The bond between Christopher and his brother Alexander can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles, showing that sometimes all that’s needed for effective communication is a priceless smile.
Full-time mom Melissa Schlemmer and her husband Ryan operate a portable storage facility and have three children: 13-year-old Alexander, 11-year-old Christopher, and 6-year-old Theodore. They live in Forest Lake, Minnesota.
This family has faced extraordinary challenges, as their second son, Christopher, was born with a congenital health disorder.
He was diagnosed with PMM2-CDG, a rare metabolic disorder that can lead to severe multi-organ dysfunction.
Mrs. Schlemmer told The Epoch Times, “He struggles to fight for every achievement in his life.”
Although Christopher cannot speak, he communicates with his family using devices, with his favorite activity being listening to his mom read to him.
“There are many things in his life that he will never be able to do due to his condition,” Mrs. Schlemmer said. “He doesn’t speak, is fed through a tube, uses a wheelchair, can’t crawl, and can’t sit safely for extended periods.”
However, Mrs. Schlemmer pointed out that this young boy “has not only overcome many difficulties, but he is funny, affectionate, stubborn, manipulative, and smart,” shining bright in their lives.
“There is nothing better than going into his room in the morning and being greeted by his priceless smile,” she said, highlighting Christopher’s joyful personality. “He may not speak, but his smile communicates a lot. When he reaches out to me, I know he’s telling me more than he can say.”
Mrs. Schlemmer shared that Christopher is a source of happiness in their family life and a child who bravely faces his challenges. However, he can also be quite challenging at times.
“Christopher doesn’t always believe in himself and is hesitant to try new things,” she said. “We always tell him how brave he is, that he can do difficult things, but he gets nervous and often doesn’t want to try.”
One of Christopher’s strongest pillars of light is his brother Alexander, who has always been a source of strength and support for Christopher in difficult times.
Reflecting on the bond between their brothers, Mrs. Schlemmer said that Alexander has always been a cheerleader for Christopher, loving his brother just as he is.
“He never wants his brother to be anyone but himself,” the mom said. “He’s proud of being his brother, always pushing his brother’s wheelchair when we’re out, and I know Christopher is proud of that too.”
Alexander often climbs into his brother’s bed in the morning, and they play games together.
“Christopher likes to push Alexander away, and Alexander dramatically pretends that his brother is very strong,” the mom said.
Due to his physical limitations, Christopher must undergo high-intensity physical therapy twice a year. During his recent visit, his doctor encouraged him to practice standing. One motivating method suggested was to stand up for a family photo.
One day, as Mrs. Schlemmer helped Christopher stand up to see the height difference between him and his over 6-foot-tall brother Alexander, something magical happened.
Christopher pushed away his mother’s hands.
“Proudly, he looked up at his brother, overflowing with pride, which made my heart swell,” she said.
According to Mrs. Schlemmer, milestones in life can be different, and it is moments like this that make all the hard work worth it.
“Yes, standing up is a goal,” she said, “but more importantly, it’s his pride and confidence, and looking up to his brother. That smile makes all the effort we put in year after year worthwhile.”
As she navigates through various challenges with Christopher, she reminds herself that “this moment will one day be a memory,” helping her make the most of her time with her family.
As a mother making progress on the journey of raising a child with severe disabilities, Mrs. Schlemmer shared some advice for other struggling parents on a similar path:
“My advice is to keep going, find those who believe in your child. Find those who cheer for your child just like you do. Never give up, but it’s okay to let go— we’ve learned that along the way. The reality is, there are things our son will never accomplish, but that doesn’t mean we give up.”
Christopher has taught Mrs. Schlemmer “a lot about life and what truly matters.”
“We’re really grateful every day because we know life can change in an instant. We don’t take anything for granted, big or small. With him, life is richer, and I’m proud to be his mom,” she said. “This life may not have been what we planned, but it’s far better than we could have imagined!”
(Main image provided by Melissa Schlemmer)