Hello and Welcome :) We move quick so here we go....

Hello and welcome to our little corner of the internet. Slightly vulnerable, sharing thoughts with the world but its been a wild and crazy few years full of change, growth, and musings that maybe someone might enjoy listening too. I'm Elizabeth, along with my husband Matt, son Tyler, daughter Tanner, and crazy Doberman Tessa. What brings me here is mostly our daughter Tanner and her story because well, she has changed all of us in ways that no amount of schooling, self- help, or self- reflective journey ever could. Just about three years ago at the age of 5, Tanner was diagnosed with a Mitochondrial Disease(Leigh Like, ECHS1) and it changed all of our lives forever. I hope to share her journey with Mito as times goes forward but first I wanted to speak to every parent who might just be embarking on this journey that looks very different that what you anticipated.

You need just one thing. Well there's a few things but one thing that's on my mind today. Grace. Grace for you and Grace for the people around you. The road ahead is long and does not come with a manual. There is no manual for your child and their diagnoses, no manual for how to navigate relationships, and no manual of how you might best pull yourself through this uncertain time. It's okay to just accept that and just put one foot in front of the other. In time you will learn more than you ever thought you'd want to know about your child and their diagnoses and if you are patient with yourself in the process you will come out of this on this other side. Yes things might be entirely different but this is a part of life that takes some accepting. Growth is painful and its really no fun to work on "growth" when you're hurting but its okay. There will be good days and there will be bad days but do try to find something good in each day. When Tanner was very sick in the hospital she could barely talk but each morning we'd always ask, "Is it a sunny day Tanner?" and to this day when we see the sun it reminds us that there really is something good in every day or as Tanner would say a "hunny day". With others, try to extend patience. We are all human and in times of strife our best sides do not always shine through. What matters in these moments is togetherness and to realize we are all in this together for this kiddo who truly needs all of us to be at our "best" so we can give them all we've got in return :)