It was important to Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) that his entire family was by his side as he was sworn in for his first term in the U.S. Senate in January.
That includes his wife, Jaime, and their three children: Stephen, Sophia, and Olivia. The idea makes sense on its face. Who wouldn’t want their family with them on such a momentous occasion? But for the soon-to-be senator, having Stephen there took on greater significance.“It’s impossible to overstate the impact he's had on my whole life, worldview, motivation, everything,” Schmitt said of his son in an interview with the Washington Examiner.
The dermatologist said she was concerned Stephen could have tuberous sclerosis and referred the Schmitts to a neurologist who confirmed the diagnosis. MRIs revealed that Stephen had tumors on his heart, kidneys, and brain, the latter of which Schmitt said his son had been most affected by. Stephen also has autism and is nonverbal.
“Your ego never gets too big, you really appreciate things. I think that it's easy to take for granted, even just our ability to communicate,” Schmitt said of having an immediate family member with severe medical challenges. “Stephen has certainly made me a better person, but anybody that he comes in contact with, he has an impact on. He doesn’t have any words, but his impact speaks for itself.
“Many Missourians living with a disability who are under the care of a parent or guardian will need some form of support for the rest of their lives,” he said of the effort in a statement at the time. “Caring for someone with a special need requires love and patience – and also resources. I’ve known families who have spent every resource they had, and borrowed even more, to care for a child or to reach for the dream of a breakthrough that allows them to overcome their disability.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sen. Bernie Sanders to address UAW strike rally in Detroit after slamming automakers for 'corporate greed'Sanders has promoted the strikes as a pivotal moment in a broader campaign to raise living standards for working people across the U.S.
Read more »
Letters to the Editor — Sen. Tan Parker, death penalty, college football, the EATS ActLetters to the Editor
Read more »
Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Fellow Democrats Call for Senate Probe of Elon Musk Over Starlink DecisionSee multiple perspectives from The Hill, Bloomberg, and Newsmax (News) at AllSides.com.
Read more »
2024 Watch: Sen. Tim Scott on his relationship status - 'I’m dating a lovely Christian girl'GOP presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, asked about his relationship status, tells a crowd of Iowa evangelical voters that he's 'dating a lovely Christian girl'
Read more »