He is a Gift and Every Day is Enough: Peter Kline and Janice McRandal on Cerebral Palsy

Peter, Janice, and Leo

In 21st century America, there is a sort of triumphalism to the birth announcement.  We cheer on a new life and assume that a healthy, “normal” baby will arrive nine months later. 

But the story often diverges, taking a detour through the NICU and into uncertain terrain.  In this episode of the Handle with Care podcast, Peter Kline and Janice McRandal share about their son, Leo, who has cerebral palsy.  

You will hear about the early delivery, the tumultuous first year, struggles with the feeding tube and the looming burden of uncertainty.  You will also hear their love for Leo and for each other, their journey into an affection of love-without-expectation.  There are also sharks, speeding tickets, and an Australian accent  

This is an episode for anyone that is in community with a parent of a special-needs child, it will help you deepen and expand ability to give care in ways that matter.  But, on a deeper level, it is an episode for all of us as we wrestle with and integrate how our 2020 story has taken us into unexpected terrain.  Peter and Janice offer wisdom for the journey. 

You can find to the Handle with Care podcast on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. And you can listen to the episode here:

Leo, full of smiles

Here are three take-aways from my conversation with Peter and Janice:

1. Be very careful with clichés and looking on the bright side.  People toss out trite phrases because they, themselves, are profoundly uncomfortable with pain.  And we rush people to a good conclusion because it makes us feel better.  Janice and Peter both commented how painful it was to have people assure them, again and again, that everything would be just fine with Leo. 

2. There is a particular need for men to find and experience uplifting, emotionally accessible community as they go through hard times.  This is a need for women as well but, as Janice mentioned, women are much more prone to find each other while men are off on their own. If you are a man listening to this episode, think of someone in your circle who is going through something hard.  Give them a call, send a text, check in to see how they are doing and offer support. 

3. Support is both personal but there is also a structural aspect of supporting individuals and families that are not given equal access.  The level of care and intervention and support services that Leo needs is large and expensive.  And we need systems that make those services available and accessible.  If you are interested in joining your voice to advocacy efforts, I have linked the Arc and the American Disabilities Advocates below

Janice and Peter

The whole family