Category Archives: Information

Genetics again – How interesting!

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During the admission earlier this year, genetics were brought in again due to something seen on an MRI Patrick had done while in hospital.

 

As most already know, Patrick was diagnosed with Meckel Syndrome.  At the time of his birth, there were no tests for this syndrome.

About 3yrs ago when Patrick had his cranial vault expansion, genetics was brought in to see if they could shed some light on what was going on with Patrick.  Was there any more or new information regarding Meckel Syndrome?  Was there anything else they could think of that could possibly be the cause of what was happening with him?

We found out then, there were now tests available for Meckel Syndrome!  I signed papers to give permission to have his blood sent for testing.  It had to be sent to the states and would take up to 3 months approximately for results to come back.

Fast forward a few months to the results of those initial tests…

There are actually 7 different tests!  Meckel Syndrome can be found on 7 different genes now.  When the results came back negative for all 7, we were quite surprised!!  This wasn’t the end though!  The Genetist was shocked on some of the results and wondered how he was going to tell us.

Apparently, 2 other damaged genes were discovered in this process.  Guess what?? Neither of these had ever been seen or documented before! Ever! Anywhere!  So we were asked to sign forms to take more blood so they could store his DNA and send it for more in depth testing and that the government would cover the cost of any and all further genetic testing for Patrick.  (It will likely take years before anyone finds anything out about these 2 new damaged genes.  We’ll be lucky if it’s in our life time)

Done!

Fast forward again to earlier this year…

As I mentioned, after an MRI during this admission, something was noticed on the scan and genetics was brought in again.

In one of the pictures from the MRI, you can see something in Patrick’s brain that looks like the shape of a tooth.  A molar tooth!

 

The Molar Tooth Sign

It’s NOT an actual tooth!!  The easiest way to describe it, is type of malformation in the brain that just LOOKS like a molar tooth, hence its name.

The molar tooth sign is a classic sign/symptom for Joubert Syndrome.

Joubert Syndrome is another rare, recessive syndrome that hasn’t been around very long, and they are still doing research to find out more about it.

 

Meckel Syndrome vs Joubert Syndrome

Both of these syndromes, as mentioned, are rare.  They are recessive as well, which means they don’t appear very often.

There is no history in either myself or Dave’s family of anything like either of these syndromes, but the genes are carried in the families and can present themselves whenever nature decides to.

*Let me just interject here, that every one of us carries thousands of bad genes!  Every one of us has a 25% chance of having a child with any of those thousands of ‘bad’ genes.  It also takes BOTH the sperm and the egg to be carrying those same genes for the syndrome or whatever to make itself known.  In other words, both the sperm and egg that created Patrick carried these particular genes.  If only one of them carried them, Patrick would likely just be a carrier and not have any issues at all.*

Research and information show both Meckel Syndrome and Joubert Syndrome ‘share’ some common genes!  And while Meckel Syndrome usually has a not so good mortality rate, Joubert’s is good!

There is continued testing being carried out for both these syndromes, and over the years, more is expected to be learned and found out about each.

The shocker from blood work taken earlier this year for genetics?  Now positive for one of the genes for Meckel Syndrome and negative for Joubert!

So what does this mean?

Patrick has the Molar Tooth Sign!  That is classic symptom for Joubert!  What do we tell doctors and everyone else who asks about this now?

The Answer is…

Patrick DOES have Meckel Syndrome!  And while so far the tests for Joubert say negative, he DOES have the classic symptom for Joubert!

Patrick has Meckel Syndrome AND Joubert symptoms!

That’s what we tell people now!

Did you get all that?  Please feel free to ask questions if you like.  It’s not the easier thing to understand for sure.

What’s been going on?

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Yes, it’s been a while since I’ve done an update.  A lot has happened in that time frame as well.  There is much to update!  I will do my best to get those posted over the next few weeks.  Thank you for your patience!

Let’s begin with where we left off; Patrick was going in for some tests and being admitted with the understanding that some procedures were going to be done.

For the sake of trying to get caught up on everything in a short time span, I will just be updating as an overview of what happened.

