"Beautiful In My EYES"
When I started this, I asked people to nominate people. I had so many people nominate Matissa Moorer for being a great mother to her disabled daughter Kerstin. (Please read some at the end of the interview)
Me: Tell a little about yourself.
Matissa Moorer: I am a single parent to my daughter, Kerstin. I was employed as her paraprofessional/aid until my employment was terminated in May. I had been her aid from day one of her starting school, I still do it, just unpaid. I attend school with her everyday that she's able to attend. Before I started going to school with her, I was employed full time but, because she has so many needs, I knew I had to be there with her to fully care for her and make sure she was included with peers of her age.
Me:When you were pregnant did the doctor ever detect something maybe wrong?
Matissa Moorer There were venous leaks on an ultrasound. Later I was told that there was the possibility that my daughter may have had a stroke while I was pregnant. Later an MRI showed a brain deformity and delayed growth.
Me:When did you notice or find out something was wrong with you daughter?
Matissa Moorer : Around six months, after reading a "what to expect" book and Kerstin had not reached any of the milestones. She was not holding her head up and just not where books and charts said she should have been.
Matissa Moorer : Around six months, after reading a "what to expect" book and Kerstin had not reached any of the milestones. She was not holding her head up and just not where books and charts said she should have been.
Me: Tell us about your sweet daughter.
Matissa Moorer Kerstin is my earthly angel. Because of my daughter, her diagnoses (Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Scoliosis...), I've grown more considerate of others, I have been able to learn about things I had never given a thought to.
Matissa Moorer Kerstin is my earthly angel. Because of my daughter, her diagnoses (Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Scoliosis...), I've grown more considerate of others, I have been able to learn about things I had never given a thought to.
Kerstin loves the colors pink and purple, she loves music, going to the movies and Target. She is a well loved girl, she has yet to not make people she's come in contact with her, love her. She's a happy child!
Me: I understand that on this upcoming Monday, November 4, 2013, your daughter will be undergoing surgery?
Matissa Moorer Yes, Kerstin will have a spinal fusion at Children's Hospital. She will have rods and screws placed in her back because of her scoliosis. She is expected to be in the hospital at least one week, maybe longer. This will be her third surgery this year.
Me:When I posted my post of nominating a parent of a disabled child, I had so many people nominate you and say so many great things about you. What do you have to say about that?
Matissa Moorer: I'm honored! I had no idea! I thank them! I can not wait to see what has been said. I feel blessed that people really admire the things I do for my daughter. I just want to make sure that she has a life that is not so far from one she would have had, had there been no Cerebral Palsy!
Matissa & Kerstin has to travel back and forth to Birmingham for doctor visits, so any donation can help. Please follow the link below.
If you would like to keep up with Kerstin on the blog that her mother Matissa, please follow the link below:
My blog is: Life: Just a mom raising a child with "special needs": http://cpaware.blogspot.com/
I was just informed that you are seeking nominations for a photo shoot between a parent and a child with a disability. I would like to nominate my sister, Mattisa Moorer, and my niece, Kerstin Sanders. My niece, Kerstin, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at six months of age. When she began attending school at fours years old, my sister quit her job of five years so that she could attend school with Kerstin; she is now in the sixth grade and Mattisa has gone to school with her every day that she could attend. While advocating for my niece, Mattisa has taken advantage of every opportunity to not only become a fierce advocate for Kerstin, but for all children with disabilities. She actively attends the local school board meetings, and presses for systemic changes that make the local schools more accessible for persons with disabilities.
Next Monday, Kerstin will undergo her third surgery this year. Once she recovers, I think this photo session will be a much needed "smile session" for both Kerstin and Mattisa.
Thank you for the opportunity to nominate them!
~Regina
I nominate Mattisa Moorer. Mattisa is the mother of Kerstin. She suffers from cerebral palsy. Kiersten has undergone several surgeries in the last couple months and still has a couple more to go. Mattisa is a wonderful mother who fights not only for Kerstin but for all children with disabilities. If anybody deserves this, she does.
~Kingaita
Good morning Ma'am. I would love to nominate my classmate Mattisa Moorer. She is a 35 year old single mother with an eleven year old disabled daughter names Kerstin. Just a little background on Mattisa. She's an advocate for her daughter as well as other people with disabilities. She is one of the strongest women I've known. Kerstin will be having her third surgery this year on Monday. Mattisa recently raised the awareness of how important it is continually maintain accessibility for wheelchair bound people. She made a plea to the central office staff in Lowndes County. Her plea was left unrecognized. She then wrote a letter to the newspaper there bringing it to full view for the public. Then and only then did the Central office staff fix the recommendations at Hayneville Middle School in September 2013. Mattisa has also been her own advocate in raising money necessary to cover the financial cost of Kerstin's surgery. She has also started a blog to share her trials to help encourage others facing the same issues.Mattisa, my classmate rocks and she has been a rock for those who do not have a voice. On this day I nominate my friend, my classmate, a mother with a disabled child.
