Vegas Headliner ~ Deb @ Lucas's Journey with Sensory Processing Disorder

I met Deb through the blogging world, and when I read her story, I was immediately impressed with how dedicated she is to her family, how upbeat she seems to be, how well she balance's her family time, and most of all how big of an advocate she is for her son's. Not to mention she always has a kind word for everyone. In October she is hosting an Event to raise awareness for Sensory Processing Disorder which her youngest son Lucas has. She has done an ENORMOUS amount of work for this event. She has gotten many many companies to donate giveaways for it, and has spent countless hours putting it together. She is currently 2 sponsors away from a goal she set out, and couldn't be happier to be where she is. If you know anyone who would be willing to help her out in this quest to raise awareness for SPD, drop by her blog and let her know...
I am very honored she wanted to guest post. Please read her wonderful post below.







To find out more about Deb and her family visit her blog, check out her Event Link
or find her on Facebook or Twitter. If you post her Event button on your blog and let her know you did by commenting here, you can have 5 extra entries into both the Barefoot Books Giveaway, and A Blanket Full of Love Giveaway.

Tell me about yourself and your family.

I live in NJ with my husband, my 10 year old son Charlie, and my youngest son, Lucas. Life has been like a tornado since we had Lucas. Our quiet little lives were just turned upside down, inside out, and all the way around! It's calmed down quite a bit but we still have our mountains that we need to climb.

Why do you blog; what made you start?

It's funny, I was out to lunch with my Mother and Mother in-law for a Mothers Day lunch. It was the first time I was out alone since I had Lucas. As I was sitting at the table, it just came into my head, that I needed to blog about our life with Lucas! I didn't know how to do it and I never blogged before so I was a little overwhelmed at first. I had to teach myself everything. I just needed contact with the outside world. I had to find and talk with other parents who were going through what I was with Lucas. I love Lucas but to care for him sometimes is almost like having a weight on your chest so heavy that you just can't breathe. I had to find a way to give myself a break and share about some of the things that were eating me up inside, so that I could let it go, and hopefully find hope in another Mothers story.

Name three things you really like to do?

I love painting ceramics, I love playing with my children, there is no greater joy for me than watching my kids laugh, and I love to shop even though I haven't been able to in a VERY long time.

If you had the opportunity to go back and change something in your past, what would it be, and would you do it?

I would have furthered my education. I had a great job with great pay and thought it would last forever! LOL

I'm older now and every year that goes by makes it harder for me to get back into the work place.

What would you do with a million dollars?

I would buy a house and a car first! I would also be able to give Lucas the additional therapy that he needs and can't do right now. I would buy my older son Charlie every video game that he ever wanted.

What would you like to accomplish in your lifetime?

I would love if every one's efforts to raise awareness for SPD were successful so that it would not be an issue for these children to get the care that they should have anymore. There is no feeling worse than not being able to give your child the care that they need because its not covered by insurance.

Our event is happening right now! We have been taking entries since September 1st for our October giveaways. The only requirement is to help with our mission by placing a button on your blog listed here, http://lucasjourneyspd.blogspot.com/2010/08/get-your-first-official-entry-into-our.html

or by sending a tweet or email to the media contacts that we have listed here. http://lucasjourneyspd.blogspot.com/2010/09/sensational-celebration-media-contacts.html

We just revised the entry form to make it a little easier to enter.

We have received over $2,000 in prizes that were donated to help raise awareness for SPD. This turned into so much more than I ever expected! We've had more of a turnout that I could have imagined but we are still in dire need of help getting our message out to the media.

We are also giving entries for any donations made or badges that are purchased that we have for sale which can be found on any page of our blog on the left hand sidebar. All proceeds will be donated to the SPD foundation's event.


Here is the explanation of what SPD is taken from the SPD foundation:
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About Sensory Processing Disorder (taken from the SPD Foundations site, full explanation can be found at http://www.spdfoundation.net/about-sensory-processing-disorder.html )

Sensory processing (sometimes called "sensory integration" or SI) is a term that refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses. Whether you are biting into a hamburger, riding a bicycle, or reading a book, your successful completion of the activity requires processing sensation or "sensory integration."

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD, formerly known as "sensory integration dysfunction") is a condition that exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responsesPioneering occupational therapist and neuroscientist A. Jean Ayres, PhD, likened SPD to a neurological "traffic jam" that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly. A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks. Motor clumsiness, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, school failure, and other impacts may result if the disorder is not treated effectively.

Symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder, like those of most disorders, occur within a broad spectrum of severity. While most of us have occasional difficulties processing sensory information, for children and adults with SPD, these difficulties are chronic, and they disrupt everyday life.

What Sensory Processing Disorder looks like

Sensory Processing Disorder can affect people in only one sense–for example, just touch or just sight or just movement–or in multiple senses. One person with SPD may over-respond to sensation and find clothing, physical contact, light, sound, food, or other sensory input to be unbearable. Another might under-respond and show little or no reaction to stimulation, even pain or extreme hot and cold. In children whose sensory processing of messages from the muscles and joints is impaired, posture and motor skills can be affected. These are the "floppy babies" who worry new parents and the kids who get called "klutz" and "spaz" on the playground. Still other children exhibit an appetite for sensation that is in perpetual overdrive. These kids often are misdiagnosed - and inappropriately medicated - for ADHD.

Sensory Processing Disorder is most commonly diagnosed in children, but people who reach adulthood without treatment also experience symptoms and continue to be affected by their inability to accurately and appropriately interpret sensory messages.

These "sensational adults" may have difficulty performing routines and activities involved in work, close relationships, and recreation. Because adults with SPD have struggled for most of their lives, they may also experience depression, underachievement, social isolation, and/or other secondary effects.

Sadly, misdiagnosis is common because many health care professionals are not trained to recognize sensory issues. The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation is dedicated to researching these issues, educating the public and professionals about their symptoms and treatment, and advocating for those who live with Sensory Processing Disorder and sensory challenges associated with other conditions.