Hands...

There is no other experience in the world as wonderful as that moment when a doctor first places your child in your hands.  Your hands cradle, sooth, hug, pray for and caress every inch of your child.  The hands of a parent are intended to protect a child.

These are the feelings we had when our son Wayland was born March 9, 2003 and our daughter Piper was born April 15, 2005.  In spite of the these feelings, our hands could not protect our children when they were both diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Type 1.  

SMA is a genetic disorder that not only robs your child
of their lives, but ties a parents hands meant to protect them.  Our hands could only cradle and hug Wayland
for five short months and to hold on to Piper for seven.