Patrick did end up having the upper end of one of his shunts replaced as it was blocked.  During the course of this surgery, another issue came about, in that when trying to put the bottom ends of his shunts back in his abdominal cavity, they had a difficult time on one side due to so much scar tissue on the inside of his abdomen.  When they finally thought they found a spot, a huge gush of fluid came pouring out!  There were able to catch most of it (enough to almost fill a coke can we’re told) and send it off to the lab for testing.  A nearby general surgeon was brought over to see if he would take a look inside Patrick’s abdomen to see if he could see where this fluid came from and if there was more anywhere.  He brought all his equipment, scopes etc over to Patrick’s OR room and did an exploratory basically.  He found nothing that might explain about this fluid.  He did locate and area that they could safely and easily re-insert his shunt and all was closed up and finished.

Patrick also did have a g-tube put in.  He had to have a ‘temporary’ tube in for the first 3 months till it healed, then was replaced with a ‘mickey’ which is replaced every 3-4 months now.  What a huge difference to his quality of life.  He’s been able to get his nutrition without it causing him to be any more tired than he already had been.  He has adapted well to it and asks to be hooked now.  What a trooper!

After a few weeks in hospital and getting used to the tube feeds and learning about it all, Patrick was able to go home in February, with a number of follow up appts.

Follow ups included:

Neurosurgery – usual follow up after surgery and admission

Nephrology – usual follow up for blood pressure and blood work to keep an eye on kidney function and potassium levels

Enteralfeeding – follow up for g-tube and any feeding issues

Dietition – make sure recipe for feeds was working for him, getting him all he needs to have and making sure it was balanced enough to as not to cause increases in his potassium etc…

Neurology – follow up for the seizure medication Patrick is on and how it’s working.  Since this time, we have been currently decreasing it and he is almost completely off it now!

A consult with Toronto Doctors at Sick Kids Hospital was put in as well with their plastics team for their thoughts on another cranial vault expansion .  That appointment was for Oct. 10th, 2012.  (update later)

Over the course of the next few months with follow ups and blood work it was discovered Patrick’s blood sugars were dropping within 2hrs of a feed.  They should go up.  So endocrinology was brought in as well for follow up appts and blood work.

Well, there is a start…more to come…

Thanks for your patience and everyone’s support and love for Patrick and our family!! We truly are blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives.

Thank you!

HUGS

Supportive Services = Palliative Care Team

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I had posted a bit of an update the other day on my FB status.  It was in response to a family member asking for the latest update on Patrick. Based on reactions to my status tonight, it is quite clear, not everyone saw/read it.

I apologize.  I should have posted the update IN my actual status or here on my blog.  I’ve been so tired to do any length of updating, it’s just much easier to talk to someone in person or on the phone.

Here is the update I posted the other day…

Waiting to hear from Neurology to see when the 24hr EEG will be. They have told Neurosurgery to hold off on the surgery till the seizures are managed. I left a message for Neurology this morning. Supportive Services (Palliative) called this morning and are coming to the house on Thurs to go over things etc…

Patrick is doing ok. He has bouts of animation, but still tires easily. Dietition has been in and he is needing to have 2 supplements/Ensures a day to make his caloric intake. OT is coming out this week to discuss energy conservation for him.

As the day goes on, he tires more. A nurse comes to the house 2x a week. He will get his stitches out today and will need a port flush in the next couple weeks.  (stitches came out yesterday, port flush next week)

CCAC has given me information on services I can hire to come in at night if I decide to use a PSW or Nurse to keep an eye on him through the night. If I go this route at some point, it will be a nurse coming in, not a psw.

The money I have for respite can be used to pay for that service as well. It will just take those ‘hours’ away from the girls. Im going to call VON and see if there is additional funding somewhere so I don’t have to use those funds if I decide it’s necessary to have someone come in at night.

 

I used the term most are familiar with, perhaps that was a mistake, but it has also made people realized how serious this surgery will be.  Supportive services will be supporting us leading up to, during and after the surgery.  They will also be preparing us for things in case the outcome of the surgery is not what everyone is hoping for.  No one wants to think negatively, but we do have to deal with the reality of the situation as well.  Neurosurgery thought having them involved was a good idea for this.

