Patty K.

“ As a single mom of my now-16-year-old biological child, I adopted a special needs 4-year-old from a Belarussian orphanage. He, now 11, was extremely delayed, was diagnosed with cleft palate, ADHD, sensory integration disorder, and a bone disorder. Thankfully, his sensory issues and hyperactivity have subsided. He continues to need IEP services and mediation, but is now in a mainstream class, sings in the choir,...

As a single mom of my now-16-year-old biological child, I adopted a special needs 4-year-old from a Belarussian orphanage. He, now 11, was extremely delayed, was diagnosed with cleft palate, ADHD, sensory integration disorder, and a bone disorder. Thankfully, his sensory issues and hyperactivity have subsided. He continues to need IEP services and mediation, but is now in a mainstream class, sings in the choir, plays tennis and basketball, is an altar boy, and assists in the school store! My older son had cerebral palsey for years which required braces, 3x a week physical therapy, surgery, and at-home daily exercises. I've also hosted Russian orphans in my home each summer for special years in order to try to find adoptive families for them, and have been a Fresh Air Fund mom for inner city kids. I currently babysit for a Down Syndrome child and another with mild autism. Yesterday I attended the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome in Central Park. I write a Long Island parenting online column. I'm regularly told I'm "gifted" with kids in my patience, kindness, compassion, and in relating to them. I also cared for my mom who had Lou Gehrig's disease for three years before she died.

More ”