In home school, we included Joey in every art and physical education class we could. The P.E. classes he could be in on were Richard Simmons' videos for exercise. Joey would be in his chair, and his sisters and brothers and I would be jumping with the beat, and I'd swing his hands back and forth to the rhythm. He loved this, and would laugh and laugh!

 I'd seat him at the table in his wheelchair, and give him, for instance, a sheet of paper, and a paintbrush. I tried to get him to be interested in making a mark with the paint, or big marking pens, for years. But he never wanted to do anything but throw the brush on the floor, and laugh. At last I concluded that this was an activity that was truly beyond him, or else he just wasn't into it! It was like this for nearly everything I tried. All he really wanted to play with were his favorite rattles, hand bells, and helium balloons. And he let us know that by his wonderful laughter!

 Another thing I tried for years, was a power chair. He was a fortunate little boy in having a big brother, Tony, who grew out of his power chair. Joey was just the right size to get a chance in life to use it. So it was fitted to him, and our lessons began. He was in it every day. My idea was first to teach him how to make the joystick move; and then to be able to make himself go forward. After that, I hoped he would be able to travel from one room to the next, at will. But in years of trying, he never got beyond the stage of going backwards in circles, as fast as possible, until he ran into a person, or some furniture, at which time he would crack up laughing, until he ran out of breath! He never mastered going forward.

 He could roll over by himself too, but never seemed to want to get to the next room. He would roll, but never seemed to have a destination in mind. He liked to watch his brothers and sisters play. But I finally concluded that although he liked to lie on the floor, he did not want to roll into, for instance, the kitchen, or the hall, or dining room, or 10'X13' pantry. All those rooms were connected by passageways big enough for two wheelchair to pass each other. But he never followed anyone, never responded to my encouragement, and never rolled through. It was clear to me, that though he enjoyed us bringing him his favorite rattles, helium balloons, hand bells, etc., he did not care about going to another room.

 When he was a young adult, he developed an ulcer in his esophagus, from his problems with reflux. He had medication every day for reflux, but it was helping less, it seemed. Then he began to have bleeding episodes from the ulcer. This terrified me. I felt that I could not bear it if he bled to death in his sleep. So I felt I had to place him in a nursing home. I had a choice between noisy ones, and quiet ones, and I chose a quiet one close to our home. I knew he would appreciate the atmosphere there.

 The thing that made me the saddest was the state's requirement that he only have adult things to "play with". Well, there is no adult thing that he wants. He does not care for TV or radio. He was not allowed to have his favorite rattles, because they were not "age appropriate". He was denied everything that he enjoyed. They said it was state law. If so, it must be the most obtuse law there ever was. But he still enjoys helium balloons, and they do let him have those.

 Well, the sad time with Joey being away from home is nearly over! His ulcer is healed, so now we can bring him home! I am thrilled! His room is ready, and his own bed made up, his own playthings, music boxes, the children's music videos that he knows so well, and music like Raffi and babysongs are waiting for him. A large helium balloon floats near his bed, and he'll be pulling it down, and laughing when it bobs back up, when he's home next Wednesday! My dear son will be home for good on June 16, 2004! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

 June 17 - He's home! He arrived home in the middle of the night! I expected him to fuss and scream, so I had bought him a cute Disney night shirt from zazzle.com with a lion cub on it, that says "Working On My Roar" and of all things, he's as happy as a clam! Here are the first two pictures of my son Joey, now that he is home. A peaceful look, and a chuckle! We are all so happy now that he is home! Go to the next page to see a big guffaw, and all the rest of his life!