In all the surgeries Patrick has had, I have never once thought he would never come out.  I will maintain that thought through this one, but as I mentioned, I have to look realistically and be prepared for this one.  This is a complicated and very long surgery and one that no one, even the Doctors are looking forward to.

I have my moments with things.  I’m tired.  I miss seeing friends and family, but very much appreciate when they stop by for a visit here to see us.  It makes me feel like I’m still connected to the outside world and provides a nice distraction, even if only for a little while.

We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers everyone has been sending.  Those who have dropped meals off because there are days I’m too tired to think about cooking or remembering to take something out to cook, it’s truly appreciated! Thank you!  Our schedules have been off because of Patrick’s tiredness, so meals are not always at meal times.

Thank you everyone, I will try to keep things updated, but please don’t hesitate to call or message or come by for a visit if you’re wondering how things are and have not seen a recent update.  I am tired.

HUGS to those who need them and thanks for those sent back! :)

 

Passports for Children with Special Needs

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So…as I mentioned previously, we had passport photos taken the other day.  With the strict guidelines Passport Canada has regarding photos, I knew it would interesting.

Passport Canada has a page with general information for persons with disabilities.  You can take a look at it here. (Note:  I was quite surprised to see the address/URL for the page uses the word handicap in it.)

I’d like to know what YOU had to do, if anything, for your child(ren) with special needs to get their passport.

I called Passport Canada ahead of time to inquire what I would have/need to do if we couldn’t get a photo with his mouth completely closed.  They informed me I would have to get a letter from a Doctor explaining why.  Okay, I got on the phone with the Ped. Dentist and asked if they would help and provide a letter.  I explained the circumstances and situation and today I got a call back telling me the letter was being sent off in the mail today! THANK YOU Dr. Weinberger!! :)

During the photo taking, the photographer had asked me to remove Patrick’s glasses for the glare.  No problem, I took mine off for my photo as well.  She kept asking him to look at her or the camera, and he was, but it doesn’t look like he’s looking at you.  I told her he was and also asked if that would be an issue for their guidelines as well.  She wasn’t sure.  I called Passport Canada (PC) again and asked if there would be an issue with his eyes.  She informed me it would be up to the discretion of the individual office.  Needless to say, I’m looking at getting a letter NOW instead of later, just in case!  It also dawned on me that all children over the age of 11 have to sign their own passports, so I inquired about that as well.  Again, another letter from a Doctor is needed stating why he is not able to sign his own passport.  Patrick can write PAT, but not his full name, nor could he do it in the small space requested by them.

All of this will be worth it to know and see how much he will enjoy the trip! :)

Have you had to do anything in particular to get a passport for your child(ren) with special needs.  What do you think about the process?  Do you think they ask too much information?  Do you think all the letters are necessary?  Do you or did you have to pay for these letters?

Please share your experiences, I’d love to hear them.

Have a great evening!

Disney Planning Cont’d

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Well our numbers have decreased, but we are still going!  Flights are booked and the rest will be finalized next week, just waiting for confirmation invoices and info.

I must say I’m a little impressed with some of the information that is available on the Disney site regarding accessibility and information for multiple disability types.  I will also say, it involves ALOT of clicking to go through everything!  I’ve printed out over 60 pages of information to go over rather than having to click around and find my way back to it all.  Here are some of the pages on their site:

More clicking throughout these pages to get more detailed information is required, but these pages are a place to start.  They have printable guides for each of the parks, which when printed out, is quite small in font size.

You will read quite a bit about how you should plan ahead as much as possible, and I completely agree.  For myself, I like to be as prepared as possible, know exactly what we’re getting into and how to best organize things to make things as relaxing and enjoyable as possible for everyone.

We are fortunate enough to have both respite workers coming with us to help out.  It’s amazing how much arranging and planning you have to think about to pull a trip like this off.  I’ve been doing the bulk of it thus far with laying the ground work and making sure we will be in accomodations that will work for everyone, especially Patrick.  Mom has appreciated this very much.  It’s a little more stressful, for me anyway, having someone else do it when they don’t ‘live it’ like you do every day.  I’m sure many will agree, when it comes to things like this, you feel better knowing that the necessary things are in place to ensure a good time when you have had input.

