The Oates Family |
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Sydney, Chris, Logan, Stephanie, and Dylan |
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Past Tree of Hope Families
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In May 2006 we eagerly awaited the arrival of our third child who would happily complete our family. Logan joined his older siblings, Sydney and Dylan, now eight and six years old respectively. Although the first couple of weeks following Logan’s birth were very busy with little sleep, we were enjoying the completion of our family and relishing in the joys that a new child brings. As we were all settling into our new routine my husband had returned to work and I continued my studies in the nursing program at Parkland College. |
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When Logan was three weeks old he experienced what we believed was a seizure. While our parenting knowledge spanned five years at that time, this was something we had never experienced and it left us feeling very scared. Leaving the doctor’s office, we felt some relief as Logan was diagnosed with pneumonia and given antibiotics. I wish that had been the end of our doctor and hospital visits, but we quickly learned, it was just the beginning. |
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One week later, Logan was back in the doctor’s office, as the antibiotics were not addressing his recurring symptoms and he was admitted to Provena Covenant Medical Center. After his EEG confirmed a seizure, we were immediately driven by ambulance to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria where we spent the next five weeks. During this time many tests were run on our tiny five week old son; as parents these were some of our most difficult days. Because we had two older children at home, my husband and I took turns, each staying every other night with Logan, while the other tended to our two older children at home. We left the hospital with no real answers as to why Logan was having up to 20 seizures a day; the only information we had at that time was that the seizures resembled infantile spasms . |
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 | In August, Logan began receiving injections that would help bring his seizures under control, but caused severe bloating; our little boy, at four months old weighed over 27 pounds due to the fluid retention from the injections.Two months later, while weaning him off the injections, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and spent the next month in Carle Hospital; two of those weeks on a ventilator to assist him with breathing. |
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During the next year, Logan was in and out of the hospital frequently and when at home, his oxygen levels had to be checked regularly using a continuous pulse-ox machine; without the security of the machine that would alert us if a problem occurred, our sleep deprivation would have risen to levels where functioning would have been nearly impossible and our worries unbearable. During this year of frequent hospitalizations, Logan was diagnosed with tracheomalacia and laryngomalacia, a weakness and floppiness of the walls of the windpipe and larynx causing breathing difficulties. He also has swallowing delays, which continues to require him to receive his nutrition through a G-tube in his stomach, due to the risk of aspiration and he has severe physical delays. While the tracheomalacia and laryngomalacia are conditions he can outgrow, the physical delays will continue to affect him in many ways including the inability to hold up his own head. |
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In the midst of all our stress and worries, we were referred to Developmental Services Center (DSC) when Logan was a few months old. We know today that we could not have made it through the first three years without their support of Logan and our entire family. Logan began by receiving physical therapy and soon after speech therapy. Not only did the therapists make a difference in Logan’s life through the therapies they administered, equally as important, they were his advocates in assisting our family in obtaining special equipment that continues to help Logan in everyday skills that are vital to his well-being. DSC came into our lives when we had no where to turn for understanding and guidance, and provided that vital need for all parents to feel they are doing everything possible for their children. |
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Logan is now three years old and has not been hospitalized during the past year and a half; a major victory for our entire family. He has not had a seizure in quite some time. While Logan is unable to communicate with us using words, his presence is always known through his laugh, smile and his bright eyes that follow our conversations. He began Early Intervention at Unity this fall, a change he is taking in stride. Through the therapy Logan has received from DSC and his unwavering spirit he has exceeded the expectations of many. At this time, we realize we still have much ahead of us, but we are certain that because of the therapy and advocacy support Logan received from DSC, we now know how to meet each challenge with renewed courage and the positive spirit that is Logan. |
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