A gift from heaven, I was born December 16, 2004. My birth was traumatic and because the cord was around my neck, I was not breathing at birth. My parents would soon learn about the severe injury to my brain. They first were told that I was blind and had multiple health challenges. A year later they were told I had Cerebral Palsy and may never walk.
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Laughing as usual! |
But they knew I was their
miracle. They
picked me up, hugged me, and told me that we could do this together,
and we have! We've traveled coast to coast seeking ways for
my brain to heal and rebuild damaged pathways. We learn new
therapies. Daily, my mom, dad, family, friends and volunteers commit
hours administering my intensive physical, intellectual and nutrition
programs.
It
takes a tremendous amount of love, time, energy, determination, prayer and financial resources supporting my needs.
My
progress is simply because so many amazing people love and believe
in me, and have helped me in my continuous quest for sight and
mobility.
My
special needs have provided a challenge which
has been met unconditionally through endless research, implementation
and hope. Daily, instrumental volunteers visit my home
assisting my parents with patterning and various therapies utilizing
an incline floor, respiratory vest and gravity-free harness from
Italy, daily respiratory therapy and more.
Visits
to the Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential, Philadelphia,
PA (www.iahp.org), introduced
my parents to fields of child brain development. My
progress includes a bunny hop crawl, vocabulary of about 10 words
and increased vision - though still very limited.
We
have traveled to San Rafael, CA, and across
Oregon where we were introduced to gentle, innovative
techniques helping my brain form new neurological connections
and patterns taking me beyond my limitations. Recent progress
includes greater use of my right arm and hand, and therapies
engaging my lower back and stomach muscles.
I
have recently been accepted into Duke University (www.pediatrics.duke.edu)
study on children with Cerebral Palsy, which includes an infusion
of my own cord blood stem cells (my parents banked my cord blood
when I was born -- how cool is that!). I am so
excited about the possibilities. With hope and prayers, my parents
are optimistic this will be all I need to get started down the
road to healing, recovery and improved vision.
Other
children like me who have been to Duke, have benefited by showing
marked improvement, better focus and vision; some within 5 days
after the treatment, which takes less than an hour. Just
last year, a little boy with CP started talking and walking within
a week or two of his infusion. I can hardly wait to get
there! I really want to be able to talk, walk and run like
the other kids at pre-school.
Much
has yet to be learned about what stem cell infusion can do
for disease and disabilities. What we do know is that stem
cells obtained from cord blood, at the live birth of an infant,
are an exact genetic match to that child and have the greatest
potential to heal.
Because
of the severity of my brain injury if, after a year or two, I
have reached my maximum potential with the help of the Duke infusion,
research shows that a future visit to China for donor cord blood
stem cells and intensive therapy, may continue my healing and
developmental progress.
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My family |
Meeting
my special needs is a challenge my parents have embraced. Not
alone, however. Only
with the dedication of time, energy and financial resources from
family, friends, businesses and community efforts am I realizing
my potential.
Cuddling
and hugging are my very favorite and make the difficulties in
my world better. I am very loved. Laughing, smiling and hugs
bring lots of joy and smiles to those who touch my life. My traumatic
birth created many obstacles for me. At
4 years old, I get frustrated because I cannot walk, talk, ride
a bike, run on the playground, or even dress myself - although
I do a pretty good job of undressing myself....
Stem
cells are banked in case they are needed for a life-saving procedure,
but for me, it could be life-changing.
If
you want to learn more about my infectious spirit and determination
or join those who have committed time, energy, prayers, and/or
financial resources in my quest for healing, sight & mobility,
please contact my parents or go to How
Can I Help? and join me on my journey...
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