We have a great travel agent!  Heather has contacts and has worked with the people who arrange the Sunshine Trips for the kids.  She has used those contacts to help plan our trip as well.

I would suggest, as would Heather, to make sure you double check your booking and explanations of what type of accommodations you need and are getting.  We have found Disney really needs to update their website and look at some of their terminology.  They also need to better train their agents.  Twice Heather has called to double check bookings and been given mis-information.  We had to change our accommodations this morning as the accessible room we were given at one resort was not what they told her yesterday and it didn’t work for us.  We are thankful she has been diligent and making sure everything we need is in place for us.

Medical insurance is another thing we needed to look at.  Patrick had done so well for about 6 years, but in the past year, his health has not improved back to what he was previously.  For those who don’t have coverage with other companys or through work, there are some fairly strict guidelines to go with the coverage.  It is wise to check into exactly what you are/will be covered for to make sure there are no surprises.  One of the girls has medical insurance through her work, but still needed to have the coverage added for this trip.  Basically for us, as long as Patrick doesn’t end up in the hospital or have any change in medication between now and the trip, AND it isn’t for the same reason’s he was just in for, he will be covered.  Keep your fingers crossed, because if there were to be issues, they would likely be for the same issues.  Send a few prayers up for him :)

Heather has also looked into extra luggage for us for some of the extra stuff needed to bring for Patrick, and also found out I’m able to bring the Chopper with us as long as it’s in the checked luggage.  With Patrick’s medication needing to be refridgerated and such, they are supplying a small fridge for us at no cost because it’s for medical needs.  They have arranged accessible transporation for us from the airport right to our resort and back again when we leave.

We are working on some other details while waiting for the final confirmation numbers, but things are moving along fairly well at this point.  Aside from the ‘hiccup’ with the accommodation (which has been sorted) and the particulars of the medical insurance (didn’t surprise me), we are quite happy with things so far.

Our travel time falls during a week that offers a free Dining Meal Plan, which is great, and as recommended MANY times about reserving your sit down meal as far ahead as possible as they fill up quickly, Heather will do that for us next week.

Next week is passport photos for Patrick and I, and going through the information I found and printed to see what attractions and rides are accessible, which require transfers and which one’s Patrick would be more interested in seeing.  We already know he’s very interested in Animal Kingdom, so that’s a given. :)

One more note before signing off for the night.  My sister’s SIL (sister-in-law), gave me a site to take a look at also.  They also have some great information and more photos of rooms and attractions and accessibility (Disney has very few accessible room photos, and I’ve not seen any accessible ride/attraction photos at all so far).   allears.net

It just so happens, when I shared this site with our travel agent, her contact with Sunshine Foundation, gave her the same site :)

Feel free to email any comments, suggestions/feedback.  I’ll be happy to reply.

Till next time…. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disney, here we come! Start – End!

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So this is going to be a journey in itself.  A trip from which to learn and grow from.

Patrick and I have travelled before, but only to Nova Scotia.  This trip will be much different!  A farther distance, another country, a busier place, no comforts of home so to speak.  Not having all the things that make life more accessible and easier will be interesting.

This is a family trip.  8-11 of us are going.  My mother has felt very strongly the past while about doing a family trip.  The time has come to do it and now the organizing and planning has begun.  We’ve been researching for a while, but time is flying by and things need to be put into place now.

We’ve been lucky enough to have been referred to a local travel agent who has experience with booking with the Sunshine Foundation, so we are confident she will be able to provide us with the information we need and to help us book the most accessible trip possible for us.

Already there are so many things to think about.  Accessible rooms (what’s accessible for one, isn’t necessarily for another), washroom facilities (showers etc), meals preparation, laundry facilities, extra luggage for the extra necessities needed for Patrick and also looking at what type of things Patrick will be interested in seeing and how accessible they are.  This is just a start.

It’s not just Patrick that needs to be taken into consideration as I mentioned earlier, there is a fair size group of us.  For me though, making sure we have access to the things that will make this trip more enjoyable for Patrick and I and in turn everyone else as well.

