2007年NPR美国国家公共电台四月-Saying 'Thank You' to Liddie

On Friday mornings ,we bring you StoryCorps when people across the country share stories about their lives. And today two parents remember their daughter. Liddie Horsey was born with a rare genetic 1 disorder 2. It's called Cornelia de Lange Syndrome 3. It held her back developmentally. At eight years old, Liddie was still fed by her parents. She could only speak one word: Mama. At that same year she became ill and died. Here her parents Tom Horsey and Karen Manning Horsey talk about how Liddie changed their lives.

Oh, I'm so mad that we didn't take more videos now of her. You know, but who, who would know? It's so funny to look at when she first started walking. When she was 28 months, I think when she first started walking. It was over two years right now.

Right! Because they said if she didn't walk by 24 months, (that she wouldn't walk) that she wouldn't walk.

And as usual, Liddie did things on her own time schedule. And at 28 months, remember she started to walk around the coffee table? (Right, for hours and hours.) And then, all of a sudden, she started to take.She would just hold on and make circles and circles ( Yeah.) and bang things on the table. And then she started to take her steps and she was so happy. And that's when I knew that if we threw out those stupid milestone 4 books. And then Liddie would just be Liddie. And I would just be happy and rejoice in seeing every little thing she did and not to worry about those stupid books with their stupid milestones 5. Because you can't live your life measuring your child against the norm.

Thing I remember how she developed in health. She learned to walk into the classroom where right to her chair. And just sat right there, she pulled it out. She knew exactly what to do. And I don't see Liddie not speaking as a loss. Because she was so expressive 6, I mean, she was always laughing and giggling 7. And you know, it doesn't strike me as that was anything that was missing in a way. Because she was so, just active and expressive and, oh, God, she laughed so much, Jesus, you know.

And I think that's the thing I miss the most is without speaking, how her soul could fill the house, and you just knew she was there.

I could tell where she was by the sound of the word, whatever. She was being there, you know.

If you think about it, Tom. In eight years, she profoundly changed who you and I are and how we live our lives. If she was sitting here, what I would say is: Thank you for making me your mom! (Yeah) It was the greatest experience I've ever have.

Karen Manning Horsey and Thom Horsey at StoryCorps in Richmond, virginia. All StoryCorps interviews are archived at The Library of Congress. And you can subscribe 8 to the projects' podcast by going to our website NPR.org.