I've always believed that independence isn't about removing support, but about providing the right support to make more things possible. Looking back at Yara's journey, I can think of so many moments when this belief shaped the decisions we made as parents. I remember when Yara was little, our physical therapist was nervous about bringing up the possibility of using a walker. She wasn't sure how we would react to the suggestion. Perhaps she worried we would see it as a setbac

If only they could see how hard you fought at birth and how much you overcame before you ever spoke a word. I was picking up Yara from volleyball practice when I noticed a group of teenage girls looking at her, whispering to each other, and making fun of her. Yara didn't notice. But I did. And in that moment, I found myself torn between two instincts. Part of me wanted to walk over and ask them if this was the kind of person they wanted to be. Someone who lifts themselves up

This Halloween, I found myself reflecting on what it means to raise two "only children." My son is now old enough to go trick-or-treating with his friends, and as I watched him head out without me, I felt that little discomfort in my stomach. That bittersweet feeling of watching your child grow more independent and realizing they need you a little less. I went trick-or-treating alongside my daughter, enjoying our time together while feeling that same little discomfort, knowin

I waited 10 days to hold my newborn baby and 42 days to bring her home from the NICU. 426 days to see her sit independently. 1,095 days to witness her first step. 1,825 days to hear her voice. 2,190 days to receive my first kiss from her. 4,380 days to sleep through the night uninterrupted. When I look at these numbers, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude that I got to experience every one of these moments with my daughter. I always accepted her exactly as she is. I nev

We talk so much about helping our children regulate their emotions, teaching them how to manage frustration, navigate disappointment, and respond to situations that feel overwhelming, but how often do we extend that same attention and understanding to ourselves as caregivers? The reality is that parenting can push us to our limits, especially when we're carrying the demands of everyday life alongside the additional responsibilities that often come with raising a child with di

Last night, a friend called to share that her two-year-old had received a rare diagnosis. When you’ve been in this life for a while, you often get calls like these. During our call, I listened, shared in her heartache, and offered encouragement. I acknowledged the power of finally knowing, and I spoke about the gift of having my daughter and the love and joy she brings to my life. When we hung up, I wept. I wept knowing how much her life had changed. I mourned the heartaches

It's been a year since I spoke at Erie's Women's Leadership summit and shared about my story that led me to creating 2villages... Resharing here... I’m humbled to share the stage with incredible leaders who are making waves for our community and our children. My name is Carole Bakhos. My family and I have been living in Erie for the past four years. This is my husband, Sid… our daughter Yara, who is 12… and our son Mazin, who is 6. Thank you for the opportunity to share a lit

Eleven years ago, we were given a diagnosis that changed the trajectory of our lives. We were handed a small piece of paper with information from the medical literature. At the time, there were only seven known cases published. I remember the loneliness of that day. The confusion. The sudden void that opened beneath us when we realized there was no roadmap, no community waiting for us, no one who could really tell us what the future might hold. I feel an incredible amount of

This is what can happen when a community truly cares about making sure everyone has a place. For so many children with disabilities, participation often comes with an explanation. We explain what they need, what they can do, why an accommodation matters, or why they deserve the opportunity to be included in the first place. But on this field, Yara doesn't have to explain her worth or prove that she belongs. She puts on her uniform, joins her team, hears people cheer for her,

What if we stopped asking, “How do we fix this child?” and started asking, “How do we support them to live a full life?” For many years, disability was viewed primarily through a deficit lens. What’s delayed? What’s wrong? What skills need to be fixed? The F-Words (developed by the team at CanChild) shift the conversation toward what truly matters. Function: How can this child participate meaningfully in everyday life? Family: What matters most to this family, and how can we

I keep seeing posts from caregivers of children with disabilities saying they hope they outlive their child by 10 seconds. Just long enough to know their child won’t have to exist in this world without them. And if that sounds heartbreaking to you… imagine carrying the kind of fear that makes that feel comforting. Because these caregivers are not just parents. They are the case managers, nurses, advocates, teachers, therapists, interpreters, protectors, and safe places all wr

Your child's sibling isn't a supporting character in their disability story. They're the co-author. We see it all the time in our communities and even in well-meaning advice. The sibling is the helper, the brave little soldier, the one who is always 'so good' with their brother or sister. And they are all of those things. But that's not the whole story. When I say they're the co-author, I mean their life, their identity, and their experiences are being written right alongside

Last year, I spent my birthday at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Not celebrating with cake or presents, but watching Yara become the first patient there to receive a potential treatment for Jordan’s Syndrome as part of the clinical trial. I had spent the previous decade helping make that moment possible: working alongside scientists, clinicians, researchers, industry partners, and hundreds of families. Building partnerships. Opening doors. Raising funds. Pushing forward when th