reintroduction Deb and Allison

[cariaad]

I keep forgetting this new forum is here. Ive spent some time trying to get caught up meeting all the new posters and thought i might take a moment to reintroduce myself since i cant keep up with meeting everyone individually.

I'm Deb and Allison is my amazing 24 week micro preemie. She is going to be 7 at the end of August and i still cant believe it. She will be starting 1st grade in Sept!

Allison has had a trach most of her life. She has been decanned 3 times by plan (several unplanned as well!) but she always ends up needing it in again so we have just decided to keep it in and let her have a chance to grow. Her larnyx isnt growing and she is just a small kiddo, altho no longetr the smallest in her class!

She has asthma, BPD, allergies, GERD, g tube, missing her cerebellum, M.R., C.P., legally blind (but she sees quite well with the vision she has), she was IUGR and FTT, gosh there's probably something Im leaving out, but she is so much more than the sum of her diagnoses! I'm happy to see so many new faces finding us at the trach board. It has been a true life line for me and Mike (DH). Welcme to all the newbies I havent been able to greet individually!
Deb
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v322/cariaad/day2.jpg
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[Mom2TwinsPlus1]

Glad you posted this Deb. I had no idea Ali was legally blind. Hmmm I guess it just goes to show you how well I pay attention. Thanks for sharing your beautiful daughter with us, she is a miracle

[Isaac'sMomandDad]

Deb, she is just an amazing little girl, and a really wonderful example about how kids are "more than the sum or her diagnoses. Thank you for sharing her story!!

Lara

[Lifeisgood]

Deb,

I agree, Allison is amazing. And so are you!

Thanks for sharing,
Christy

[cariaad]

Thanks, but Alli is the amazing one! I forgot to add she is now "officially" ADHD and the medication she takes (Adderall) is working wonders. Her attention span has gone from 5 minutes to 30 minutes and she is learning stuff pretty much at pace with her grade level peers. We are so glad we finally got her treated for this her ped is very cautious about these medications and we went thru a lot of blood lab work to rule out any other factors first. And the super duperest news is that since spring break she has been out of pull-ups...miracles DO happen LOL! Deb