Local family feels blessed raising child with multiple disabilities

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Danielle and Richard Holland Sr. wouldn’t change a thing about their life no matter how challenging it can be.

Two weeks before Richard “Junie” Holland Jr. was born, his parents discovered he had water on the brain.

The condition — hydrocephalus — can cause brain damage, death or no damage at all. The Mount Pleasant residents spent the two weeks leading up to birth worried about what would happen next.

“He came out screaming, which was good.” Danielle said. “The next few days we discovered something was wrong.”

A few weeks after his birth it was discovered that Junie had cerebral palsy, was blind and was developmentally disabled. As he aged, Junie developed a seizure disorder and a sensory-integration disorder.

Now 5 years old, Junie surprises his family because he can talk and bear weight — things they never thought he would be able to do.

The sensory integration disorder makes it difficult for Junie to understand sound, touch, new places and people. Something as typical as a semi-truck driving past the house can upset him.

Danielle said Junie has come a long way with the help of different forms of therapy and meeting new people that help him.

He attends Mary McGuire school and also goes to a class at CMU for children with disabilities.

“Things like our therapy cat help because the fur is fine and soft; we run his fingers through it,” Danielle said. “At first he had a temper tantrum and now he likes to pet her.”

The Hollands have three other children who they said have all been amazing when helping with Junie.

Danielle and the elder Richard said when someone has a unique life such as theirs, they have to do things a little differently, which can be a challenge.

“It can get stressful when he screams, or pinches us,” said the Hollands’ 8-year-old daughter, Erin. “Especially when we’re trying to do homework. He can distract us sometimes but I usually don’t care.”

Thomas Holland, 12, said his favorite memory of his brother was the day he was born. The Hollands’ other three children also enjoy playing with him or helping him with things like standing up, said Elizabeth Holland, 10.

On top of being a mother, Danielle is also a full-time student at CMU. She is majoring in special education and hopes to one day write a book about her experience with Richard Jr.

“These kids don’t come with manuals,” she said with a smile. “When I’m in school, I walk a fine line between being a student and parent.”

Teaching people about being empathetic is very important to Danielle and her family. There are times when people whisper or make faces at them in public, which can be demeaning, Richard Sr. and Danielle said.

“We’re not religious people, but I feel like I’m more blessed than other people in town,” Richard said. “We were chosen to do this.”