Who thought Graduation would be so emotional

David and I attended our first Graduation celebration last week. One of my scholarships was honoring the graduating seniors. As I sat there my emotions began to consume me. I guess knowing that I had finally made it though my undergrad program had become real. I am still not sure how I did it but I know that it could have never been possible without David’s amazing spirits, the grace of God, and all the strangers who choose to invest in me.


After loosing my father one semester, and a close friend in a tragic car accident the very next, I can not really remember much of my journey. I do vividly remember both phone calls notifying me that life as we knew it was forever changed. I do recall planning funerals and making final arrangements, I also remember the unbearable pain that felt like it would never go away. It will never go away but people were right it does get easier. In addition to these traumatic events David has visited the hospital at least two or three times every semester since I have been at ASU. Most recently in the last semester of my senior year (dayshaview from high school) David required surgery. Graduation feels bitter sweet! As proud and happy as I am it hurts moving forward without the ones you love. I would love for my father to be there knowing that no matter how hard it got we made it through, and he will, I just wich I could see the look on his face.


When people ask me how I do it I honestly don’t know. What I do know is that although, I will graduate with 9,000 other students I believe my diploma will signify much more than education. Strength and endurance is what has allowed me to preserver. Faith and hope for something more has pushed me forward and when life is so crazy that I can not find those characteristics within myself I get them from my twelve year old, David!!!

Exciting News

David has had two small seizures in the last two days. They have not been his typical seizures and he has come out of both of them without meds which is a promising sign. I am not sure what to think so I am just keeping my trust in God.

After all of our obstacles over the last few months I decided David needed some "positive excitement"! I had to be creative since my fiances are limited. I decided to write to all of the local sports teams and tell them about my little miracle and his amazing spirits despite adversity. To my surprise I got a quick response back from the Phoenix Coyotes and Suns. Both teams gave David the opportunity to meet the players.

Although David might only comprehend at a three year old level I know one thing he understood real clear during both of these events "he was the man". He expressed this with his ear to ear smile and by beating his chest. I can not thank both teams enough. It is very hard as David's mother to see him grow yet still not be able to do what other kids are doing. For the most part I remain positive but sometimes it gets the best of me.

With the help of the Suns and Coyotes I was able to give David an opportunity that most children will never have! Going into the locker rooms, shaking hands and snapping photos with athletes most children dream of meeting. I know David got this chance because of how special he is and I know he knew that too! So even though he can not walk, and participating in activities that my friends kids do being special also has its advantages =)

We had a scare today

Today I got a call from David’s school that he had a seizure and then vomited. After they took him to the nurse they also discovered that he had a fever of 101.8. I called his neurosurgeon but while waiting for his return call I decided to be safe and just bring him to Phoenix Children’s Hospitals emergency room. Fever is a sign of shunt infection and vomiting is a sign of shunt failure.

My fears began to get the best of me and I balled the whole way to David’s school. A million thoughts must have run threw my head during that 20 minute drive.
Could this mean that David’s patterns would continue and that we would spend the next few months undergoing multiple operations or did David just have a virus, which caused the fever, which triggered the seizure, which caused him to vomit????????

When I got to David’s school he was sleeping. When he woke up it was very obvious that he was uncomfortable but he still attempted to laugh while fighting back his tears. After some Tylenol, a few hugs and kisses, and a cleared MRI David is already bouncing around again. I guess my faith was tested but, in the end God came through =)

Wow I am already feeling behind and homework is piling up as well is the laundry. The house is a mess and I just can’t seem to get enough done in one day to get back on track!!!! Now I just lost another day but I know I must remain grateful that at this point it looks like David is recovering and life is headed back in the right direction.

I am a slacker!!!

Ok guys sorry I have not been updating the blog but I have been exhausted and trying to catch back up with school work and work from my internships. I have had to turn off my phone and lock myself inside my office. David is recovering well and has been expressing less pain now while healing than he has in the last few months. Of course he is still all smiles and outside of biting we are almost back to normal.

On the white board in his room I posted a sign that said Beware of Biter ha ha (funny until he get ya)

Please keep us in your prayers it will take 25 days to clear us from the posiblity of infection and only six weeks till I graduate!!!!

God is good ALL the time!!!!!!

