A Brigham Young University Student Journal
I have a diverse educational background. I attended public school through fourth grade and all of high school. In between, my mother home schooled me and my siblings. I love and admire her so much for home schooling me. I was not an easy child …
One of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in Provo is also one that many drive past but few go inside. This is the Provo Library. It sits on the corner of University Avenue and 500 north, and looks more like a castle transported out …
This past spring, while chicks were hatching and new flowers were blooming, my nephew was born. Our whole family beamed with excitement as we held his tiny body in our arms. He was perfect. He still is, despite the diagnosis that came just days later; my nephew has Spina Bifida.
Because it is the most common birth defect worldwide, many of you have probably heard of this condition. However, for those of you who hDave not, here is the scientific definition: Spina Bifida (“split spine”) occurs when the spinal column does not close all the way in development, causing the spinal cord to protrude between vertebrae. Often the spinal cord can attach itself where it is not supposed to, sometimes resulting in paralysis.
About 2 out of 1000 children are born with Spina Bifida, which may seem to leave the odds in your favor, however, this is a relatively high number compared to most birth defects.The long term effects of Spina Bifida range widely from permanent paralysis, to limited physical activity, to complete recovery.
The cause of Spina Bifida is not known and can manifest in mild or severe forms. In mild cases, the patient may not even know they have the defect until an x-ray is taken of their back for other reasons. In these cases, the defect has no effect on the patient’s way of life. In severe cases, the spinal cord does protrude and spinal fluid can build up in a tag or lump on the child’s back. In these cases, treatment is often necessary. Usually surgery is required to put the spinal cord back in place, however one surgery is not always a permanent fix and the spinal cord can be put out of place again in the future causing physical inconveniences. The most severe cases result in instant paralysis.
My nephew’s Spina Bifida was more than mild, but to the relief of all of us, not the worst case scenario. He had the little tag on his back indicating the possibility of spinal fluid, but he could move from the very first, which was the very best of signs.
While we all, immediate and extended family, lamented the possibility of future struggles this perfect little boy would overcome, we also found joy in putting our trust into his doctors and faith in God. While my nephew is still too young for us to know anything for certain about the kind of life he will lead, so far his motor-skills and physical strength have not lacked. This precious little boy is already a hero and role-model to our adoring family.
You can read stories about people living with Spina Bifida from the Spina Bifida Association here.
For more information on Spina Bifida, and to see how you can get involved, visit these links:
http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/site/c.evKRI7OXIoJ8H/b.8028963/k.BE67/Home.htm
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/tc/spina-bifida-topic-overview
Trying to bring up the next Einstein or Mozart? Check out this helpful graphic from OnlinePsychologyDegree.net.
by Brittney Thompson In elementary school I loved Valentine’s Day. I can still remember the excitement of decorating my little brown paper lunch bag and taping it to the end of my desk. Then, all the kids would go around with their little manufactured Winnie …
by Alissa Holm
We all have our own “What if’s” and “I wish’s” about past phases of life. In an attempt to learn from the past, I’ve come up with a series of blog posts based on this idea: Learning from other’s past experiences to enhance another’s future experiences. In part one, I discussed what married LDS women wish they would have known before they tied the knot. For this segment, I’d like to discuss what LDS women wish they would have known before they had kids.
Like I said in my last post, I am not married, nor do I have any children. However, I do have several connections in my life to wise women who do have children and know quite a bit on the subject. So, without further ado, I give you a list of ten “What I Wish I Would Have Known’s” in regards to having children.
1. Motherhood means sacrifice. Joseph Smith said, “Sacrifice is the first law of heaven.” From the moment you conceive your child, you will learn to sacrifice everything from your health, to your sleep, to your appear for them.
2. Kids won’t ever be happy when they are hungry or tired. Your kids need to be well fed and rested to be happy and perform well.
3. Don’t sweat the small stuff. You can discipline children all day long for what they’re doing wrong. Some of these things aren’t THAT big of a deal. Who cares if the kids rearrange your silverware drawer? Yes, it is annoying, but it isn’t worth making a big deal out of it.
4. Emotional scars are just as bad as physical scars. Be careful with your little ones’ hearts.
5. Be silly. Sometimes this is the best way to connect with your child.
6. Read a lot. Turn off the TV and teach your children to love books.
7. Kids are mirrors. Sometimes they may be slow to listen, but they are very quick to imitate. Be careful.
8. Traditions matter. The traditions your family establishes will shape your child’s memories for the rest of their lives.
9. You can’t spoil your kids with time, just money. Spending extra time with your kids can only make them better.
10. Be quick to forgive. Kids are so quick to forgive, so don’t feel too bad when you make a mistake. Just try harder the next day.
In preparation for Halloween, the Stance for the Family blog staffers decided to have a holiday review night! Each staffer selected one or two crafts or recipes that had caught their eye on Pinterest and brought their creations along to share at our review night! Here …
by Alissa Strong Today by chance, I came across a blog. The author is a girl totally unknown to me, although we attend the same university. Her story piqued my interest specifically because it involves a topic that is almost the elephant-in-the-room in not …
by Dustin Schwanger
Vice presidential candidate, Paul Ryan, spoke to over 700 people on Wednesday evening in Provo’s Utah Valley Convention Center after a day of fundraising in the area.
Introduced by Josh Romney, one of Mitt Romney’s five sons, and in the company of Utah senator Orrin Hatch, Ryan continued with the campaign’s emphasis on capitalism and American ingenuity saying, “In America, we don’t want to resent success; we want to emulate it.”
Following the theme of freedom, Ryan said, “America is special because it is the only country in history founded upon an idea, that freedom comes from nature and God—not government,” which statement roused the mostly student audience.
Ryan finished his fifteen-minute speech again attacking government intrusion into Americans’ lives, saying, “The family is the nucleus of society—not government.”
This reception wrapped up a day of fundraising in the Provo area. Earlier in the day the campaign hosted a dinner with Ryan for $25,000 a plate, and later, for $3,000, supporters could meet Ryan and have their picture taken with him. The final fundraising event was this reception costing $1,000 a person, but only $20 for students.