She Changes - People’s - Lives
By Alegre on April 29, 2008 at 9:25 PM in Bill Clinton, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Women and Children
Bill Clinton said that as he was introducing Hillary at a rally recently. Truer words were never spoken where my family’s concerned and it touched my heart deeply to hear him tell the story of just how Hillary made all the difference in my 5 year old son’s life.
Now some of you might already know my son’s story. I’ve told it a few times here on the net and even more to anyone who’ll listen - anywhere - any time. Especially when I’m phone banking for Hillary down at the campaign office. I tell it because her work’s meant that much to me - to my son - and to his future.
My dear sweet boy was born with some sort of a developmental delay. By his two-month check-up our pediatrician knew something wasn’t quite right, so she suggested we visit the genetics clinic at NIH. I don’t care that those brilliant and compassionate doctors have never been able to figure out just what was going on - all I care about is the progress my son’s made over the past 4 & a half years.
In his introduction of Hillary at that Philadelphia rally, Bill spoke of Hillary’s work in law school. She’d taken an extra year at Yale to study early childhood development.
Bill spoke about one of their first dinners together, when she was shaken by the children she’d worked with that day - kids who hadn’t been fed in days or who had cigarette burns - abused and neglected children. He said it’d shaken her but she kept at it for another year because she believed in the work she was doing.
After finishing law school at Yale, she could have written her own ticket - gone to work for any big name law firm in the nation but instead she chose to go to work with Marion Wright Edelman at the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF). She knocked on doors to find out why children weren’t enrolled in our public schools and she found that kids with disabilities the blind, the deaf or even kids with a mild learning disability weren’t being taught in our schools. There weren’t even teachers who could help kids with mild dyslexia back then.
So she took her findings to Congress and they passed a nationwide law that required our public schools to accommodate kids with special needs. Kids like my sweet son.
A friend of mine here in Maryland said she used to do home visits with kids who were confined to wheel chairs - they had cerebral palsy and for a while had the chance to attend our schools. Until they reached the 3rd or 4th grade that is. The minute they reached the age (and size) where the teachers and staff in the schools could no longer lift them and their wheel chairs up and down the stairs of our schools, they had to drop out. Children as bright as a brand new penny and their education stopped at the age of 8 or 9. Hillary’s work early work with the CDF helped those children as well.
Hillary didn’t stop there guys - she went on to help pass other laws too, like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). She fought to help pass the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). And she’s fought for funding for programs put in place by these laws. Laws that none of us ever give thought to and yet they help millions of families just like mine - every day.
You guys, if my sweet son had been born 35 years ago he would have been written off as retarded Thanks to the early intervention programs that were put in to place in part because of Hillary’s early work with the CDF, he’s gotten the early intervention that’s made all the difference in the world to him and our family.
By the time he was 18 months old we had him enrolled in our county’s Infants & Toddlers Program, where he got physical therapy (fine and gross motor skills). He worked with speech therapist and eventually began work with a special ed preschool teacher. By his third birthday we had him enrolled in the PEP program, where he went to special ed preschool with about 12 other children, and continued to receive that physical therapy and worked with teachers who helped him develop the skills he’d need once he started kindergarten.
After 3 years of special ed preschool my son will start kindergarten this fall with the other 5 year olds in our community. In fact, I’ll take him into school to meet his new teacher at the schools kindergarten orientation on Thursday.
My son didn’t sit up on his own until he was 13 or 14 months old. He was nearly 2 before he could walk across the room on his own. And now he runs and jumps and plays with other children.
The tests they gave him during his re-evaluation in the transition from the PEP program to kindergarten told us something else - that my son’s IQ is not only well within “normal” range, but a bit higher than a lot of other 5 year olds. They also test the kids for readiness to learn to read - most children score a 12 but my sweet boy who’s rarely without a book scored a 19.
He’s ready to learn but will still need some extra help. We never would have known that if it hadn’t been for that early intervention that Hillary helped put into place with her early work back in the 70s and as First Lady during the 90s.