Less than 24 hours after brain surgury and we are home =) David is doing well and outside of a little pain managment we are on our way to a full recovery. I am feeling exhauseted and and have been fighting a migrane for the last 3 days but when I think of what my little man has gone through I can not complain. We will follow up with the doctors in two weeks to make sure his shunts are functioning properly and that the cyst do not return. Thank you all for your love, support, and prayers it really did help us through. I will continue to update the blog on his progress.

We apprecaite you all!!!!

God is good

David has been out of surguery for about 2 hours. He is already awake playing and of course he is smiling =) Thank you all!!!!!!!!

Here we go

We are preping for surgury. Speaking with everyone involved the doctor, the doctor’s engineer and surgury tech. I just gave David a bath since I might not be able to bath him for at least a few days after surgery. He had stickers placed on his head by the doctor’s engineer to guide the surgeon and we just got back from MRI again.

Until a few minutes ago I have been calm but, now that the tears have begun to fall I can’t stop them. He is taking a nap so peacefully right now. In one hour I will be holding him while they place a mask over his face, he will go to sleep, they will wheel him away and I will wait for updates on surgery and his progress. I don’t feel like I am ready for this but I really don’t have a choice HERE COMES THE STORM!

Surgery is scheduled for today at noon

After David’s MRI doctors found that there is more difference between his last MRI and the new one than they could see on the CAT scan. There is a large cyst of fluid that has been continuously growing over the past year. It is putting pressure on his left frontal lobe. Because of the location of the cyst the doctors must put a third shunt in David’s head. I am still numb and David is still smiling of course. There is power in prayer Please say a Prayer for us!!!!

Just wanting to know more

I just got orders not to feed David or give him anything by mouth. I don't know why but it is a safe assumption that he will be having some kind of procedure done today???? I will keep you posted.

One day at a time

Well for those of you who are wondering what we are up to me summarize our day. I woke up at 6:30 and then reviewed and compared Head scans with David’s Nero surgeon Dr. Moss. While I was in the nurses station viewing the scans David tried to make a great escape, climbing out of his bed and venturing out to hallway were a nurse found him “hanging out” (I guess he needs a little more adventure in his life lol) After speaking to Dr. Moss I rushed to an appointment with a specialist which I have been waiting over a month for. From there I went back to the hospital ordered David lunch, got dressed, and took David for an MRI. I try to avoid sedating him so for MRI”s I lay on his chest and sing to him while they put us in a very small tube with very loud noises. David being amused by sound acted as if we were on a ride at the amusement park. He giggled threw the whole process. Then I headed to Maricopa County Hospital to facilitate a Child Life Activity that I have been planning. From there it was off to school for class and now I am finally at the hospital with my Day Day =)

Sometimes I wish there are more hours in the day but today I am content with the 24 hours God has given me. I am running on 3 hours of sleep and I pray that I get a few hours of beauty sleep tonight. (Lord know I need it) One of the hardest things for me to deal with when David gets sick is that our whole world comes to a halt, but the rest of the world keeps on going, sometimes leaving us behind.

Threw the years I have learned how to jump right back in but, that can still be challenging. So for now I will focus on all the cute little random things my son does to keep my mind at ease. BTW David is still caring around his hockey puck and when the nurses ask to see what he has he hides it between his legs as if he is caring a jewel. (I am sure to him it is)

Helpless but Hopeful

Well we have just been admitted to PCH for potential shut failure. Looks like surgery number 28 might have finally caught up to us. Although, the fear of surgery is trying to creep in, I keep focusing on David’s smile which assures me that regardless of what the doctors might say we are going to be alright. Like always David is laughing, playing, and singing with out a worry in the world. His strength is keeping me strong.

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with graduate classes and two internships so keeping this blog updated is the easiest way for me to keep everybody posted.

Just yesterday David was invited by the Phoenix Coyotes to watch them play Hockey. We enjoyed the game from a presidential suite and after the game David was given the opportunity to meet the players. While waiting to meet the players someone handed David a hockey puck, which David immediately became attached to. Our new friend Sarah introduced David to the team as there good luck charm. (because they won of course) David must have felt likewise because he has not let go of the puck since. He slept with it, has eaten with it, and it is now keeping him entertained while we wait for a bed. Focusing on all of the very special friends in our lives which have provided us very special moments keeps me from being overcome.

So for all of you who are reading this and have taken the time to say a prayer for us THANKS. When people ask me how I do it, I do it because I have the love and support of people like you =)