Additional Needs

Celebrating the best Daddy you could have

Posted by Katrina Dorrian on 7th June 2021 Additional Needs, Advice & Support, Disabilities

Share this article

Father’s day is coming up fast and I’m super proud of myself because this year I had the gift sorted early.

We got my hubby a BBQ tool set engraved with wee messages from me and the triplets.

It actually arrived as we were having a BBQ so Daddy got his pressie early since the kids were so excited!

The problem is, I’ll never find a gift that could actually reflect the Daddy Ryan is to our kids.

We wanted a baby for years and did three cycles of ICSI before falling pregnant with the triplets.

One of them has spina bifida, hydrocephalus, epilepsy and learning disabilities. While I was used to disabilities as someone with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and a learning disability nurse, Ryan was thrown into this world of special needs in a very “sink or swim” way!

I really couldn’t be more proud of how he’s risen to the challenge and learnt all about Jacob’s various conditions.

Having MS has also meant that Ryan ends up doing more than his fair share of the “work” involved with having triplets.

He gets up everyday without complaining so that he can carry Jacob downstairs for me since I don’t feel safe doing this anymore now he’s six and much heavier.

There are days I find it very difficult to get up due to extreme fatigue and tight muscles causing pain, so Ryan will help the kids while I sleep on for a while.

Again, he never complains.

I also get waves of fatigue during the day and sometimes despite trying really hard, I have to just give in and rest.

He never questions this and actually encourages me to go and do what I need to feel better.

The triplets look up to him so much as well.

He’s their hero and they genuinely couldn’t love him anymore.

Jacob loves that he sometimes gets “Daddy back rides” as he calls them in our back carrier.

Daddy can also push his wheelchair up the big hills or over bumpy ground etc which Jacob also completely adores since it’s opened the world up to him to explore.

What a better gift to give our special little guy.

Chloe loves that Daddy makes her laugh constantly and helps her feel safe when she’s in any situation that makes her feel uncomfortable.

As a shy and nervous child, she will literally use him as a “shield” if she wants to hide away a bit from whatever is happening.

He is literally her protector! I always smile when I watch them together.

Our other son, Ben, just thinks his Daddy hung the moon. He idolises him so much and gets really upset if he feels Ryan is cross with him at all.

They both share an interest in superhero films etc and it’s just lovely watching them together.

I don’t understand half of what they talk about, but it’s brilliant that they have a shared love of so many things.

There will never be the words to explain or a gift to show Ryan what an amazing Daddy he is to our kids, but I truly hope he knows how much I respect and love him for it.

We were married ten years on the 28th May and I honestly couldn’t wish for a better man to share this crazy adventure with.