The New “R” Word…

When you use the “R” word, it hurts families like mine…
Families that love someone special and unique.
emma1stday.jpg

Society may view her as “retarded”, but to our family…She is loved


Take a stand and make a pledge to end the use of the “R” word”..
For Emma and special children/adults like her.

Then, spread the word: The new “R” word is “Respect” :wub:

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Comments

  1. LeeJo says:

    LOVE IT! Thank you for this Heather!

  2. Sisterlisa says:

    Heather, your daughter is beautiful and belovedly created by our Heavenly Father. :O)

    Sisterlisas last blog post..Trivia or Trivial

  3. Amy says:

    How about “R”eally perfect, just the way God made me. That’s exactly what I see in that picture above! That picture melts my heart… I want to sit on the floor and play with her and those toys! =)

  4. Kristin says:

    What a beautiful young lady! I will surely spread the word!

    Kristins last blog post..I Heart Faces, Pout

  5. Teresa says:

    The “r” word has “bad” word in our family for quite some time. I love to listen and watch her – she brings so much joy to me. If people want to give her a label the only one she should have is miracle.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Heather,
    Indeed, the r-word is simply awful. You’re daughter is absolutely adorable. However, I must say, this picture of her shows her extremely thin. I am concerned about that. Is it because of her medical treatment?

    -Anonymous

  7. Cathy says:

    That is great, Heather. She is so precious and adorable.

    Cathys last blog post..Fantastic Machine Full Version

  8. Laura says:

    Thank you so much for posting this , my brother is mentally retarded . It just makes me cringe when I hear people use this word in a derogatory manner. My brother is the sweetest , most thoughtful person I have ever met in my 40 years. I cannot imaging my life without him in it!

    Your Emma is quite beautiful ! I’m glad God gave her to you to protect and watch over !

  9. Tiffany says:

    Thank you so much for telling us about this cause. My grandson has intellectual disabilities and I can’t stomach the thought of anyone looking at him in any other way that with love…. I will stand up for this cause with pride!

    Tiffanys last blog post..buttons buttons, who’s got the buttons?

  10. @Anonymous:
    Yes, she does not metabolize things like we do. She has a mitochondrial disease (Mitochondria are the energy producing cells in our bodies) Hers are all damaged, therefore she burns energy at a higher rate than we do. Also, she is a heart transplant patient, which makes her “failure to thrive”.

    Thanks for your question!

  11. It’s funny, I though you were going to talk about the recession. It goes to show how the media has indoctrinated me!

    I haven’t heard the word ‘retard’ in years, except in US films. The expression here is ‘special needs’, and the insult is to call someone a ‘spaz’ (spastic). These labels are just so cruel and humiliating.

    Thank you for posting the video.

    Kate

    Our Red Houses last blog post..The Perils of Poaching Quinces

  12. pendy says:

    I was a teacher of special needs students for 33 years and have always cringed at the ignorance of people who used that word as a put down. No one’s normal should be used as an insult. Ever.

    pendys last blog post..Love That Baby

  13. Krista says:

    when my son was 2 1/2 he had a extreme speech delay, and a few motor delays that went hand-in-hand with it. around the time we were having him assessed, an older woman at church asked me if he was retarded. (not in a kind way) i wanted to cry and smack her all at the same time.

    thank you for talking about this.

    Kristas last blog post..Do you ever wonder what your pastor’s wife is thinking?

  14. I think it’s glorious that God makes people different–all toward the unique plan He has for each person. In fact, the more I read about Isaac’s doings, the more I’m awed at the possibility that maybe he was…well…now…what should I say here? I was going to use the word retarded, (and not as a pejorative, but in the strictest dictionary sense of the word). I guess I could say, “simple-minded?” Somehow “respect” doesn’t fit.

    Grafted Branch@Restoring the Yearss last blog post..A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey…

  15. Robin Dodd says:

    What a cutie Heather!! I stand with you guys on this.. great post!

  16. Karen says:

    Thank you for this post! My girls have taken to calling each other the “R” word and I don’t know where they got it. No amount of my saying “stop it – that’s not nice” changed anything.

    Last night I sat them down, read them your post and showed them pictures of Emma. It was a very sobering moment for them. They asked a lot of questions about her, we talked about why what they were saying wasn’t nice and how it hurt other people and I honestly believe we won’t have any more trouble with this issue again.

    Bless you for being so honest.

    Karens last blog post..Celebrating my spiritual birthday….