I’m thankful I will have some help, not just from family, but Mom has told me we will be bringing one of Patrick’s respite workers with us to help me/us out as well.  That gives me some relief as well.

I will be blogging about our experience(s) and how things are going with our travel plans and the actual trip as well.

If you have been to Disney World in FL and have first hand experience with travelling with a child(ren) with disabilities, I’d love to hear from you.  Perhaps we can all learn from each other on a variety of things trip and travel related.  :)

If you have any tips, suggestions or comments on anything you’ve experienced or think I should know or take into consideration, please share.  I’d love to hear from you.

For now, this is the beginning.  Passports need to be gotten for Patrick and I.  That’s another thing in itself, and the bookings will be done within the next week.  For those wondering when we are looking to travel, it’s mid to late January or early February.

Hope you enjoy following our journey, we look forward to sharing with you! :)

What is Accessibility to you?

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Wikipedia defines accessibility as the following:

“Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the “ability to access” and benefit from some system or entity. Accessibility is often used to focus on people with disabilities or special needs and their right of access to entities, often through use of assistive technology.”

The dictionary has an interesting definition of accessibility:

1. Easily approached or entered.

2. Easily obtained: accessible money.

3. Easy to talk to or get along with: an accessible manager.

4. Easily swayed or influenced: accessible to flattery.

 

Both have offered a very broad, general definition.  What does accessibility mean for you?

For many people who live with disabilities, accessibility can mean the difference between being able to get out of the house to attend to the daily chores/outings/events and things typical for many people, or NOT being able to get out or get to many places to do what many take for granted, go to work, go shopping, visiting, etc…

Accessibility means different things for different people.  We all need to have accessibility to some extent.  You may be thinking, “I don’t have a disability!”.   Disability or not, we all use things everyday that help make things ‘accessible’ to us.  Think about it.  Can you think of 3 things you use every day that help you do things and get places?

How many times have you used the automatic door openers to enter buildings?  That’s accessibility!  How many times have you chosen to take the ramp instead of a few stairs?  That’s accessibility!  Have you ever used a ‘jar gripper’ to help you open jars and other lids difficult to open?  That’s accessibility! Do the taps in your kitchen or washroom have ‘lever-like’ knobs instead of the usual ’round’ ones?  Believe it or not, that’s also accessibility!

More and more I think about how things are looking and how they will be, accessibility-wise, with regards to my son.  Where can I take him that will be accessible?  What if he wants to go places with his friends more as he continues to get older, and it’s not accessible?  My thoughts already go to even just the simplest things like going to family dinners.  Not everyone has an accessible place.  At 14yrs old, he is too big to be carrying on my own.  Even to do a 2 person lift, how many doorways are wide enough to accommodate?

1 in 7 people in ON have a disability and that number will increase as our population ages. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act was passed in 2005.  Its goal is to make Ontario accessible for people with disabilities by 2025.  Through province-wide accessibility standards, they will improve accessibility by identifying, breaking down and preventing barriers to accessibility.

In the near future, I’m going to take a look at accessible housing to begin with.  How many homes are actually accessible?  What does the market consider accessible? (Yes, it will be different for each person’s needs, but in general, their definition)  Are the accessible houses affordable for those who actually need them?

I’m also going to look at transportation.  It’s availability; it’s cost and is what’s in place working? Is it enough?

If you know someone in either of these areas that would be interested in meeting with me, discussing this and even possibly giving me a ‘guided tour’ to see what’s out there, please contact me, I’d be pleased to meet you.

I will be writing about the information I find for articles and for my blog.

Water in my brain – A Child’s Explanation

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Last year I wrote an article about Hydrocephalus for information purposes and to add to the resource guide Sylvia McGrath and I have been writing the past couple years for families/individuals who have chronic illness, learning disabilities and/or special needs.  Section One (A-I) is done, available online and in the Canadian Library Archives.

I was asked to write about it, from a childs point of view.  I chose to take the route of explaining it how I think my son would explain it to one of his friends or to another person in general.  I wrote using terminology/words that I think most would understand.

