By Pacie Olsen
Contributing Writer
Chelsea Penny, of Richfield, exemplifies what it means to be a mother through her experiences of raising three kids.
Penny moved to Richfield when she was four years old where she stayed through graduation. As a student at RHS, Penny was heavily involved in athletics and academics.
Participating in both basketball and softball, along with being a sterling scholar and graduating with her Business Office Specialist certification from Snow College, Penny knew she wanted to eventually raise her family in Sevier County.
While working towards a degree in Elementary Education, Penny married her high school crush, Cade, in 2003. Penny landed her first teaching position in Santa Clara, teaching 3rd grade. It was not for a few years after her career began that Penny fulfilled her dream of
becoming a mother. In 2007, Penny’s oldest son, Brecken, was born.
“I remember leaving the hospital with him, questioning myself and if I could be the mom he deserved.” Penny went on, “For me, becoming a mom for the first time was a rollercoaster of emotions. I felt overwhelming love, joy, fear, and a sense of responsibility unlike anything else.”
Despite the whirlwind of emotions that accompanied this change, Penny and her husband went on to have two more beautiful children, Braylee and Bridger. Between the births of their two oldest, the couple felt a strong pull to move their small family back to Richfield. In 2008, the stars finally aligned, and they were able to come back to Penny’s hometown before expanding their family.
As an active part of the community, many individuals are acquainted with the Penny
family, especially Bridger, Chelsea and Cade’s youngest son. After failing the hearing screening before leaving the hospital, Penny was told not to worry but to bring Bridger back to try again in a week. Over the course of the next few months, she took Bridger back to the hospital where he continuously failed the hearing test. At this point, Chelsea and Cade began to notice that Bridger was not responding to sounds like a baby usually should.
Furthermore, Bridger was falling short of the regular developmental milestones. When he was four months old, Bridger was still exhibiting newborn-like behaviors.
Over the next couple months, the Penny couple were able to set up appointments for
Bridger to meet with neurologists, audiologist, and undergo MRI and ABR tests. A month after the testing was complete, due to a lack of myelin in his imaging, Bridger was diagnosed with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease. The doctors warned the family that Bridger only had two years left to live. Doctors were not able to prove Bridger’s diagnosis of PMD, rather, he is listed as having undiagnosed leukodystrophy and is treated in the undiagnosed clinic at Primary Children’s Hospital.
Despite the doctor’s initial estimate for Bridger’s lifespan, he has rolled with the punches for 10 years now, finding ways to participate in every family adventure possible.
“The experience of raising a child with extreme disabilities has profoundly transformed me as a mother in numerous ways” Penny stated. “I have had a significant shift in perspective, with my priorities realigned… Emotionally, it’s a rollercoaster ride, marked by a spectrum of feelings ranging from grief and sadness to guilt, anger, and sometimes even moments of relief or acceptance. Yet, amidst the challenges, I have discovered reservoirs of strength and resilience I never knew I possessed. It is my deepest honor and privilege to say, ‘I am Bridger’s mom.’”
While Penny’s experiences are unique in raising a son with disabilities, the lessons she has learned are relatable for many other women. It is hard to be a mother. As such, it is important to acknowledge that it is okay to struggle as a mom. Creating a support system and practicing self-care are both factors in the equation for overcoming hardships. To celebrate the small victories and cherish the precious moments, mothers must be willing to embrace flexibility and let go of perfectionism. It is a combined effort of love, strength, and support that creates the strong force of motherhood.
“There is no ‘hood’ quite like motherhood. Move forward, move on, live in the moment and not in the past.” Penny advises, “accept that there will be days you fail as a mother, but there will also be days you win the championship.
