Attend your miracle. By attending the miracle, you are entering a world of extraordinary viewpoints; a world of developmental disability, medical disabilities, the blind and issues of blindness, vision rehabilitation, advocacy and the lives of powerful advocates. Very important social service information can be found at ARC, which is an organization that advocates on behalf of people with mental retardation. The information might include county services, case management, medicaid, tefra, assistance, welfare, child development, infant issues, crisis management, and pediatric services. Other groups work with mental illness, crisis, family sociology, cancer, cerebral palsy, behavior and behavioral health. They offer workshops, retreats, information, and support groups. The support that a family needs might include consulting, counseling, referral, resources, special education for special needs, autism, asperger syndrome (aka: aspergers or asperger's), birth defects, injury or trauma (including traumatic brain injury). The psychology of families in emergency medical situations requires early intervention and clear medical information; often psychological counseling is helpful. Physicians, doctors, nurses, and surgeons should be responsible for taking the time to consult adequately, so the family feels comforted, especially in crises that might require surgery, anesthesia, entering an operating suite, possible birth defects or natal syndromes, hydrocephalus, neurology, nerve issues, and the brain in general. Of course, this includes injury, accident, or extended hospital stays. Especially confusing is the world of the ICU, PICU, NICU, or intensive care of any kind. The nurse and nursing staff are often most directly in touch with the patient and family. Questions about medicine, drugs, treatment, how to recover, patient recovery, the operation, insurance, complimentary healing, the nature of a person's ability to heal, alternative medicine, and other issues can be addressed by different staff in the hospital. It is good for families to consider attending special conferences and workshops. It is important to understand the difference between a childrens hospital and a general care hospital. The medicine that is practiced in a children's hospital is geared specifically toward pediatric care. A child hospital deals with pediatrics, but also in most major metropolitan areas, has many resources for helping the entire family succeed and recover. The care of a sick child in a pediatric clinic by a primary care doctor is different from the care of an adult. The childrens medical facility will be child specialized. The pediatric physician with a pediatric specialty must be board certified in pediatric medicine. Finally, the stages of grief, anticipation, venting, loss, and worry are most difficult for the caregiver or caregivers. Caregiving is a very challenging task, but is ultimately driven by unconditional love. Care giving must be free of blame and guilt, but some emotional turmoil is unavoidable in such an intense life struggle. Support is critical, whether it is for child or elder care. Eldercare has many resources that are separate from child care. Involvement with health care policy, politics, and social justice is a personal decision that a family can make. Over all, it is a bittersweet journey, dealing with chronic illness. Shop and buy the Attending the Miracle 2012 calendar NOW! Purchase and commission ceramics clay and pottery vases, bowls, cups, cheese domes, and kitchen items. Give the gift of inspiration this holiday season and new year.