I often describe myself as the luckiest woman in the world!  I have two beautiful sons whom I wake up to each morning.  Nicholas and Anthony just turned 11 in November 2008. This is reason enough for me to celebrate and count my blessings.  Without hesitation, I know that my family is better off than many, and that I have many reasons to be thankful for each cherished day.  Today is the day that I get to share my story with you, so you can better understand why I am the luckiest woman in the world!

It all started when I was 28 weeks pregnant with my twin boys.  I was involved in a horrific car accident, having been hit by a truck while I was on my way to a prenatal medical appointment.  I was unconscious immediately following the accident and sustained numerous serious injuries. Three weeks later I experienced pre-term contractions and delivered my twin boys at 31 weeks gestation. The father of my boys has not been a part of their lives ever since their birth.  The role of parent is one that I solely and proudly claim. At the birth of my children, I felt like the luckiest woman in the world!

My premature newborn sons appeared to be developing normally at first.  As with most children diagnosed with the Traumatic Brain Injury, the changes became more and more apparent as I watched them regress, not reach the developmental milestones that others their age did, and slowly drift further and further away from me.  My life began to change, as did my dreams and hopes for my children.  Some days, I felt like the luckiest woman in the world!

Anthony, who was the first to be born, has demonstrated amazing strength and resiliency on his quest to become an independent child.  He has always been the physically larger, more socially and academically advanced twin.  His verbal and cognitive skills have greatly improved and he has responded favorably to a myriad of therapies that have been an integral part of his daily life.  Obviously, he still faces many challenges as we strive to “normalize” his interactions with his environment.  As I watch Anthony grow and develop – I feel like the luckiest woman in the world!

Nicholas, the younger twin, was born 6 minutes after Anthony.  He has presented with numerous brain injury symptoms that we have been tirelessly trying to address over the past 11 years.  Nicholas’s language, social, self-help, motor and cognitive skills have been evaluated repeatedly.  The findings mark him at the 2 year-old level.  His very limited attention-span causes him to either get frustrated and aggressive or to simply turn-off and/or close-off others from his world.  Over the years we have been able to find some genuinely special people who share in the desire of providing Nicholas with the best care and treatments available.  For this, I am eternally thankful and feel like the luckiest woman in the world!

I truly believe that my boys enjoy being with one another.  As twins they have been together throughout their entire life.  At times I see how they will physically reach out to one another, trying to include their brother in each other’s life, to the best of their abilities.  I am fortunate that both boys are affectionate and like being near me. I am grateful that I can demonstrate and share my love with them emotionally and physically. I truly am the luckiest woman in the world!

The role of being a mother, for any mother, is an awesome responsibility.  Now imagine the role of being a single mother with two special needs children.  I wake up very early each morning ready to help my boys start their day with a hug and encouragement, despite their night time sleep patterns still being riddled with interruptions and periods of wakefulness.  Their days are long, filled with classroom and therapeutic activities.  While they are at school, my day entails making doctor appointments, researching new interventions, following up with their teachers, therapists and clinicians, conferring and often pleading with school administrators, taking care of our small home so that I can provide a sense of order and continuity to their home life, greeting each child off of their respective school buses, and tending to their special dietary and environmentally sensitive needs.  As exhausted as I may be some days, I still feel like the luckiest woman in the world!

Over the past 18 years I have been working several evenings a week as a waitress at an Atlantic City restaurant. I chose this work because of the daytime flexibility and the income it allowed me.  I was able to be home during the day with my children when they were younger.  This work schedule also allows me to attend Child Study Team Meetings at the school, bring my children to doctor’s appointments, therapy sessions, observe my children in school settings, etc. I have to hire babysitters to care for my boys at night.  This is no simple task, as my sons’ needs are many and not meant for the “typical” babysitter. I realize that I must financially provide for my family, and this was the best arrangement I could come up with to meet my family’s needs.  Unfortunately, this arrangement has changed over the past several months.  Due to the staggering economic challenges our nation has been facing, my work schedule has been drastically reduced.  Over the past few months I have only been able to work 50 hours per month (as opposed to 30 + hours per week).   As with most food servers, I depend on patrons’ “tips” to subsidize my paycheck.  Needless to say, the economic crisis has negatively impacted our family’s budget tremendously.  Despite this, when I’m with my boys I feel like the luckiest woman in the world!

In my on-going 11 year quest to seek out the therapies and expertise that will reach my children, I recently learned about the HBOT. After sifting through mounds of research data, testimonials and hospital protocols, I truly believe this therapy will prove to be the epitome of what has been missing from my children’s roads to recovery.  It makes practical sense that this way to address oxygen deprivation may hold the key to redirecting, re-educating and repairing both of my sons’ fragile brains. Desperate to try this, Nicholas, Anthony and I recently experienced our initial HBOT “dive” in Philadelphia. Several hours after the HBOT dive, Nicholas stared into my eyes, for what felt like an eternity.  It was such a different type of stare, one that made me feel electric. It was as if Nicholas was saying “Mom, I’m in here. See me?  I’m here, come get me”.  I have never experienced this kind of connection with my son, initiated by my son.  At that moment, and weeks later, as I write this letter, I am without a doubt, the luckiest woman in the world!  

Now I am faced with the daunting task of making sure that I can offer a series of HBOT to my boys.  I feel like I already have first-hand proof that this treatment has miraculously impacted my children.  As a parent, my heart tells me that there is simply no way that I can deprive my children of this opportunity.  For years I have been seeking out treatments and interventions in the hopes that Anthony and Nicholas will be able to achieve their full individual potential. After 11 years I will admit that I sometimes feel overwhelmed; yet never defeated. Regretfully, I don’t know how I can financially afford to offer this to my children without the help of your generous organization, Bright Steps Forward.  I have learned how your organization has helped so many other families in need.  I implore you to please consider my family’s dire needs and circumstances, as I pray that you will be able to provide treatment on behalf of my sons’ futures.  With your help we will be the luckiest family in the world!


With sincere gratitude and appreciation ~
Lisa Dougherty