Saturday, September 25, 2010

Deaf-Blind


William is doing really well with his Loftstrand crutches. He has the strength and ability to use them, it's just building up the confidence and endurance. He'll get there...

On a different note, I was telling a friend that it's been hard to post lately. I've been thinking of the old "Thumper" saying, "If you can't say somethin' nice, then don't say nothin' at all." Honestly, it's been kind of hard to see the positives and I have been struggling. It seems like one thing has just piled on top of another between orthotics issues, dealing with insurance on the Vest and now therapies being maxed out, compression suit trouble, coming to grips with the term "blind," and remodeling. Whew! William finally got his evaluation at the School for the Blind...the one we've waited for since March. Quite frankly, it was depressing. I may give more details on it when I'm in a better state of mind, but the long and the short of it is this: William is a blind child. He will lose his eyesight completely and even with what residual eyesight he has now, it is not functional for the purposes of reading. He will never read print, but will go straight to Braille. I can't explain why this is so difficult for me to swallow. Finding out about his deafness was not difficult. It was just something we took in stride. To be hit with both is somewhat more difficult. I know God is in control and everything will be fine...God will turn my sorrow to joy. At the same time that I am grieving the things he will miss out on, I am so thankful that he is here with me. I realize things could be much worse. It is just hard to know he will always have to struggle for everything, that things will always be harder for him. But the truth of the matter is: hearing, sight, even our very breath are all gifts from the Lord that none of us are guaranteed, promised, or even entitled to. Praise the Lord for the 10 precious blessings He has given me and gives me life to enjoy them!
In searching, I found this verse quite interesting:
"Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better." Ecclesiastes 7:3

Friday, September 24, 2010

Aquatic Therapy


William also really enjoys Aquatic Therapy. Mike has been taking him and they have a great time together! It's so fun to watch him grow and change...this little boy used to be deathly afraid of water!
William is getting so much stronger and more confident. I truly believe he will walk unassisted one day!

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help. My help comes from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keeps thee will not slumber." Psalm 121:1-3

Monday, September 20, 2010

Hippo Therapy

William is really enjoying riding therapy. He talks about his horse all the time. Her name is Deseo, but they call her Dezi for short. He's always saying, "I ride Dezi."


He really likes for Sarah and Abby to be his sidewalkers, too!


"But they that wait upon the LORD3068 shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Monday, September 13, 2010

New things

There are lots of new things going on in William's life right now. Today I'll only post about his new canes (technically called "loftstrand crutches"). He's doing great with them, though he is not quite stable enough to use them unassisted all the time.

YouTube Video


"And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do." Genesis 18:20

- Posted from my iPhone