Plase sign this petition for the Epilepsy Foundation.
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org

I am the mother of three Angels.Gabriel is my first. He is the one of who is making me get my butt up every morning and get the day started. Gabriel is one of the most amazing miracles ever! He is a stroke survivor. Days after he was born, I was given the list of things of things I shouldn't expect Gabriel to do. I was told he wouldn't be able to have much use of his left side.The Doctor said he probably wasn't going to walk and if he eventually did it would be with a limp or a walker.I wastold he wouldn't be able to talk or follow two step directions. After the feeding tube was removed I realized that since half of his body didn't work he wasn't able feed at the breast, I decided to pump.
After a week of tests, EEG's, a spinal tap, blood tests, Scans, IV's in his wrist, ankle, head, and a feeding tube, we went home-wire free-to welcome my beautiful nine pound 15 ounce baby boy along with a Speech, Physical, and Occupational therapist!
He was on Phenobarbital for six months to keep his seizures under control. He had been seizuring since I was about eight months pregnant but when I brought it up to my midwives they said that it was impossible and that it was hiccups or gas. When I told her it was a different sensation she just shrugged her shoulders.
We had about two EEG's a month for the first six months. Physically his left side didn't do anything. I had to position his arm up because he didn't have the control to move it. When he was three months old as he lay on the floor with a baby gym and I pump he reached up for a toy with his left hand/arm for the first time.
I prayed that the damaaged part had repaired itself.
Months passed and a few more EEG's and we were ok'd to ween him off the phenobarb. It was around Christmas when he was finally drug-free. Hewas six months and rolled over for the first time, he started crawling at eight months, When he was twelve months he could name 11 shapes and his colors and he was thirteen months when he took his first steps-right on target! We said good bye to his PT and OT but still hung on to speech. Potty training was simple and completed in a week when he was 24 months.
Since Gabes birth I was told by his pediatrician that I shouldn't work because he didn't want Gabriel in daycare but I couldn't prolong it anymore and my savings was running out-I don't know how, I suck at budgeting! He was eighteen months old when I found a sitter I thought I could trust. She was taking care of a police officers son who also had a stroke and allowed therapists in her home so other than asking a million questions and checking out every nook and cranny in her house I thought it was ok.
For a week I picked himup and it looked like he had been crying for hours, diapers were not changed, milk and juice was not offered, and corn starch that was meant for diaper rash was mixed as formula-he was 18 months old and didn't use formula. I told her I wasn't bringing him back. And made a call to the state.
I regret putting my son in that neglectful sitters care. He is now on his third sitter (the second was a center and also had a complaint called into the state) and he hates to leave her house when it's time to leave.
Going back to his milestones. He is tested regularly for his developement. In May he was in he 97% for four year olds cognitively. Physically he is on target. He can tie his shoes, do all kinds of recitations, he can name countries and continents on a map of the world, and I just took his training wheels off his bike yesterday (4 Years 3 months).
He starts school in a week and he can't wait. I would like to put him in kindergarten but he is only four.
As for my other two Angels, Serephim got her wings March 7th, 2008 and Ella August 18, 2008. I hope never to forget them and hope they may come to visit again.
Rest in Peace my little Angels.










http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAgfA9MZfVM

Hey sweetie, how are you? I have not talked to you in a while, so I thought I would check in with ya!!!