And when I heard Bill tell us this part of Hillary’s story at that rally, the tears started flowing down my cheeks. This part of her story needs to be told at every turn you guys. This story tells us so much about her character - she could have taken the easy road to the big bucks back in 1973, but she went with her heart and did work she could be proud of. She helped millions of families just like mine over the years and for that she’ll have my undying gratitude.
The thing is, she never did this work for notoriety or thanks. She wasn’t looking for awards or accolades. She did it because she knew it was the right thing to do and the work needed to be done - by someone - by her. Those kids - my kid needed her help and she stepped up to the plate and helped to pass the laws that have made the difference in literally millions of lives over the years.
She changed the life of my son and the rest of my family in more ways than I can possibly say.
I’ve been writing about Hillary for nearly a year now. And during that time people just can’t understand why I’m so passionate about Hillary and her herstoric run for the White House. They question my sincerity. They attack me for telling my son’s story here on the net.
I’ve even been accused (repeatedly) of being a member of her campaign staff.
Well I’m not on her staff. And I’ll never stop telling his story to anyone who’ll listen.
I’m a working mother of two amazing children who shares my rambling thoughts on the Net each night after my kids go to sleep. Some people appreciate my efforts - others attack me for it.
You want to understand where I’m coming from, imagine having a child who needs help. And then think of how incredibly grateful you’d be to anyone who stepped up to the plate and provided that help. Hillary may have done the important work - the heavy lifting long before my son was born. But her legacy lives on in his life and the lives of millions of other children who’ve benefited from her work over the years.
Every - single - day.
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Allegre that was a powerful post…..Thankyou…
Agreed it was very powerful!
How can Sen Obama win the general election with all these controversies?? Even if he condemns the Rev, there is undeniable fact that he attended the sermon for 20 LONG YEARS !!!++++++
Does it really take a rocket scientist to figure this out???
THANK YOU, ALLEGRE.
Wow, talk about tears welling…thank you so much, Alegre, for your beautiful story. And I’m so happy for you and your amazing son.
Apparently, my best friend also benefited from the Clinton’s concern for children and their desire to listen and stand up for those who don’t have a voice. Because of the Clinton’s, when my best friend was trying to adopt her beautiful (now three year old) son, rather than the courts dragging them through the system for years, the limit was 18 months. Even then, it was 18 months of HELL, battling a judge who had been adopted and did her damndest No Matter What to reunite the birth mothers with their children. As a result, a little baby girl who was offered to my best friend got returned to her parents and the birth parents killed her shortly thereafter. My best friend’s son’s birth mother was a crack addict and a prostitute, didn’t attend parenting classes, wouldn’t look for a job or a decent place to live. Yet the judge bent over backwards to give her more and more opportunities which she didn’t take. Because of the Clinton’s, because they listened to stories just like my best friend’s, a bill was passed to limit reunification to 18 months, so the child could have the best shot at a decent future. I have always believed in Bill and I am doing everything in my power to elect Hillary. I’m with you all the way, Alegre. Thanks again.
Yes, thank you Alegre.
Wow alegre, powerful.
A long time ago I listened to a mother on TV with a sick child. She told the story of how Hillary had visited her in the hospital. You can’t pander to a mother, when they’re grateful to a politician and believe they were really heard and listened to with empathy, they mean it.
“You’re not invisible to me.”-HRC
Alegre, there is no excuse to say hateful things for someone talking about a child, and it is unforunate that this sort of divide and vile things being said. The worst of America is being brought out due to someone who has given nothing and yet the one who has given as Hillary has, deserves nothing but respect, and it is sad that the GOP shows more class then certain Democrats. Keep your chin up and good luck with your child, they are everything!
Beautiful post,Alegre!!!!
