My sister's name is Jennifer Zitnay. She was born in 1979 on December 7th. She is 4 years older than me at 27 years old right now. She is my inspiration to eventually study Special Education. My family and I are blessed to have one of the happiest, sweetest, and most pleasant children in our family. I cannot imagine our life without her and I am so happy to have the chance to be her sister.
My mom and dad are fantastic with Jenny. They couldn't be more loving and accepting parents of her. A few years ago they got an addition on their house just for her that has a handicapped accessible bathroom and bed. I truly have never seen such good parents to a child with a disability.
My brother is also wonderful with Jenny. He and I have always been interested in Aicardi Syndrome. We have both done research and learned a lot about it. We know that she is a pretty severe case and that there is no chance that she will ever be independent and able to live on her own. Neither of us wants to see her put into a home when my parents can no longer care for her because we know that she will have a happier life living at home with one of us. We are both willing to open our homes to her when that day should come.
For the first 21 years of her life she went to a school for the severely disabled, Cedar Lane, in Columbia MD. After she graduated from there she went to a day program called Intervals in Baltimore MD. Last year we moved her to a more convenient day program called CHI (Center for the Handicapped Inc) in Silver Spring MD. The best part about her current day program is the weekly adventures they go on. At least twice a week, sometimes three times, their class goes on field trips. Some of the places they go are the mall, the movies, the park, museums, walks, and bowling. Jenny gets a real kick out of just being out of the house and around the town. She loves little trips anywhere. She is truly the happiest person I know.
My husband and I got married on April 29th of 2006 and Jenny was my Maid of Honor. I truly could not have chosen a better maid of honor. She was there for me throughout the whole process. She was there when I needed someone to just listen to my thoughts and ideas. She never criticized anything I was doing about the wedding and always smiled when I smiled about any part of it. I could not have ever imagined having my wedding without my sister with me the whole way.
My mom and I went together to pick out her dress. My other bridesmaids were wearing strapless dresses so our first thought was what we were going to do about Jenny's dress. We ended up buying the same dress in strapless with the intention of putting straps on it. We tried it on her after my mom had altered it and realized that she did not really need straps after all! She looked so cute in her little strapless dress. She certainly loved to dance in it also!
Another adventure that Jenny loved very much was going to the Aicardi Syndrome conference in Kentucky last year! We all had so much fun… we are definitely looking forward to the next one, wherever it may be held. It will not matter to us where it is, it will be amazing regardless. She is always up for a nice vacation, especially when it is all about her! The dancing was such a blast. She had a constant smile on her face that whole evening.
Well that is about all for now. I will do my best to continually update this page so you can keep up with what is going on. Remember everyone, these children are blessings and need to have all the love you can give!! Thanks all...
03-13-2007
