Parents:
Reggie and Andrea Lehmensich

Profession:
Operations Manager
Bookkeeper

Age of parents:
39 and 41

Child’s name:
Faith

Age: 11 1/2

Is this your only child?
Yes

Diagnosis of child:
As a result of being born premature, just 640 grams when she was born. Faith has problems with low muscle tone, spatial, gross and fine motor skills, as well as ADHD. General Anxiety Disorder and learning difficulties.

What are the biggest challenges facing your child on a daily basis?
School is very challenging for her, her confidence has taken a beating. Trying to help her stay positive and motivated to keep trying when there are so many things that she cannot do for her age. She is unable to ride a bike because of her low tone.

What are the happiest moments you have with your child on a daily basis?
Our family time is precious; we are always finding ways to make new, happy memories. Faith is the most loving, sweet and sensitive child.

Are you a single parent or married?
Married

Has your special needs child had an effect on your marriage?
It has not been easy. Through this experience we are closer and support each other. We decided not to have more children so that we can focus on Faith and give her the very best we can.

What has your child taught you about yourself, both positively and negatively?

Positively:
Miracles do happen, Faith was given a 10% chance of survival and she is alive, so much could have gone wrong, so I do believe in the impossible.

Negatively:
Life is difficult and life gives you challenges that are not fair. It frustrates me when I see her struggle and other kids do things so easily.

Are your family and friends supportive?
Yes to a point but I don’t think they can actually fully understand what we go through.

Do you take time out, if so what do you do to relax?
My blog Faithgift is a great outlet for me, a place to express my frustrations and joys. My husband goes to gym.

What has made the biggest difference to your child’s quality of life?
I lie awake at night sometimes, trying to put myself in my 11 year old shoes and I just can’t grasp how she can deal with it all and still be this fun, loving, bouncy and confident child.

What is your dream for your child?
My wish for Faith is that she becomes an independent young woman that follows her dreams, that she finds joy in life and never gives up. It doesn’t matter how long she takes to reach her dreams, as long as she gets there.