Sunday Snapshot~ Will

Stephanie over at Ni Hao Y'all started spotlighting one of her children each Sunday. I have been wanting to participate and have finally pulled it together this week. This one is way longer than I imagine a snapshot is supposed to be. This is more like a portrait but I had so much to tell. Read it all...it really is an amazing story. Next time, I'll be brief:)

Our oldest son, Will had a rocky start in life. One night when I was 30 weeks pregnant with him, I was home watching ER. Dave was at a hockey game and I was enjoying some quiet time. On the show, Julianna Marguiles' character went into pre-term labor. I was so stressed for her character and I thought I too was having contractions. I called Dave and he thought I was just being a hypochondriac. I wondered if maybe I was imagining it. However, long after ER ended, my contractions were still happening. So we called the doctor and off to the hospital we went. I was indeed in pre-term labor and I remember the nurse telling me that I might have my baby that night. I was so scared. They administered breathine to stop my labor. it is a horrible medicine but it worked. I was put on strict bed rest and I had to take breathine around the clock. I loathed that medicine. It makes you feel as though you have had 5 cups of espresso!

Will's delivery was tough and he was born with a large bump in his head. Doctors told me it would go away and that newborn babies have lumps. But Will's did not go away and after a few months of my pestering, they finally sent us to a pediatric neurosurgeon. He immediately sent me and Will across the street for a CT scan. I did not even have Dave come to this appointment because I was so naive. The neurosurgeon told me to get the films and walk them back to his office immediately. At this point, I was getting nervous. He pulled me and Will into a storage closet to talk (his office was being renovated). He told me that Will had something in his skull that need to come out asap. I asked what it was and he said he had no idea. I asked if it was cancer and he said, "maybe." I told my pediatrician that I wanted a second opinion. He said, "Kim, there is no second opinion. Dr. B is the best pediatric neurosurgeon there is. People come from all over the world to see him. Do what he says." Will was about 4 months old and he was about to have head surgery.

So, we scheduled our firstborn son for neurosurgery. The mysterious lump was between the layers of his skull. So they removed a large part of Will's skull. He was in ICU one night and then in a regular room for one night. He recovered amazingly well. He sat up and said, "mama" for the first time just hours after his surgery. He was 6 months old. Here he is the day after surgery.

I have blogged briefly about Will's surgery before but I wanted to reiterate it today because he is such a miracle to me. The pathologist never completely determined what the mass in Will's skull was but it was putting pressure on his brain and he was not developing normally. He had speech issues, gross and fine motor delays, eating problems, oral motor issues, sensory integration issues, hyperactivity....you name it. He had asthma and allergies. We did early and intensive speech, oral motor, occupational and physical therapy with him. We did therapy for his sensory issues. I have spent A LOT of time in therapy offices over the years. Even as recently as a few years ago in VA, Will was still doing some therapy.

Fast forward to now. Will is amazing. He is on the Honor Roll in middle school (all A's and one high B in Math). He is in all Advanced Placement classes. His conduct grades are all excellent (this was not always the case as he was HIGH energy). He is well liked and so articulate. He is incredibly compassionate. He is often the one who asks me how I am doing or how my day is going. He is an incredible reader...sometimes reading 3 books a week (thick ones too). He is a phenomenal Lego builder and nerf gun warrior. However, those days might be coming to an end.

A few weeks ago, Will's art project was chosen for an exhibition at school. I am so proud of him. When Will was in pre-school, he refused to do the daily art projects. It was too messy for him and his sensory integration issues. Instead, his pre-school teacher did them and sent them home. I found out and asked her to stop doing them for him. For years, he did not like art and he thought he was not good at it. Until one year, at a Montessori school in Virginia, he had an art teacher named Ms. Alma. Will loved Ms. Alma and she ignited a love of art in him. She gave him such positive feedback.

I write this to remind myself of how very far God has brought Will. I write this because I know there are Moms reading this who have toddlers who are in speech, occupational or physical therapy. Maybe this will give you hope. I know there are Moms who are being told their children might have ADD. Teachers told me that for years with Will. Will does not have ADD and thankfully we never medicated him. Although I know some children do need that.

Yes, he had issues. He had a lot of them. However, with the right support, lots of prayer and faith, therapies, amazing teachers, and nutrition, he has blossomed into a calm, intelligent, artistic, funny, talkative, mature and kind hearted young man. Truly miraculous! I love you so much Will!!!!

This is Will's art project. The assignment was to make food out of toilet paper. Yes, those glazed doughnuts are TP! One of the doughnuts has a bite taken out of it. They were a big hit at the exhibition.

Taken with my I-phone.