Errol Milner Clifford 2006-2009

Errol Milner Clifford was born with a significant heart defect and a cognitive disability that prevented him from walking or talking. As we grieved the child we had anticipated, Errol’s full-bodied smile and irrepressible laugh turned our sorrow into joy, and taught us that many of the best things in life are unexpected. Inspired by Errol’s delightful spirit, friends, family, and neighbors rallied to support our family’s significant emotional, physical, and financial needs, through countless acts of selfless generosity. When Errol’s courageous heart finally failed him on December 23, 2009 we were left numb with grief. In these dark hours we listen hopefully for the echoes of Errol’s brilliant laugh. This blog is the story (starting from present and working back to Errol's birth) of the life and times of the amazing Errol Clifford.


Thursday, November 02, 2006

Typical


Errol suffers from Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, which means, amongst other things, that his IQ is somewhere in the 50s and that he is what most people would call “mentally retarded”.

The constellation of physical disabilities that accompanies RTS is ferocious, but is suffer the right word to describe his mental capacities?

But if Errol could be typical, would I want that for him?

They say that some parents of blind children resist operations that could give their children sight. I’ve always thought that their resistance was selfish and that the parent should do what is best for the child.

If it were suddenly possible, would I have Errol undergo an operation that would increase his IQ by 30 points or so and make him typical?
I love Errol, exactly as he is (Mohawk and all), but what would be best for Errol?

Errol will probably not be tremendously analytical, quick, or abstract in his thinking, but Errol is sweet, lives in the moment, and most importantly is tremendously happy. Errol is exactly what I hope to one day become.

I don’t know how Errol would answer the question, himself, but as for me I would never choose to subtract one ounce of joy from our blissful Errol boy.

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