I’ve written about Hillary as well…
Hillary Rediscovered
http://insightanalytical.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/hillary-rediscovered/
Hillary Clinton, Medicare and Me
http://insightanalytical.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/hillary-clinton-medicare-and-me/
Also, check out my new one…
“Harry T. and the Chamber of Secrets” co-starring Oil and Republicans–Screenplay by Bill Richardson
http://insightanalytical.wordpress.com/
Alegre, thank you for sharing that. Very touching. And now we can see your passion all over your words. It is people like you who keep Hillary focused on her goal.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/29/clinton-plans-sit-down-wi_n_99197.html
She’s going on Billo’s show lol.
Bill O. better not go into his alternate personality, where he begins to think that Hillary is Andrea Mackris.
Very moving, Algere, you reaffirm my faith in Hillary’s empathy, and her determination to make the country better. I am very happy for your son, I am sure he will thrive as he grows.
So much of what you’ve written today centers around Jefferson’s basic premise for America, the pursuit of happiness, the opportunity to pursue happiness, the continual striving toward a more perfect union, all men and women being given equal opportunity.
That more perfect union, a work in constant progress, means fairness, an opportunity for us all to pursue happiness, including those who might otherwise be at a disadvantage, whether it be a handicap, or a ethnic heritage, or economics — ALL of us deserve a chance, it is what makes America different, continually making it better. You said 35 years ago your son would be labeled retarded, but today he’s off to kindergarten, an advanced student. Tomorrow? Maybe a rocket scientist, working on teleportation. All because someone, a politician, made sure he was able to receive early intervention.
All GREAT presidents understood this idea, from Washington, to Jefferson, certainly Lincoln, who in Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book, partly used this reasoning as the rational for fighting the civil war, and freeing the slaves. He saw the union ending, without all men being free, ignoring the calculus resulting only in a broken, fallen country.
And we still struggle toward that more perfect union, a better country, recognition of all Americans as deserving a chance, from the opportunities your son received, to, say, enactment of the ERA, or even better financial aid to college age students of middle class families.
“The pursuit of happiness” and “all men are created equal are the philosophical premises by which this country thrives, and survives.
Mrs Clinton understands this, showing to me she at the very least understands what it was Madison and Jefferson envisioned, a respect for our tradition, and our American heritage.
Been a long time since we had a President like that, well, at least since her husband’s presidency.
And she might even be better.
Darn good comment. Thank you.
Thank you.
What a moving story! I’m from Canada and I can tell you that if Hillary can fulfill her plan of universal health care, Hillary will be a national hero. This will change your lives for the better in more ways that you know. If the US is able to talk so openly about UHC today, it’s largely because of her past work, even putting her political career on the line.
Thank you sharing your story and through it showing us how important these programs HRC has worked on really are in the lives of people. She cares, she gets it; and that is something no political guru cannot manufacture for a candidate.
Thank you Allegre.
meant “hat is something no political guru can manufacture for a candidate.”
“that …
I hadn’t heard the story, so you just keep telling it, because, in the wider picture, relatively few have. It, along with what must be many similar others, should be a major feature story in the newspapers and other media of our nation.
I wish you and your son many, many decades of good experiences and joy.
You want to understand where I’m coming from, imagine having a child who needs help. And then think of how incredibly grateful you’d be to anyone who stepped up to the plate and provided that help. Hillary may have done the important work - the heavy lifting long before my son was born. But her legacy lives on in his life and the lives of millions of other children who’ve benefited from her work over the years.
Every - single - day.
I wish that Hillary had been born many years earlier. My brother is 56 years old today and has autism and mental retardation. He was only able to go to school for 4 years because that is all the school system covered in MA. It was an experimental program. He has done well. He actually worked on his own for much of his adult life. About 4 years ago he said it was time for him to “retire”. He lives in Baltimore, MD in his own apartment near one of my sisters. She takes care of any other needs that his SS doesn’t cover. In the last 2 years he was put on an anti-depressant and has become more social. We generallt talk for about 10 minutes on the phone now.
My brother is precious to me. I am so glad your son is the same for you.
I am sorry for how people treated you on those other websites but glad that you are here sharing this
wonderful story. It will inspire many to keep working for Hillary.
Clinton enables people’s lives to improve. Obama can’t be bothered to try to get the heat turned on where his constituents live. Which of the two do you want running the country?