As we know with most children, there aren’t too many details when it comes to stuff like this.  Things are typically explained as much and in as little time as possible so they can continue on with whatever they were doing.

As I mentioned, since my son has Hydrocephalus, I used him to write this.  I look forward to your feedback and comments.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi, my name is Patrick, I’m 14yrs old and I have ‘water in my brain’.  In the hospital, they call it Hydrocephalus (Hi-droh-cef-a-lus).

All of our brains make ‘water’.  The doctors call it, CSF (Cerebral Spinal Fluid).  For most people, the ‘water’ gets soaked up in our bloodstream and then goes away when we go to the bathroom.

For me, the water doesn’t soak up.  It keeps collecting and fills up the spaces inside my brain called ventricles (ven-trick-culls).  When there gets to be too much water in them, I feel a lot of pressure in my head and I get bad headaches.  Sometimes my eyes go funny and sometimes I even fall asleep.

The doctors have fixed it though, so I don’t feel pressure all the time or get headaches all the time.  They put 2 shunts in my head.  A shunt is a little thing they put in my head that has a dial and some small tubes attached to it.  One tube goes from the dial into my ventricles, the other goes from the dial down into my stomach.  You can’t see them when you look at me, they are underneath my skin.  The doctors set the dials, and when the pressure in my head gets too much, the shunts ‘turn on’ and take the water out of my head.  The water gets pumped down to my stomach where it gets soaked up there instead of in my head.

I go for Cat Scans (CT’s) once a year to see how my ventricles look.  It’s a big round machine that takes pictures of your head.  You have to lay very still when they take the pictures.  It doesn’t take long at all if I don’t move.

If the pictures show my ventricles are bigger than normal, the doctor will do some other tests to make sure my shunts are working ok.  If they look ok, then I go home and come back in a year so they can see how I’m doing.

 

 

Written Oct/11 by:  Renee MacLachlan

Heroes in the home

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What is your definition of a Hero?  Do you know any Heroes?  Do you consider anyone a Hero?

Have YOU ever been called a hero?

What a way to start off this post asking so many questions.  Wait, I have more!

Are you a caregiver?  A Mom?  Do you look after a family member or friend?  If so, YOU are a Hero!

There are different definitions of a Caregiver.  Wikipedia has an interesting definition of Caregiver:

Carer (UK, NZ, Australian usage) and caregiver (US, Canadian usage) are words normally used to refer to unpaid relatives or friends of a disabled individual who help that individual with his or her activities of daily living.

The words may be prefixed with “family” “spousal”, “child” to distinguish between different care situations, and also to distinguish them definitively from the paid version of a caregiver, a Personal Care Assistant or Personal Care Attendant (PCA). Around half of all carers are effectively excluded from other, paid employment through the heavy demands and responsibilities of caring for a vulnerable relative or friend. The term “carer” may also be used to refer to a paid, employed, contracted PCA.

The general term dependant care (i.e., care of a dependant) is also used for the provided help.[1] Terms such as “voluntary caregiver” and “informal carer” are also used occasionally, but these terms have been criticized by carers as misnomers because they are perceived as belittling the huge impact that caring may have on an individual’s life, the lack of realistic alternatives, and the degree of perceived duty of care felt by many relatives.

More recently, Carers UK has defined carers as people who “provide unpaid care by looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner”. Adults who act as carers for both their children and their parents are frequently called the Sandwich generation.

A general definition of a carer/caregiver is someone who is responsible for the care of someone who is mentally ill, mentally handicapped, physically disabled or whose health is impaired by sickness or old age. To help caregivers understand the role they have taken on, “Next Step in Care”[2] outlines the following:

You are a caregiver if you:

  • Take care of someone who has a chronic illness or disease.
  • Manage medications or talk to doctors and nurses on someone’s behalf.
  • Help bathe or dress someone who is frail or disabled.
  • Take care of household chores, meals, or bills for someone who cannot do these things alone.[3]
It’s my Duty Isn’t it?

With an increasingly aging population in all developed societies, the role of carer has been increasingly recognized as an important one, both functionally and economically. Many organizations which provide support for persons with disabilities have developed various forms of support for carers as well.

