Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittney Orton.
Hi Brittney, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When I was a teenager, I knew that I would have a child with special needs. I didn’t know what circumstances or any of the details but something deep down was preparing me my whole life to raise my daughter Kloe. I even told my husband and my mother-in-law before we got married that raising a child with special needs would be part of my life. When we had Kloe (she was our second child) we didn’t do any testing to find anything out ahead of time so when she was born, we had a birth diagnosis of down syndrome. We were surprised but not really. I think it is interesting how preparing for something you are so sure of doesn’t make the initial shock any less. It took us a couple hour to process the information and then we were so happy but how could you not be happy when looking at a beautiful baby girl who was so happy to be here. Our first year with was a roller coaster. She was the easiest baby ever minus the feeding tube and oxygen tanks and hundreds of doctors’ appointments. We had our scary moments being airlifted to primary children’s and three surgeries before she turned one but overall, we were so in love that none of that even mattered. Kloe started living life and being a kid like everyone else but we realized that so many kids didn’t know anything about other kids with disabilities and that made them scared and mean. Even teachers who didn’t understand Kloe were afraid to teach her. Time and time again I would have my feelings hurt by the way situations were handle or by kids being mean that I decided that it was time to take a stand and do everything I could to teach kids and adults to be kind. This is where the whole idea of the book was born.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When it comes to living our life with Kloe there will always bumps in the road or obstacles that we have to work around, but no one can deny the joy she adds to our family and to everyone that she comes in contact with. She surprises us daily and can make you laugh without even saying thing.
When it comes to writing the book about her the process has been so smooth. I have loved working with Blue Balloon Books and 10/10 would recommend them. The only part that wasn’t so easy was the straw that broke the camel’s back that pushed me into finally writing the book. I had a meeting with the teacher at Kloe school, and she said some of the most hurtful things I have ever had said to me. I was so upset that I got up and left that meeting devastated and angry. I went home and told myself I needed a way to let go of the angry and so I wrote Through My Eyes in about 15 minutes. I knew so passionately what needed to be said and taught, and the rest is all history!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I wear a lot hats. I help my husband run a construction company that has been in business for over 40 years. I love working so closely with him and I am so grateful we have the kind of relationship that allows us to spend so much time together and still want to hang out at the end of the day.
I also run the Iron county Family to Family network which is under the umbrella of the Utah Parent Center which is a nonprofit organization that helps families with kids with disabilities. I am lucky enough to get to plan fun events for the kids/people with disabilities in my community and help the with any needs they might have when it comes to applying for services for their kids.
I also am now a published children’s book author! I told myself when I was trying to decide if I was going to write my book that there is no way as a mom I can tell my kids they can be anything they want to be and they can do anything if I wasn’t willing to do the same. It isn’t easy stepping out of your comfort zone and putting yourself out there but being brave is something Kloe teaches me
What matters most to you? Why?
Kindness matters most to be. It is something we can give without much effort, it doesn’t cost anything but, it can change everything for someone. I think back on my life on times when being have been kind to Kloe and because I am always hyper aware of the things going on around her, I notice when kids are being kind, and it honestly makes me tear up every time. I have noticed that my other kids are growing up different and kinder because they have a sister like Kloe. She has taught us lessons we wouldn’t learn any other way.
Pricing:
- 17.99 for a book on amazon or anywhere you can buy books
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blueballoonbooks.com