Alegre, your post brought tears to my eyes. I know Hillary has done great many things which are not publicized. I admire her very much the way she handled her marriage and her career. I am not an American citizen but Hillary has my thoughts and prayers. I knew that if she continued her political career she will end up as President. She is intelligent, a learner and a doer. What combination! God bless her and USA!
PS. I am a noquarter fan.
I am very glad that Hillary has managed to help change some peoples’ lives for the better. Unfortunately, her policies, and policies she has supported and endorsed have led to the devastation of far more lives than those that have been changed for the better. If you doubt it, ask tens of millions of Iraqis who have suffered from those policies from 1991 until today, and ask millions of Palestinians how her whole-hearted support of Israel’s devastating occupation has bettered their lives. Or ask any Lebanese who lived through the summer of 2006 how Hillary’s support of Israel’s “right to defend itself” by bombing an entire country back thirty years, killing more than a thousand civilians in the process has enhanced their lives. Or what about Hillary’s support of Israel’s 2006 carpeting of southern Lebanon with millions of cluster bomblets AFTER the ceasefire had been agreed to and signed, or its refusal to share the map of all the land mines it laid during its 20-plus years of occupation in Lebanon? And by the way, children - with whom Hillary’s heart supposedly resides - are the most frequent victims of unexploded cluster bomblets, and are often also victims of land mines, which is only one of the reasons Hillary should be campaigning for a ban on both - assuming she really DOES give a damn about children.
So, sincere congratulations for the help your son received, but world wide the ratio of those helped to those deeply harmed by Hillary’s policies and policies she supports and endorses is dismal indeed!
Shirin, you have to look past it, there are no absolutes, and it is horrific.
Ambassador Wilson gave a wonderful explanation as to the reasoning behind Hillary’s Iraq war vote, at a certain point it does pay to learn the truth, as opposed to propagating the spin, if one wants to be effective.
Meaning if you’re truly interested in stopping the middle east slaughter, you will look past he obvious, trying to understand WHY Clinton, and the others, thought and acted as they did.
For instance, I believe, despite what Obama sells, he was only “anti war” because he felt it to be politically opportune. That, and his Irai connected patrons were threatened.
Otherwise, with spin, all anyone really contributes is an ad for tooth whitener, and like a foamy ad, we all tune it out.
How was Syria?
You went, correct?
In regard to Israel?
Certainly the policies under Sharon, et al, have been an unmitigated disaster, and yes, there has to be accountability and change, but Israel is a victim, too.
Without acknowledging that truth, also, no progress is made.
I wish you would send this to all the papers in the states that are yet to hold their primaries (for a start)–it’s that powerful. I’m a pediatrician about to adopt my 9 year old foster daughter. I have long appreciated what Hillary has done for all children in our country, whether in the realm of health, education, foster/adoption, or safety.
With all the focus on Obama’s problems, it’s easy to lose track of what a down-to-earth, productive, and presidential candidate we have in Hillary. People are connecting with her around the country. It’s so important to keep the focus on how much Senator Clinton has to offer this nation. A vote for Clinton should not be construed as an anti-Obama vote by the media or anyone. There are many reasons to vote for Hillary, and your blog outlines a few of them beautifully.
Thanks
Keep on doing what you believe in. Yes, she does not need all the accolades, but she need to be loved for all the good she has done. You are amongst many that are in their way doing all that they could to easy her pain. Do not forget, she is a distance runner, just keep on being on her side. Keep on spreading the word.
May God bless you and your family
PS You might also ask the daughter of renowned Iraqi artist Layla Al Attar how policies and actions that Hillary has enthusiastically supported has enhanced her life. You see, in 1993, Hillary supported without reservation her husbands bombing raid on Baghdad that was - supposedly - intended to “punish Saddam” for what turned out to be a completely bogus accusation that he plotted to kill George Bush I. Layla Al Attar, one of Iraq’s premier artists and her husband (and an unknown number of their neighbors), were killed by bombs that were aimed at their neighborhood, and their daughter, an aspiring artist herself, was partially blinded. In addition, many of Layla’s works were destroyed.
