Approximately 1,500 babies are born each year in the United States with spina bifida. Hispanic women have the highest risk of giving birth to an infant with spina bifida at 4.17 per 10,000 births, while non-Hispanic Blacks have the lowest risk at 2.64 per 10,000 births. Non-Hispanic white women give birth to a child with spina bifida about 3.22 times per 10,000 births. When a woman consumes adequate amounts of folic acid prior to becoming pregnant and during pregnancy she can significantly reduce the risk of her child being affected by neural tube defects (NTDs), such as spina bifida. The recommended dose of folic acid for all women of childbearing age is 400 micrograms (mcg) daily.

Outsiders may recognize how stressful caring for an aging spouse with Alzheimer, or a terminally ill parent can be, and they may offer some support. For example, my church’s families frequently provide meals or help clean their houses. Unfortunately, nobody seems to recognize how stressful it is to care for special needs children except other families caring for special needs children. While we do occasionally offer respite care for each other, the time is usually used to take another child for services. When I read HeathDay News’ headline, “Caregivers may be prone to physical and emotional stress” the first thought I had was caregivers of special needs children. Of course, I am sure their intent was the temporary caregiver position of caring for a declining adult. For parents of special needs children, there may be decades ahead of care. That thought alone can increase the stress level.

Each year more than three billion needles, syringes, lancets, sometimes called sharps are used in private homes to treat medical conditionsaccording to the EPA. Conditions such as diabetes, Growth Hormone deficiency, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Allergies, and Migraines are just a few of those medical conditions. But how are these families disposing of their sharps? Are they placing others at risk by using unsafe disposal procedures?

The owners of Adoption Under One Roof Website would like to extend our sincerest sympathy and love to our partner and dear friend Lisa S on the loss of her mother June 16, 2010.

Our hearts go out to Lisa and her family.

Note: Lisa will be away from the website to spend time with her family. Do not expect replies directly from her during this time. Urgent needs may be addressed to one of the other owners.

Lisa wrote a blog recently enlightening people about how rude some of their comments can be, you can read it here, What Not to Say to Parents With Adopted or Biological Children With Special Needs.  Unfortunately, none of those rude individuals are likely to come across ouradopt looking for information. Therefore, it is up to us, the parents, to maintain our artillery of responses to fire back at these oblivious individuals.