NLACRC Consumer & Family Stories
Gabriel
When I was giving birth, the doctor asked
me, "Did I tell you if it was going to be a boy or
a girl?" I said, "A girl." "Oops, my
mistake," he said. "It’s a boy." I was overjoyed.
Gabriel was born. When Gabriel turned five months old, the
doctor requested that we take him to a neurologist. Gabriel
wasn’t sitting up. After going from one doctor to another,
he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and possibly profound
mental retardation.
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| Gabriel and his Mother Norma |
The realization that our son was going to
be special hit us very hard, but my husband Hector and I
promised each other that our son would lead as normal a
life as possible.We dedicated our lives to making Gabriel’s
quality of life a better one.
We shower him with love, affection, and hugs, but most of
all with encouragement. Even the smallest things he would
do would bring us to cheer for him. This would make his
face light up with the sweetest smile. That was all we needed
to feel we were the luckiest parents in the whole world.
Gabriel loves animals, especially horses. He loves to horseback
ride, and when we help him get off the horse, he will not
let go of the mane and tries kissing him. He also loves
to ride on motorcycles, waverunners, boats, and anything
else that moves. But most of all, he loves to eat, so he
is well known in restaurants where we take him regularly.
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| Gabriel loves animals, especially horses! |
Today Gabriel is a 19-year-old handsome
young man, well built and very healthy. He is also non-verbal,
wears diapers, and is dependent on us for most of his needs.
But he still has the sweetest smile, and we still feel we
are the luckiest parents in the whole world.
By Norma E. Perriello
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