Oh yes - many people believe that Layla Al Attar and her family were intentionally targeted by the Clinton bombing raid because it was she who designed the famous mosaic of George Bush I’s face on the floor at the entrance to the Rashid Hotel. I don’t know whether that is true, but it DOES seem a bit of an unlikely coincidence, doesn’t it, that of all the neighborhoods in Baghdad, her house would be squarely hit.
oh shut the fuck up!
Can I second that motion?
A woman writes a deeply moving piece and this scumbag troll has to show up with this drivel.
If this is an Obama supporter you are doing your candidate no good and a lot of potential harm. Some people here will still vote for the Democratic nominee even if it is Obama. But keep attacking their chosen candidate and they may change their mind.
But what’s more likely is you’re just some sad little attention whore that trolls for their daily fix.
Shirin doesn’t always understand by parroting a talking point, she is undermining her own cause.
There is no progress without truth.
Everything we see in Obama’s camp, the behavior that led to this self destruction, is also true of the leaders of certain middle eastern nations.
Same behavioral motivation, oh, wait, this is Obama’s group, SAME MIDDLE EASTERN PLAYERS.
Anyway, you get my point…
PPS I am a FORMER no quarter fan. The site has deteriorated badly now to a mainly Obama-bashing frenzy with occasional Hillary hagiography thrown in for good measure.
WHAT a bore! And the fact that it appears to have attracted more comments in its current sad state speaks volumes about the internet-using public, I guess.
So, why do I keep coming here, though with less and less frequency? Dunno. Habit, perhaps. Hope that the site owner and his cohorts will regain their sanity? The fact that I really like Larry and Susan, despite their current apparent lunacy?
(And for those who do not know me, I am NOT an Obama supporter. I would have to hold my nose to vote for either Obama OR Hillary, but in Hillary’s case, no one who can even THINK that it is appropriate to speak of obliterating a country - i.e. Iran - is someone I can vote for no matter how strongly I block my olfactory senses.)
Hey Shirin, How was you journey? Perhaps you can post something of your travels. We may disagree on many things, but news from afar is always of interest. Hope you and yours are well.
Try to imagine how little we care about what you think or why you think it.
I’d like to hear about Syria, it must have been interesting.
You all do know that when a troll gets attacked, he/she gets a jolt of adrenaline, that’s why they do it? She even says herself how very boooooring her life must be. And she picked the one post that most trolls wouldn’t attack. How weak and cowardly is that, to go after a mother and her developmentally challenged child, LOL! My brother who had cerebral palsy passed away 5 years ago and his very existence made my mother into a fierce, strong, wonderful woman. The kind of woman Hillary Clinton is, the kind of woman Alegre is. The kind of woman this particular troll will never be in a million years.
Don’t feed the trolls.
Thank you, Allegre, for sharing your story. It brought tears to my eyes. This is one of the reasons that I support Hillary as well - because she has always been an advocate for those who couldn’t speak up for themselves. And that is still her passion after all these years. One of the qualities she has that impresses me the most is that she doesn’t care who gets credit, as long as it gets done. If all of her naysayers would actually just sit down and read about all the things she has accomplished, she would win by a landslide.
Alegre,
After reading your story about your son, I want to share my story and hope it gives you hope. I did not realize until recently (when I heard Bill Clinton tell that story about Hillary) that Hillary had done so much for children with disabilities. She has profoundly helped my son and I didn’t even know it.
When my son was in first grade I started to realize we had a problem. He was bright and knew how to do math in his head but couldn’t do it on paper. I kept after the teachers until they finally agreed to test him. He was in the highest and lowest percentiles. They said he was ADHD. I paid for more detailed testing and discovered he had a visual learning disability as well as ADHD. Over the years I have been able to get just enough help for him (especially in grade school) because of the federal requirements for kids with disabilities so that he could learn and be successful. It wasn’t always easy and teachers didn’t always come through, but mostly those designations have been crucial for my son’s success.
