I’m Strawberry’s mom, and daily life with her looks very different than what I once imagined — but it has shown me a depth of strength I never knew existed.
Strawberry has spent a very large percentage of her life in the hospital. Hospital rooms, monitors, IV poles, and medical teams have been a constant part of her world from very early on. Our days are filled with medical routines most people never have to think about: tube feeds, medications, monitoring, appointments, and long hospital stays. There have been countless nights sleeping in chairs, waiting on lab results, and making decisions no parent ever expects to face.
She lives with complex medical needs, and her body works harder than most just to get through the day. Things many take for granted — eating, gaining weight, staying stable — have been some of the ongoing challenges for her. Progress is often slow, and setbacks can happen without warning.
And yet — Strawberry is the life of the party. She is extremely happy, full of joy, and brings light into every room she’s in. Even in hospital settings, she smiles, engages, and connects with the people around her. Her happiness is real and powerful, and it reminds everyone caring for her that she is so much more than her medical needs.
What I wish others understood most is that children like Strawberry are not defined by their medical complexity. The tubes, machines, scars, and hospital walls are part of her story, but they are not who she is. Behind all of it is a little girl with a big personality, awareness, and resilience — a child who has already endured more than many do in a lifetime.
Strawberry has taught me how to celebrate the smallest victories, how to live moment by moment, and how deep love can run under pressure. Her journey has been incredibly hard, and it is still unfolding, but her strength and joy are undeniable. I am endlessly proud to be her mom.
