Saturday, August 13, 2011

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

*HER PHYSICAL THERAPIST HAD HER SITTING UP!*
When you have a healthy child, you take for granted that they will roll over and crawl at 7 months, and start pulling themselves up shortly after that. Heck, most kids are WALKING by the time they're 1 year old! Ava has brought me patience. She didn't really smile until she was at least 6 months old. And she is just now starting to coo and let us know there is a little person in there. I cherish every tiny little step!
In the picture above, Ava is sitting up got the first time EVER! And she is 10 months old. Okay. So maybe she was getting some support from a boppy pillow, but SHE WAS SITTING UPRIGHT! After months and months of laying in bed or being propped up or held, Ava's Physical Therapist wrapped a Boppy pillow around her waist and she SAT THERE! When you're dealing with a brain injury, you get sooo much negativity from Dr's and other medical staff telling you "They may never do this..." or "They probably won't ever..." Ugghhh. Just a quickie 'brain injury' crash course...when the brain sustains an injury, the neurons do not get the messages where they need to go and, as a result, the muscles and (well everything) do not work like they should. Most brain injured children and adults tend to be either 'rigid/high tone' or 'floppy/low tone.' Ava has always leaned towards high tone. Today her Physical Therapist commented that, even though she was 'stiff' she was impressed with what she could do, especially since she's been in the hospital for 2 months with no therapy. She said her hands are nice and open and her feet have good flexion (sp?). She also said when she sat her up, Ava pushed down with her hands on the pillow, another good sign. She has also been tracking with her eyes quite a bit.
We have a long road ahead of us but it is evident that our Lord Jesus is with Ava! She has received so much prayer, that it is as if she has her own army of angels with her every minute of every day. I have no doubt, you can look into her beautiful little dancing eyes and just see a miracle taking place right in front of you. She wakes up each morning ready to inspire us even more! I cannot imagine what these kids have to endure, but if I die tomorrow, my life has forever been changed by this beautiful little angel.

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