It was a murky lunchtime run today which highlighted the lighthouse exhibit on Belfast Lough. I focused on it from some distance away and it inspired me to keep pressing forward through the blustery, wet conditions. Most other days I would have run past it without a second thought but it was there for meContinue reading “Who Is Your Lighthouse?”
Tag Archives: spina bifida
The Butterfly
As we’ve been posting for Spina Bifida Awareness Week Stephen and I thought we should repost my very first blog from two years ago which was about my journey with Hannah’s diagnoses. In March 2003 we discovered I was pregnant. We were really excited we had already a son Adam who was 8 months old. We wereContinue reading “The Butterfly”
Fractured Faith Is 1000 Posts Old
Today marked our 1000th post on Fractured Faith. We started the blog back in May 2017 and, back then, had no idea what to expect. Fionnuala encouraged me to share my writing with the online world as both a form of personal therapy and to encourage others that there is always hope, no matter howContinue reading “Fractured Faith Is 1000 Posts Old”
We Need Your Feedback
The blog passed 11,000 followers the other day and it’s growth continues to amaze and delight me. I don’t know why people keep coming back to view, like and comment but I’m forever grateful. At each milestone, I like to ask you guys what you want from the blog in the future. As well as,Continue reading “We Need Your Feedback”
Life as an Additional Needs Mummy
I am a mummy to three amazing children one of which has additional needs and relays on me for her personal care. I love being a mum and I’m really enjoying watching my teenagers turn into young adults. I look at them with so much love and pride that sometimes I think I could cry.Continue reading “Life as an Additional Needs Mummy”
Separate your needs from your greeds
October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month and as most of you know we have been blessed with our very own Spina Bifida Warrior Princess Hannah. You can read our story about finding out about Hannah’s diagnosis in The Butterfly which was actually my first ever blog. We of course love everything about Hannah and wouldn’t changeContinue reading “Separate your needs from your greeds”
Losing The Battle….Winning The War
I am supposed to be running the Longford Marathon in two weeks time. It was the target I set myself after completing the Belfast equivalent in May and some of you may recall I blogged about my intentions at the time. I thought it was a realistic proposition and I could juggle it with allContinue reading “Losing The Battle….Winning The War”
Hannah The Campaigner
We are not protestors by nature but yesterday took to the streets of Belfast with many other concerned parents to protest against plans by the Education Authority to close seven special needs schools in the Greater Belfast area and merge them into three ‘super schools’ which would be created to cater for students with physicalContinue reading “Hannah The Campaigner”
Detox Day
Fionnuala suggested the other evening that I undertake an endurance challenge for January 2018. It involves running 150 miles during the month and logging them on my Garmin watch. At the end of the month I e-mail the challenge organisers a screen shot of my mileage and, in return, I get a medal and compressionContinue reading “Detox Day”
A Special Day For A Special Girl
Today is a very special day in the Black household. Our eldest daughter, Hannah, is celebrating her 14th birthday. This makes Fionnuala and myself feel very old but it also fills us with wonder as to where all the years have gone. It seems no time since that exciting, frightening day when Hannah was born.Continue reading “A Special Day For A Special Girl”
Marathon Finished
I’ll post a proper review tomorrow but just a few lines tonight to say that I completed the ‘Loop of the Lough’ Marathon today in a time of 3:54:55 getting under my target time of 4 hours. I also raised some money for SHINE Charity in the process. Thank you to everyone who has supportedContinue reading “Marathon Finished”
The 26.2 Mile Turkey Trot
As I’m not the sharpest tool in the box (just ask Fionnuala) it only struck me this morning that the marathon I have been training for (and boring you about) these last few months falls during the Thankgiving Day weekend. This is not celebrated in Northern Ireland but as most of our followers live inContinue reading “The 26.2 Mile Turkey Trot”
The 1% Is A Liar
Yesterday was my last long run before the ‘Loop of the Lough’ Marathon which I am running for SHINE Charity (Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus) around Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, next Saturday. The run went well and now it just a matter of keeping things ticking over and continuing my disciplined taper until the big dayContinue reading “The 1% Is A Liar”
My Big Sister Hannah
My sister is called Hannah she is 13 her date of birth is 10th December 2003. My sister’s full name is Hannah Catherine Black. My sister is special because she is my big sister. When my sister was born she had to stay in hospital for two months because she had Spina Bifida and sheContinue reading “My Big Sister Hannah”
Power
The day that we have been waiting for for a very long time has finally arrived and I don’t mean Stephen actually sitting at his desk to start writing his book more importantly Hannah got her new all singing and dancing power chair. The regular readers of our blog will know about all the trialsContinue reading “Power”
Real Running
The ‘Loop of the Lough’ Marathon is five weeks today and, this morning, I set out on a 20 mile training run. The next 2-3 weeks are the toughest part of the training plan before I cut back the mileage in the final fortnight before the big day itself. This final period of the trainingContinue reading “Real Running”
The Butterfly
Originally posted on Black Thoughts:
This is my first time blogging, normally it’s my husband’s witty blogs that you read and it looks like I’ve caught the blogging bug which?thankfully?doesn’t require medical attention as?I’ve seen enough of doctors, therapists and hospitals this week.? I want to share a bit of testimony with you about a…
Happy Hannah
As you may have read in previous posts we have been fighting a largely uphill battle for over six months now with our local health trust. The reason? To obtain a new wheelchair for our 13 year old daughter, Hannah. To the point where we had given up all hope of getting one. Given thisContinue reading “Happy Hannah “
Don’t Give Up
For what seems like forever we have been battling with our local health trust to acquire a new wheelchair for our daughter, Hannah. Hannah is 13 years old and was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. She has outgrown her current wheelchair to the extent that it is now dangerous for her to use. SheContinue reading “Don’t Give Up “
PATIENCE/PATIENT
Today we have a guest blogger this is her first time blogging so please be kind to her. Let me introduce you to our daughter Hannah who is 13 years old. Hannah has been off school for 4 weeks now due to a pressure sore on her foot. Hannah loves school and misses her friendsContinue reading “PATIENCE/PATIENT”
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