CHARGE Syndrome Conference

 A friend from "across the pond" teaching Cami to hula hoop.

 Belinda and Cami having a squeeze.

 Makenna the cat.

 Makenna dancing at the party.

We attended the CHARGE Syndrome Conference in Orlando, FL this past July.  It is hard to describe the experience.  Basically, over 800 people associated with CHARGE Syndrome converge in a conference center for a weekend every two years.  It is an amazing, overwhelming, emotional, draining and energizing time. Every time we attend a conference, I think to myself don't be disappointed if you don't get as much out of it this year.  Yet every year, I learn something new and love it just as much as the first time we attended.   It is a wonderful experience to get to interact with professionals that understand and love working with people with CHARGE.  My favorite part is meeting families, individuals and old friends to talk, compare and just understand each other. It is an experience like no other.  One professional put it nicely when he said that the love we have for our children is palpable it is in the air, however, it is not just the parents. It is the other family members, friends, grandparents, professionals, the sign language interpreters, everyone in attendance has this love for these children/adults with CHARGE Syndrome.  Every single person at that conference is so invested in individuals with CHARGE Syndrome.  It is like a huge family reunion.  These words are just not doing the conference justice.  I feel very blessed that we have been fortunate enough to attend every conference since Makenna was 4 years old.