My little boy amazes me every single day. I love that when I look back at just a few weeks ago (let alone months ago), I can see all these incredible improvements. Many of which the "professionals" told us he may never be able to do. Abram has a serious knack for proving people wrong. We have Cannabis Oil to thank for much of it in addition to the hard work he puts in every single week at therapy with his Occupational, Feeding and Speech Therapists. We are lucky to have accumulated an amazing team of therapists and SCL/Respite providers who work with our family to give him the best life possible, as well. If you are reading this - Thank You. When our Neurologist first told us about cannabidiol, it was in regards to how shocked he was at how well some of his other kids were doing. I remember him telling me specifically about one child who came in walking and talking when before they were unable to talk or willfully be examined. When I heard him say that cannabis helped a child gain the ability to talk on TOP of having the ability to gain control over his seizures - my heart got hopeful. It took me months to decide on trying it, despite the numerous times that it was brought up. I was nervous. And scared. But if you know us or have read this Blog, you know how Abram has suffered. You know how many doctors have told us incorrect diagnoses including one Neurologist who told us he was "fine", an Orthopaedic Surgeon who told us he may never walk and a Pediatrician who missed absolutely everything about my son's health issues for the first 10 months of his life. Before Cannabis Oil:
After Cannabis Oil:
He hasn't gained his words back (he had Mama, Papa and Cat before March), but he is making new sounds all the time and is working incredibly hard for his Speech Therapists. Seizures stole his words but they didn't steal his determination and his inane desire to prove everyone wrong and do all the things he sets his mind to.
It has officially been a year since Abram was officially diagnosed with Epilepsy. I had no idea what the next 365 days would bring us. But here we are! It only took five MRIs, five EEGs, four long hospital stays, four Neurologists, four Neurosurgeons, four world-reknown skull based surgeons, three Epileptologists, three VEEGs, three sleep medicine doctors, two Nephrologists, two Endocrinologists, two ENTs, two Genetic Counselors, two Pediatric Development Specialists, one Craniofacial Surgeon and one Ambulance Ride. But today, I can say "My son is 127 days seizure free, today!" I realize that as he grows our need for stronger medicine will most likely rise - which is why I am fighting for changes in our laws. If you live in Iowa and have been touched by our story, please write to our Legislators! I also encourage you to write to our US Congress by writing to your Senators and your Representatives! Help spread the positive message that Cannabis IS Medicine. Yesterday Tracy and I took Abram to his one-year appointment with his new Pediatrician. His exam was longer and more thorough than all of our previous pediatrician's exams altogether. In fact, if it weren't for us meeting his new Pediatrician via a life-changing happenstance of a walk-in clinic, our son would not be on the road to getting the help he needs as he was the man who referred us to a Neurologist the first time he laid eyes on Abram and asked immediately "what's wrong with his eyes" the moment he walked in the door. This was especially impressive considering Abram's old doctor never noticed any of the issues that seemed to be quite obvious to everyone but him!
We didn't get any new mind-blowing crushing news yesterday so that was quite wonderful and our new Pediatrician is even referring us to Orthopedics to see if they can be of any assistance with Abram's Hypotonia issues. He seemed to think that the Neurologist could guide us on the Hypotonia but he had previously stated (as did the brain surgeon) that there was nothing in there to indicate that the brain was causing it, so I don't quite know where we go from here to figure out that part of the puzzle. I have since joined a Support Group for Parents of Kids with Hypotonia and the consensus seemed to be that most parents have no clue why their kids have it and a lot of them have put their kids through muscle biopsies, spinal taps and genetic testing. However, it seemed that regardless of the outcome that the answer was Therapy so I am hoping that Abram can work himself out of it to at least be able to walk before he turns two. Abram was also just fitted for foot braces this week as well. We picked him out some super cute Dinosaur foot braces with black straps and he will get a sweet pair of New Balances as well so that's cool. He'll have to wear certain kinds of footwear to allow for the brace to fit into the shoes. I'm a little nervous about forcing a kid with SPD issues to wear socks, foot braces and shoes all the time because as of right now, Abram can't even handle wearing socks! Hopefully we can work through it or he can get used to it, I hope? So yes, that is where we are for now. Still waiting on Approval for our High Contrast MRI which will tell us if his cyst is benign or not. The Brain Surgeon we sought consult from stated that it was just a cyst and that he could tell from his scans but the local doctors feel confident that a second MRI will give us more answers so we are going to try to go ahead with that as long as Medicaid approve it before the dump us on August 1st! |
About MeHello! My name is Erin. I am Abram's mom, a tireless advocate for UBE2A Deficiency Syndrome and a fierce proponent for medical cannabis. MOST POPULAR BlOG ENTRYJOIN US
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