is daily.

It’s simple really. The first thing you can do is take control before it controls you.

GET A MAMMOGRAM. Most insurances cover MAMMOGRAMS. If not, there are so many health care organizations that will help you get a mammogram. Check out The Breast Care Center of Birmingham and other areas hospitals. No excuses!

TAKE MONTHLY SELF CHECK BREAST EXAMS. It takes a moment. A moment that can change your life.

BECOME YOUR OWN ADVOCATE. Get involved in organizations that promote breast cancer awareness. Keep updated on laws and regulations that effect breast cancer testing and research. Stay informed.

OFFER HOPE. Do you know someone with breast cancer? I bet you do. We all do.

NEVER GIVE UP. FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!

And RUN…

I ran for my friends and my daughter(s). And she ran for hers.

Filed Under Cancer, Featured Slider, Latest Posts, Profiles in Potential!

SEED TO PLATE: Creating a Healthy Alabama for our children.

October 5, 2010 By Potential Leave a Comment

Filed Under Featured Slider, Healthy Alabama, Latest Posts, Profiles in Potential!

Healthy Alabama! We can reclaim our health, one plate at a time.

October 5, 2010 By Potential Leave a Comment

According to the Birmingham News, Alabama ranks second fattest state in the Union. This is no surprise, in fact, I could search the internet and give you overwhelming statistics from hundreds of resources throughout the Nation that reminds us that we are OBESE.

I am no stranger to that statistic. I have fought obesity all my life. Many of my family members have fought obesity. In fact, I cannot think of many people who have not had a struggle to keep weight off or try to maintain a healthy diet in the jungle of fast foods/convenience food and hectic lifestyles.

So I hope you will join me once a week to check on the latest ways to help Alabama reclaim our health by adopting healthy lifestyles, supporting our local growers, encouraging our resturants to offer healthier choices, and visiting the many wonderful community building programs that all want to help us head in the right direction-the direction of good health, happy lives, and beating the obesity rate that overshadows the health of Alabamians.

HEALTHY ALABAMA!

Filed Under Featured Articles, Featured Slider, Healthy Alabama, Latest Posts, Profiles in Potential!

Bark in the Park

October 1, 2010 By Potential Leave a Comment

This weekend is one of my favorite yearly events:

Benefiting the Humane Society of Shelby County

This free evening is at Veteran’s Park in Alabaster

9:00am until 2:00pm

Check out the Mutt Strut

On Site Adoptions

Pet Trips

Music, Crafts and More

Full Moon BBQ

Click here for more information

Look for the Basket Hound and Beady Eyes too!

Filed Under Featured Articles, Featured Slider, Latest Posts, Profiles in Potential!

What is MOMTV.com? Who am I?

September 20, 2010 By Potential Leave a Comment

Official Description (as referenced from the site):

MomTV is the first online video destination for moms. It was born the night a baby arrived in the Sullivan family and nurtured to growth when two veterans of the Internet joined forces. Since 2007, Maria Bailey and Bob Sullivan with the help of many others have worked to create the first online televison platform for moms. Today with over 100 live show hosts and thousands of video content hosts, MomTV provides the most extensive library of mom produced video programming. Each week MomTV entertains, informs and energizes moms with peer and expert delivered video content.

MomTV is one of the most recognized and active participants in the social media momsphere. Host of such special events as National Mom’s Nite Out, MomTV is present at almost every mom blogger conference. MomTV connects moms with brands by providing live streaming from many of the hottest mom events around the globe including The Disney Social Media Mom Conference, Logitech Mom Mixers, Nestle Mom Blogger and The Peg Perego-Fattore Mama Italian Mom Blogger Mixer.

With over 250,000 followers on Twitter, MomTV has created the largest network of mothers on the state level. We invite you to visit MomTV’s unique State Mom network to learn more how moms and companies are connecting geographically. Proudly MomTV has customized advertising, content and sponsorship programs for brands such as Logitech, Hampton Hotels, Ronald McDonald’s House and many others.

MomTV has been featured in a number of parenting publications such as Brandweek, Adweek, Parents Magazine and BusinessWeek.

Please click here for further information on the behind the scenes talent and brains of MOMTV.

My Personal Description:

For me, MomTV is the Wikipedia and Youtube of all things mom, rolled into one family friendly, organized, entertaining, thought provoking, and fun online TV channel.

If you have a discipline question and want to hear the experts or other moms advice, it is only one click away.

If you are awake in the middle of the night with the new baby and don’t want to watch another infomercial, tune into the MomTV to connect with other moms who can relate to the 3am feedings and exhaustion.

To breastfeed or not to breastfeed? Politics, Mom style? Adoption? Marriage Topics? Family Issues? Military Moms? Single Moms? New Moms over 40? MOMTv has it all.

With expert moms from around the country combined with wit and wisdom from mothers everywhere, MomTv connects you to other Mothers and Grandmothers with just the click of a button.

Who am I?

My name is Nanci Neighbors Scarpulla and I am an Alabama mom! I always use that as my first description because being a mom is the most rewarding path in my life. It’s a role that I always wanted to be in yet have had my struggles, wiggles, and stresses trying to surrender to sharing my life, needs, and wants with little humans that caused me stretch marks and challenges. Yet, I would do it all over again and then some!

I was born and raised in Alabama. My mother’s side of the family can be traced back to early Alabama Native American settlers and my Father’s side of the family have proudly been a part of Alabama’s history and growth for many generations. It is where my husband and I are proud to raise our daughters.

For the most part I grew up in Birmingham, with strong family roots in the Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas. I attended grade school in the Birmingham area, college at Birmingham-Southern College, and graduate school at The University of Montevallo. Like most Alabama natives, I have a strong urge to stop at any TV during a football game-just to glance-if I am even caught in a mall during an Alabama or Auburn game.

I absolutely love my State. We have everything! Our beautiful sandy white beaches, glorious mountain peaks, and all sites in between make staying and vacations in Alabama the best. Did you know you can go snow skiing in Alabama from Dec. to March? Alabama even has a snow skiing resort!

There is so much to see, do and enjoy and Southern Hospitality will greet you with a smile, wave, or nod even when you think you are walking among strangers!

So join me, weekly or daily, as I explore the State and broadcast from different areas-from an Alabama Mom’s point of view.

My State MOMTV.com site is ALABAMA MOMTV.

What is Potential Birmingham?

I created Potential Birmingham as an outlet for Alabama Special Needs families to connect with each other and resources. It is a personal mission that has been on my heart for some time. As it grew, I realized that we are so connected to each other and our community that potential in helping each other never needs to be overshadowed by any kind of special need or disability. As a community, we can embrace living in possibilities!!

Potential Birmingham is here to list any fundraisers, events, and support groups to help each other. You can also find links to area resources and blogs to connect to our online community, help save you money, share your stories, or just entertain you.

So come grow with me. If you have a blog, website, or organization that is family friendly, informative, and helpful, please feel free to write me at givemepotential@gmail.com. I will be glad to post this link to this site.

And join, as we explore ALABAMA THE BEAUTIFUL!