FORT CARSON, Colo. -- On the carousel at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Spc. Jesus Medrano III cradled his son, Jesus IV. Esmeralda, Jesus' older sister, laughed and waved from her perch atop a horse as Jesus rested his head on his father's shoulder, chewing on a blanket as the ride spun round and round.
"His first time on a carousel was a disaster," said Angelica Medrano, Jesus' mother. "There was throw up everywhere. It was just sensory overload. He seems to be enjoying it now, though."
The Medrano Family joined more than 1,000 other family members from the Pikes Peak region June 1 for DreamNight at the Zoo, an annual event that invites families of children with critical or chronic illnesses and disabilities to have a private viewing of the animals. Event organizers also arranged for free rides on the carousel, games, face painting and dinner.
"The zoo would have been enough, but they went above and beyond," Angelica Medrano said.
Nine years ago, a zookeeper at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo organized the event, which now takes place at several zoos across the country.
"Every year it's a little bigger," said Erin Allen, guest services supervisor at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Susan Moyer, manager for the Exceptional Family Member Program at Fort Carson, said officials from the zoo contacted her office, offering 50 tickets for members of the military.
"We were so appreciative of the opportunity and that the zoo extended the invitation to the military," she said.
Moyer said events like these were important for families with children with special needs because they foster support and community.
As she watched her husband and children on the carousel, Angelica Medrano smiled.
Three years ago, after Jesus was born, doctors diagnosed him with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, a developmental disorder that has left the toddler blind in one eye, dependent on a wheelchair and at a sustained risk of seizures.
"He has 16 specialists," said Angelica Medrano. "He's been in and out of hospitals since he was born."
Angelica Medrano said her son has endured four surgeries. The latest landed Jesus in the neonatal intensive care unit in November.
"The doctors weren't sure he was going to make it," Angelica Medrano said. "I sent a Red Cross message to (my husband), but by the time he received it, Jesus was doing better."
Jesus Medrano, a Soldier with 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, received news of his son's struggles while he was serving his third tour in Afghanistan.
"I called as often as I could to see if I could do anything from abroad," he said.
Jesus and Angelica Medrano met in high school and married soon after graduation. A few years later, the couple welcomed their first child, Esmeralda, a healthy baby girl. Two years later, Jesus was born.
"We didn't know anything was wrong," said Angelica Medrano, adding that in addition to the health problems, Jesus' development has been stunted. "He does things slower. … He didn't crawl until he was 2. I'm hoping he walks by the time he's 4."
"At first I was sad that he wouldn't live a normal life," said Jesus Medrano. "(We) mutually decided to do whatever we needed to do to make sure he lived a healthy, normal life."
For Angelica Medrano, caring for a child with special needs forced her to adjust, adapt and learn.
"The doctors gave me a list of specialists I had to contact," she said. "At the time I had no idea what a cardiologist was. I had to learn all of the medical terms."
Angelica Medrano said she found support through online groups and communicating with families in similar situations.
"The Army has been very understanding," Jesus Medrano said. "The (Exceptional Family Member Program) is phenomenal."
Other parents of special needs children agree.
"The Army has been great," said Karyn Lee, Army spouse and mother of a 1-year-old with Down syndrome. "They always make sure that we're aware of support."
Lee knew something was wrong when her 20-week ultrasound revealed a cardiac defect with her baby.
"I knew it was associated with Down's," said Lee, a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Francis Medical Center. "There was nothing else to indicate there was a problem, so I put it out of my mind."
Lee underwent an emergency cesarean section and after her son, James, was born, doctors diagnosed him with Down syndrome.
"They noticed his facial features and his cardiac defect. He had low muscle tone and a larger tongue," she said.
A blood test confirmed the doctors' diagnosis.
"I was scared," Lee said. "I knew the medical complications associated with Down's -- the heart issues, the intestinal problems."
Lee said she also experienced shock and sadness.
"Things were not going to be the way we thought," she said. "I was wondering how my family would react to him, if they would love him."
Lee said she has struggled to accept and acknowledge her son's diagnosis and has been intimidated by the support offered to children with special needs.
"When you're around other families, you see the wide range of abilities and it can be comforting and a little discomforting," she said.
When her husband, Spc. Aaron Lee, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base, received an invitation from EFMP to attend DreamNight, Karyn Lee accepted.
"This is a helpful reminder to do fun, everyday, normal things," she said, rocking James as he gurgled and squirmed in her arms. "It's nice that they're centered around families with special needs because if you're at those beginning stages where you're nervous about people seeing your child or you're just used to it, events like these make it easier."
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