What is YOUR description of a Caregiver?

As caregivers, I don’t think we give much thought to what we do.  We just do it.  It’s natural, it’s what we do.  We become masters of multi-tasking, juggling appointments, preparing lunches and making meals, transportation, cleaning, laundry and more.  We are teachers, doctors, nurses, chefs, handyperson’s, therapists, advocates/speakers, to name a few, all wrapped into one.

When was the last time someone complimented you on everything you do?  When was the last time someone thanked you for all you do?

When was the last time someone called YOU a Hero?

It’s not always easy or comfortable to hear those words, because to us it’s what we do all the time.  It’s our life!   It’s still feels good to hear them though, when we do.

Often people ask me; ‘How do you do it?’  My response of course is, ‘Do what?’  They reply;  ‘Do everything you do with/for your son, and all the things you are involved in.’  What is our usual reply to a scenario like this?  This is my life, I just do it.  Just like you do everything you do in your life and for those around you.

Being Mom to a child with disabilities, we face challenges that many others don’t have.  We all have different challenges in life we go through, but some are more specific, I’m sure you understandwhat I mean.  I hope you do.  We don’t look for pity.  We don’t want you feeling sorry for us and all we go through.  We are proud, just like you!   It’s difficult for many of us to ask for help and/or support for whatever it is we might need.  Although there are days we think we must be superman, we know we aren’t.  It’s tough for us to take time for ourselves, but we learn, slowly and it’s something I don’t think any of us perfect.

A week or two ago, one of my son’s workers asked my permission to nominate me for an award through CCAC (Community Care Access Centre).  I wasn’t sure what it was about or for, but she needed my permission to submit my name.  Since things have been so busy with Patrick the past month, all I got was that it had something to do with being a caregiver.  I gave my permission and honestly didn’t think about it again, till this past Friday when I received a letter in the mail from CCAC.

An initiative of South West CCAC and the healthline.ca

Congratultions!

We are pleased to inform you that Michelle S. has nominated you for a

HEROES IN THE HOME Caregiver Recognition Award!

There is a special celebration  on October 20th to receive this award.

WOW!  How sweet of Michelle to think so much about me to feel I would give justice to and deserve this recognition.   I really am blessed!  The girls who come work here, love working for/with Patrick and I.  We become like family and care for and about each other.

How amazing someone thinks of me as a Hero!  It’s an indescribeable feeling.  I’m just me after all, always am, have been and always will be.

I am very grateful for everyone in our life who loves and supports us.  I am grateful for all the things, whether big or small that anyone does with and for us. I often wonder how I could ever repay everyone for all the kindness, love, support etc that they have shown us.  It truly is overwhelming some days and I don’t think I could find enough words to express it.

For tonight though, I will say thank you!  Thank you to all of you!  May you know you are loved and thought of fondly often.

For tonight, I will check on Patrick before I crawl into my bed, and fall asleep knowing that someone thinks I’m a Hero.  And I will let myself have warm fuzzy feelings, even if it’s for a short time because tomorrow I will wake up and do it all over again.

Let me leave you with one more thought…

YOU are a Hero too!! 

Update 6 – one of those appointments

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It’s been a few days since I’ve done an  update.  I’m so tired when I get home in the evening and getting up so early in the morning.  I’ve been setting my alarm for 530am so I can get used to being up when he goes back to school.  I’m at the hospital just after 730am and I try to be back home around 8pm as long as nothing is going on.

At the last update, we were waiting for the new valves to come in so they could get into surgery and fix them.  We did go home for the long weekend.  Patrick did alright, nothing major to warrant an earlier return to the hospital and thankfully didn’t need to give him any codeine over the weekend either. :)

Tuesday afternoon we went back to the hospital to get admitted again.  The valves arrived Tuesday and surgery was Wednesday, first one in the morning.

I’m going to try not to go into too much details, I know for some it is over-whelming and difficult to understand.  If there are ever any questions about anything I have written, please feel free to email/comment and ask.  I will happily answer.