~Angela Derrico-Humphrey
Matissa Moorer: I'm honored! I had no idea! I thank them! I can not wait to see what has been said. I feel blessed that people really admire the things I do for my daughter. I just want to make sure that she has a life that is not so far from one she would have had, had there been no Cerebral Palsy!
Me: Many people will read your story, other parents who has a child with cerebral palsy or another disability, as strong woman and mother what advice can you give to all mothers?
Matissa Moorer: Never give up on your child(ren), support them, know your rights as their parent(s), know their rights. Never ever settle for less. Be your child's voice! Know that it won't be easy but it is worth it when your child smiles at you because they love you and know that you love them!
Matissa Moorer: Never give up on your child(ren), support them, know your rights as their parent(s), know their rights. Never ever settle for less. Be your child's voice! Know that it won't be easy but it is worth it when your child smiles at you because they love you and know that you love them!
Matissa & Kerstin has to travel back and forth to Birmingham for doctor visits, so any donation can help. Please follow the link below.
Kerstin's GoFundMe account can be found here: http://www.gofundme.com/4ctrjc
If you would like to keep up with Kerstin on the blog that her mother Matissa, please follow the link below:
My blog is: Life: Just a mom raising a child with "special needs": http://cpaware.blogspot.com/
Just a few of the people who nominated Matissa below:
I would like to nominate a special needs mother. Her name Matissa Moorer. She is the mother of beautiful little girl with CP who is about to have her third surgery next month. She is an outstanding mother who has endured so much over the years. But through it all and by God's grace she has made. Thanks for your time and all that you do.
Thanks,
LaFonda
-I would like to nominate a special needs mother. Her name Matissa Moorer. She is the mother of beautiful little girl with CP who is about to have her third surgery next month. She is an outstanding mother who has endured so much over the years. But through it all and by God's grace she has made. Thanks for your time and all that you do.
~LaFonda
I would like to nominate a special needs mother. Her name Matissa Moorer. She is the mother of beautiful little girl with CP who is about to have her third surgery next month. She is an outstanding mother who has endured so much over the years. But through it all and by God's grace she has made. Thanks for your time and all that you do.
Thanks,
LaFonda
-I would like to nominate a special needs mother. Her name Matissa Moorer. She is the mother of beautiful little girl with CP who is about to have her third surgery next month. She is an outstanding mother who has endured so much over the years. But through it all and by God's grace she has made. Thanks for your time and all that you do.
~LaFonda
I was just informed that you are seeking nominations for a photo shoot between a parent and a child with a disability. I would like to nominate my sister, Mattisa Moorer, and my niece, Kerstin Sanders. My niece, Kerstin, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at six months of age. When she began attending school at fours years old, my sister quit her job of five years so that she could attend school with Kerstin; she is now in the sixth grade and Mattisa has gone to school with her every day that she could attend. While advocating for my niece, Mattisa has taken advantage of every opportunity to not only become a fierce advocate for Kerstin, but for all children with disabilities. She actively attends the local school board meetings, and presses for systemic changes that make the local schools more accessible for persons with disabilities.
Next Monday, Kerstin will undergo her third surgery this year. Once she recovers, I think this photo session will be a much needed "smile session" for both Kerstin and Mattisa.
Thank you for the opportunity to nominate them!
~Regina
I nominate Mattisa Moorer. Mattisa is the mother of Kerstin. She suffers from cerebral palsy. Kiersten has undergone several surgeries in the last couple months and still has a couple more to go. Mattisa is a wonderful mother who fights not only for Kerstin but for all children with disabilities. If anybody deserves this, she does.
~Kingaita
Good morning Ma'am. I would love to nominate my classmate Mattisa Moorer. She is a 35 year old single mother with an eleven year old disabled daughter names Kerstin. Just a little background on Mattisa. She's an advocate for her daughter as well as other people with disabilities. She is one of the strongest women I've known. Kerstin will be having her third surgery this year on Monday. Mattisa recently raised the awareness of how important it is continually maintain accessibility for wheelchair bound people. She made a plea to the central office staff in Lowndes County. Her plea was left unrecognized. She then wrote a letter to the newspaper there bringing it to full view for the public. Then and only then did the Central office staff fix the recommendations at Hayneville Middle School in September 2013. Mattisa has also been her own advocate in raising money necessary to cover the financial cost of Kerstin's surgery. She has also started a blog to share her trials to help encourage others facing the same issues.Mattisa, my classmate rocks and she has been a rock for those who do not have a voice. On this day I nominate my friend, my classmate, a mother with a disabled child.
~Angela Derrico-Humphrey
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