Telling your story, sharing your story with others is a good way to get your thoughts and feelings out, connect with those with similar experiences, and be truly seen. Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible takes this opportunity to share her story with new listeners and reconnect with her dedicated Parenting Impossible fans. With one in five peopled impacted by a condition that is disabling whether physically, intellectually, developmentally there are so many of us who can relate. Annette’s entrance into the disability community is an important story that explains her role as a caregiver, mom, advocate, attorney, and author. In fact, she has put her entire story in a book, Butterflies and Second Chances: A Mom’s Memoir of Love and Loss. So please join Annette and learn about her journey. We know there are so many shared experiences out there!
Annette Hines was a young mom in her twenties when she got pregnant with Elizabeth. At five months Annette was put on bed rest until her first daughter, Elizabeth was born at twenty-nine weeks weighing in at two pounds. After nine weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Elizabeth was able to go home. As she grew, Elizabeth started to have seizures. It was difficult for Annette to find a team of doctors that would believe her description of the seizures Elizabeth was having. Once Annette found a supportive medical specialist, at age two and a half, Elizabeth was diagnosed with Mitochondrial Disease along with other health issues. This begins Annette’s story as a caregiver, mom, advocate, attorney, and the author of Butterflies and Second Chances: A Mom’s Memoir of Love and Loss.
Listen to the full episode below or you can find us on Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!
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As of January 1, 2022, Special Needs Companies, Special Needs Law Group and Special Needs Family Services will all be housed in this new location. They will be working with designers and contractors to create a family-friendly environment that is special needs accessible. Annette wants to hear from you – what is something you would like to see or something that would make your visit more comfortable when you visit a professional’s office. Of course, they will focus on ramps and more handicapped parking but are there other items that you would like to see or were maybe lacking in your last visit to a professional’s office? Please reach out HERE and let us know!
For information on other topics, please also check out Special Needs Companies. For legal advice, inspiration, and other resources, visit our blog here. Similarly, you can always listen to previous podcast episodes (and be sure to leave us a review), or download our free eBook here. We are always looking for podcast guests as well so please let us know if you or someone you know, has a special needs or disability topic you would like to speak about – Contact Us!
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Please consider leaving a podcast review for Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast on iTunes. More positive ratings and reviews mean more new listeners are introduced to this informational and inspirational podcast. Look at the bottom of this page for the purple oval that says “Enjoying the podcast? Leave an iTunes review here.” This will take you over to the iTunes site/app where you will be able to log in and leave a review. We really appreciate it!
You can also join our free Facebook group for the disability community, the “Circle of Care,” or watch the webinars and other speaking events on YouTube. The purpose of this community is to create a space for people to be themselves, ask questions and get support and answers, so please share these resources with your friends!
Annette Hines has been practicing in the areas of Special Needs, Elder Law, and Estate Planning for more than 20 years. Ms. Hines brings personal experience with special needs to her practice and podcasts as the mother of two daughters, one of whom passed away from Mitochondrial disease in November 2013. This deep, personal understanding of special needs fuels her passion for quality special needs planning and drives her dedication to help others within the special needs community.