Ashley

My beloved daughter Ashley is labeled "developmentally delayed."  When she was first diagnosed over 34 years ago at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the label was "severely, profoundly retarded."  Ashley has the physical abilities of a 2 month old infant.  She looks to me to be about 10 years old.  She can not speak.  She can not consciously move her body.  She is tube fed.  She is either in her "pink" wheelchair or in her bed.  She averages 4 seizures a day.  That is a good day.

Ashley is my role model.  She is pure, innocent, she has no defenses.  She can not say no, don't do that to me.  She can not raise her arm to protect herself.  She can love.  She can emulate love like an angel.  She is a gift from God.  One of my favorite things to do is pray and meditate with Ashley.  I find peace in her unconditionally loving presence.

It is because Ashley is so challenged and vulnerable, I have learned to openly share my challenges and vulnerability.  I reveal my own imperfections and share my frailties without shame.

Ashley draws people to her.  They approach with curiosity, gentleness, genuine caring and affection.  She has an innate wisdom that emanates from her as a loving, welcoming spiritual presence.  Her life has been a life of loving and being loved.

Ashley may be delayed developmentally but she is advanced spiritually.  

I find deep peace seeing the world through her innocent eyes.