I would like to honor my mom and mother-in-law this Thanksgiving.

I’m thankful for everything they’ve done for my family in the past three years. I have three kids with special needs and they both have been there since the beginning. They’re our biggest support system.

My first son Nicholas was recently diagnosed with Autism. He’s 3.5 years old, non-verbal, has global developmental delay, and sensory processing disorder, among other things. Daniel, my second son, is 2 years old and was born with an association that affects many body systems, resulting in a number of surgeries. Finally, my daughter Grace, along with Nicholas, has silent aspiration, is G-tube fed, and has a rare genetic mutation inherited from me.

Despite their many difficulties, my mom and mother-in-law accept my kids and their differences and have supported us in so many ways. They are very much involved in my kids’ lives.

My mom was there when Nicholas was born premature at 35 weeks and visited him in the NICU every day during his 7-week stay. She was there when he was baptised at two weeks old in the middle of the hallway in an incubator on the way to getting surgery for malrotation.

My mother-in-law sat in the doctor’s office taking notes for me while I listened to the doctor explain that Nicholas inherited a rare genetic mutation from me.

My mom is learning sign language with us to better communicate with Nicholas. He’s 100% G-tube fed, but my mom fed him ice cream for the first time after two years of not eating anything by mouth. She leaves work every week to pick him up from school and bring him home.

We recently did an Autism charity walk through Autism Speaks and they were both there for Nicholas and helped him cross the finish line.

When Daniel had multiple surgeries in his first two years of life, they visited him in the hospital during all of his procedures, surgeries, and hospital stays.

They both witnessed Daniel walking by himself for the first time.

My mom was with me when Grace’s NICU doctor diagnosed her with silent aspiration and would need a G-tube just like her brother.

When Grace was baptised in the NICU, my mother-in-law was there to witness it.

They know how to operate my kid’s medical equipment.

They shed tears for me when I have to be strong for my family.

They take off work to be with two kids while I take the other to never-ending doctor appointments.

They babysit so my husband and I can have a date night.

They participate in therapy sessions and take them to doctor appointments when I can’t be there.

They do everything and more for us and they do it for free. They don’t ask for anything in return. Their selflessness and generosity is truly an inspiration.

I’m thankful for their help but most importantly, I’m grateful that my kids are loved unconditionally by their grandmothers. They have been through so much and my mom and mother-in-law have been right there fighting along side of them.