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ETB 26:  In this episode I talk with Rick Deppisch. the first dad to be featured on the podcast who also just happens to be my husband and the father of our 5 children.  Rick shares his perspective on the challenges our family has endured and overcome over the years as we’ve navigated life with Josiah, our 20 year old son who has Down syndrome and non-verbal Autism.

Rick believes faith is what sustained him through the darkest days when Josiah, only 8 years old at the time, spent 10 months living away from home in a residential Behavior Treatment and Training Center.  He advocates the need for community and encourages parents who have a child with a disability to reach out to others to find a group of people to plug into for encouragement, resources and support.

Acknowledging that men handle their emotional responses differently than women and often times struggle to support other men who may be going through difficult times, Rick feels there should be more opportunities for dads to gather to be heard, strengthened and encouraged.

He also believes that if someone has helped you in your struggles, it’s your responsibility to reach back to offer a helping hand to others in need.

Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics
https://www.texaschildrens.org/location/meyer-center-developmental-pediatrics

Dr. Kathryn Ostermaier
https://www.texaschildrens.org/find-a-doctor/kathryn-katy-klish-ostermaier-md

Sleep Safe Bed
https://sleepsafebed.com/products/bed-models/

Connect with Rick
rdeppisch@gmail.com

Connect with Sandy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/

Hallelujah ~ Praise the Lord!

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JOSIAH NO LONGER WEARS A HELMET!!!!!

Today is day 7 without that bulky face-masked obstruction hiding his handsome face.  And, all it took was a trip to Florida.

If you know anything about Josiah you know it has been 3 years (how could it possibly be THREE years) that he has been wearing a padded helmet nearly every minute of every day.

He bathed in it, he slept in it, he ate in it.  He lived in that thing.  In fact, he needed several helmets so two could air out while one was on his head.

Over the past year or so there has been some success in removing the helmet for short periods of time. Depending upon who he was with and what he was doing, Josiah was even able to go 4-6 hours more recently without it.
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Thankfully, He Wears a Helmet

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Josiah wears a batting helmet with a face guard.  He wears it all day, every day.  It’s big, bulky and cumbersome.  It makes eating and drinking a bit more interesting, navigating around the metal guard, but it works.

It protects his face and ears from self injurious behavior.

Prior to the face guard, it was extremely difficult to protect Josiah from himself.  For reasons still unknown, he constantly punched his ears and cheeks.

It’s heart wrenching to witness someone inflict self harm and not know how to help. When it’s your child it’s devastating, overwhelming and exhausting.  It was beginning to feel hopeless.

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