The Story Board
The Velkovich's
Submitted by: Allyson Velkovich
When we had our son 5 years ago, it was not immediately apparent that he was going to be different from most other typically developing children. Having had a rough pregnancy with many complications resulting in his premature birth at 30 weeks should have prepared us for the roller coaster ride of his very atypical life, but it did not.As the Mother of one already typical child, I was now thrown into a situation vastly different from any of my friends. I couldn't bear going to any of the Moms play-groups I had been in anymore...no one there could really relate. I honestly can't even remember anymore how I first learned about Family Connection of SC but the people I have met through FC have helped our family in numerous ways.
I felt for the first time since having my son that there really were other people out there who could personally relate to what we were dealing with; the ups, the downs and the sideways. I met with other Mothers who could lift me up and with whom I too could support when needed, all from our shared experiences of raising a child or children with special needs. My husband became more involved with FC as a result of attending the Couple's Weekend Workshop, which had a rippling effect into our marriage, parenting of both our children and family as a whole. My 8 y/o daughter started attending the Sibling Support Group just recently and she comes back from it every month renewed, refreshed and looking forward to the next.
I can't say enough about how FC has impacted our lives. I really don't know how we would have fared without it, as individuals and as a family learning to speak a whole new language with our son, but I know how fortunate we are to have become a part of the FC family. It is our sincere hope to be able to help and support other families as we ourselves have been supported.