Surgery Wednesday morning went well.  They took the full 3hrs and a tad more.  Both valves were replaced as well as the upper end of both shunts.  Testing during the surgery indicated no issues with the bottom ends.  At the upper end, the left was blocked/plugged and the right was likely partially plugged as it was quite slow, hence both got replaced.

Both shunts are set at 60, where they had been set for the past 6-7 years.  For those interested, the settings range from around 30 – 300.  The lower the number, the more it allows the shunts to drain the ventricles.

Patrick came out of sedation and recovery quickly.  They were actually paging us throughout the hospital to get us to go back to post-op.  We didn’t hear the page even though we were just in the hallway talking to Dr. Ranger.  We went in and were able to get him calmed down.  The nurses were amazed apparently at how well we communicated and got him settled.  They said they were getting alot of ‘no’s’ and didn’t know what he was saying.  Understandable.

The days following surgery have been up and down.  A CT was done Friday morning.  Results were that the ventricles were a ‘little’ smaller, but still generous in size.  They were heading in the right direction.

Friday afternoon, Patrick started to become symptomatic again.  Lethargic, uncomfortable, fidgety, head pain, slow responding and there was ‘swelling’ at the shunt sites.  The swelling is actually fluid, not swelling.  He was having times of alertness, smiling and such, but then would go down and have the aforementioned symptoms.  He had slight elevated temps on Friday, but none since.  His vitals have been good, blood pressure, temps etc…  Saturday he began having longer periods of lethargicness and periodically breaking out in rashes.  His chest was sounding crackly and a bit rough with a phlegmy cough.

Too make a long story short, as a result of how he’s been this weekend, another CT has been ordered for today.  We’ll see what the CT shows, pharmacy is looking into how his meds are made up and what’s in them to see if that might be the cause for the rashes (they don’t think so), we’ll see what Dr. Ranger says tomorrow (she’s going to scratch her head again and sigh wondering why this is happening when he has 2 new, great working shunts).

It’s frustrating when people (Dr’s/Residents etc.) come to see your child who have never seen them before and think that because what’s happening isn’t “typical” or “by the books”, that it’s probably nothing serious and to ‘give it time’.

It’s frustrating when explaining to them about your child and they look at you as if you are reaching for ideas and/or looking for something to be wrong, when in fact you are trying to tell them what IS typical/normal for your child!

It’s frustrating when they talk to you as if you know nothing and can’t understand what they are saying/explaining!

Thankfully, this afternoon the adult Neurosurgery Team Resident that came, remembered Patrick from last fall and all that happened there.  He remembered seeing Patrick a couple times and hearing about his case.  I think Southwestern ON heard about him!  He said it was quite the interesting case.  I’m thankful he listened to us and understood what we were saying and explaining and didn’t try to brush things off or us off.

I’m glad that I am a great advocate for my son.  I ask questions until I get answers I’m satisfied with and understand.  I work with the Dr’s/Nurses to decide what the best plan of action should be.  I keep them informed and help out as much as possible.

I know things will get sorted with Patrick this week.  Until last fall, he had gone 6yrs or so with no pressure issues, and now if this is what’s happening again, we aren’t even a year yet since the last.  I’m hoping this isn’t a sign of things to come.

I’m going to post a Poll asking your thoughts on Doctor/Nurse – Patient/Family Communication and how you feel about it based on personal experience.  I’m quite curious.  I hope you will take a quick minute to answer it.

Thanks to everyone for their continued thoughts and prayers for Patrick.  Again, it is truly appreciated.

Patrick asked for Bruiser to come visit him tomorrow.  I have given Bruiser a bath tonight and will confirm with the Nurses it’s ok to bring his dog up to see him again tomorrow.

Patrick didn’t want me to leave tonight.  I told him I had to pack up some things for him and to bathe Bruiser if he wanted to see him tomorrow.  He seemed ok with that.  Dave, Patrick’s father has been staying the night at the hospital so I can go home and sleep.  He has been up since the week of his Shunt-o-gram and likely will not leave until Patrick is ok and able to come home.  If Dave wasn’t up here, I’d be at the hospital 24/7.  Someone needs to be there all the time.  It’s mandatory in most cases.

I appologize if I seem all over the place here, I’m tired and heading to bed.

More to come…