The reward? I just came back tonight from an awards ceremony where I was able to put an honors gold rope for maintaining a 3.5 or higher gpa on my son. He graduates from high school in a few weeks and will graduate with honors. The kid who in first grade looked at simple addition problems on a page and saw only spagetti. The kid who couldn’t sit still, but had an imagination and wit that far exceded his years. The kid who did hundreds and hundreds of extra math problems until he burned in his brain the pathways to seeing and understanding the math. The kid who has been accepted at a highly competitive university and is going to study science and can play Rachmoninoff on the piano.
I didn’t know Hillary had a hand in helping create that legislation but I am forever grateful. My son has succeeded and will continue to because there was help for him.
Alegre, your son will go far with your love and the tools set in place for all the kids out there that just need a helping hand. I wish you and your family all the best and love your writing. Thank you for all you do for Hillary.
It is so wonderful to hear stories like yours, and Nancy’s, to know your families thrived because you love them, to see how the government can function to improve our lives, make them better.
Thanks for your personal story of how Clinton’s early work has impacted your life.
It’s too bad that the Obamabots haven’t bothered to learn who Hillary really is and what she’s done with her life.
I wonder how many of the screaming Obamabots have been helped by Clinton and aren’t aware of who pushed through the laws that make such a difference in so many lives.
My family has a history of dyslexia — Grandfather was “word blind” — the old way of saying dyslexia. I’ve met so many adult dyslexics — people who have fallen through the cracks in the system. Teachers still have trouble identifying and helping dyslexics.
Keep telling your story — ignore the complainers. They want to hear nothing positive about Hillary Clinton and will try to turn any positive into a way to throw mud at her and change the subject.
It’s not enough to just give people opportunity, they have to understand how, and why, this country thrives, why we actually do have an American code, as put down by Jefferson.
It is that philosophy that has made this country succeed, we all need to understand the “science” behind democracy, ethics, and morality.
LOL…Virtual chaos, a theory of everything, the “physics” of morality…
Some understand it better than others.
Thank you for sharing alegre. You story is deeply moving and explains a lot of your passion.
Beautiful comments and stories about children and proof that a president who understands what children need and how to provide for them can make an incredible difference in all our lives and the life of our country. Mothers, with their capacity to work through issues with children on a day to day basis for years, are heroes of the first order. A president who knows this and continues to work with mothers and all children brings an understanding of what makes a country humane and strong. With Hillary as president the United States will make a major shift and arguements such as whether to uphold the Geneva Conventions will be considered archaic.
Abolishing the Geneva Conventions just screamed “we are freaking cowards, come and get us.”
And by god, the world did, did you even know wny terrorist, or world leader to turn down such a juicy steak?
“Do we look tough, now?”
NO!
What is really ironic is that Hillary was the driving force and greatest supporter behind David Axlerod’s wife setting up CURE (Citizens Unite for Research in Epilepsy). His daughter suffers from it. When Hillary became aware of it, she did everything she possibly could to help them.
Then he goes and shits on her this way.
Beautiful. I sent this on to 10 friends to read.
Thank you alegre, for your thoughtfulness and thoroughness in your posts here and at MyDD (which I now have boycotted).
I’ve never posted here before but I’m a world class lurker. Alegre, I’ve read many of your posts and was
always amazed at how you put into word things I felt. So smart. But this post brought tears to my eyes and I had to comment.
I have two dear sweet boys myself and I immediately went into mother mode while reading your post. You know the feeling, when someone else’s child becomes your child because you empathize with their story? And you imagine, just for a moment, that it is your child going thru this instead of theirs? Cue the waterworks. I firmly believe Hillary is in the great mom category and she wants all children to be safe and to have a fighting chance.
A terrific, terrific post. And a story that should be told not just because I LOVE Hillary but because it is such a hopeful story. Kindergarten! Good luck to your sweet boy. Thank you, now I must go hug and kiss my kids.
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You folks contributing here are very sharp. ,