First in a series. My dad absolutely loved listening to Andrea Bocelli, Frank Sinatra, and any musician of Italian descent. I wondered if he listened to Bocelli when he babysat with my firstborn, Cammy, when she was a baby, because she absolutely loves the singer’s music and his…

As a teacher, I’ve learned that not every child loves summer and holiday breaks. Not every child goes on vacation, enjoys fun, experiential trips to nearby cities, museums, and ball parks, or hangs out with friends. Some children prefer to be in school because that is where they socialize…

My husband, Billy, met his best friend, Aaron, while playing golf at high school. Aaron began dating his wife, Joy, when they were in college. Billy became their third wheel until I came along a few years later. In our 20s, all four of us spent every weekend together while…

Our family hosts an annual fundraiser on behalf of our 13-year-old daughter, Cammy, who has Rett syndrome. This year’s event was held this past Saturday, and all proceeds are going to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation to help fund research into potential treatments or even a cure.

Our nearest and dearest friends, George and Lisa Karavas, have been with us through every step, twist and turn, and up and down of this journey with our 13-year-old daughter, Cammy, who has Rett syndrome. It is hard to accurately and eloquently put into words how much their family…

When I was in middle school, I had sleepovers with my friends every weekend. My 11-year-old neurotypical daughter, Ryan, has had sleepovers with her cousins since she was a toddler, and now she has them with her friends. But my 13-year-old daughter, Cammy, who has Rett syndrome, has…

When my daughter Cammy was diagnosed with Rett syndrome at 20 months, I thought about all the life events she would never get to do. What came to mind first were the big things — having children, getting married, getting her driver’s license, and living on her own.