1. The Role of IDP In My Life Katiejane E. Morgan

2. February 6th, 1989, nearly twenty years ago I entered this world with the weight of it upon my shoulders. With obstacles piled left, right, front and center to stand where I am today the young woman I am, some might tell you, is nothing short of a miracle, remarkable or astonishing. Yet, I am only capable of standing here due to the few special resources and individuals that fought to prove these predictions wrong, including the amazing individuals through the Infant Development Program of British Columbia. February 6th, 1989, nearly twenty years ago I entered this world with the weight of it upon my shoulders. With obstacles piled left, right, front and center to stand where I am today the young woman I am, some might tell you, is nothing short of a miracle, remarkable or astonishing. Yet, I am only capable of standing here due to the few special resources and individuals that fought to prove these predictions wrong, including the amazing individuals through the Infant Development Program of British Columbia.

3. Born ten weeks premature with a condition known as Hydrocephalus (a build up of spinal fluid on the brain), my prognoses was anything but favourable. Being placed into the care of the Ministry for Children and Families, finding a home willing to take on an infant as ill as I was, an infant that was not suppose to see a day of life, was a difficult process. However, the couple, who would become my mother and father adopting me as their own, came into my life. Little did they know they would soon face another difficult setback as I, this infant was rushed back to Children’s Hospital failing to breath properly, and later diagnosed with the RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). To a premature infant with weak lungs as I had, my chance of survival was slim, no doctor thought I’d leave. Once again I was out to prove them wrong.

4. Six weeks later I would go home with my mother and father, I was still ill, odds still very much so against me. My parents were told I would never walk, never talk, never live life to a standard of a so-called “normal” human being. My mother told me; I would walk, I would talk, I would live a life being whoever I pleased to be. This is when Infant Development came into my life and along with my mother told me I would walk, I would talk, I would live a life being who I pleased. Was this task going to be easy, not by any means but, overcoming those obstacles was a must and here I am today capable of walking, talking and living my life being who I strive to be. Six weeks later I would go home with my mother and father, I was still ill, odds still very much so against me. My parents were told I would never walk, never talk, never live life to a standard of a so-called “normal” human being. My mother told me; I would walk, I would talk, I would live a life being whoever I pleased to be. This is when Infant Development came into my life and along with my mother told me I would walk, I would talk, I would live a life being who I pleased. Was this task going to be easy, not by any means but, overcoming those obstacles was a must and here I am today capable of walking, talking and living my life being who I strive to be.

6. My life is not free of obstacles, nor is yours, or anyone else’s. I have many Neurological based conditions that I will live with for the remaining years of my life. During my grade eleven year of high school one condition causing tremors progressed and once again I was challenged to prove to the world I would graduate, not on time, it might have taken an extra year but, time does not matter. Accomplishing a task against all odds is the most rewarding experience one can have whether you are that individual facing the obstacle or the one who guides the individual through. My life is not free of obstacles, nor is yours, or anyone else’s. I have many Neurological based conditions that I will live with for the remaining years of my life. During my grade eleven year of high school one condition causing tremors progressed and once again I was challenged to prove to the world I would graduate, not on time, it might have taken an extra year but, time does not matter. Accomplishing a task against all odds is the most rewarding experience one can have whether you are that individual facing the obstacle or the one who guides the individual through.

7. Without the Infant Development team in my life I would not be looking to the future, standing on my own two feet. If IDP was not around during my infant years who knows where I’d be today. I have nothing but the utmost respect and gratitude for a team who gave me the gift of life.