May is Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month, Something Very Close to My Heart

About six years ago, we heard the six most unfathomable words in the English language used to describe our 10 month old baby, "Your son has had a stroke." How could this be? He is just a baby! Strokes only happen to adults! Unfortunately, strokes do occur in babies, sometimes before they are born. We asked about the prognosis. We were told the effects could range from being very mild to possible never being about to walk without assistance.

We were left with a feeling of complete and utter helplessness. What do we do NOW? We didn't even know children could HAVE strokes!?! Well, we learned a lot – quickly. The first thing we learned is that if someone is going to have a stroke, it is best to have one in utero. A child's brain is still developing, and it has an amazing ability to adapt and transfer neurological responsibilities from the damaged part of the brain to the perfectly good parts.

We also learned how to help our son overcome his injury. We spent most of our son's first two years either atdoctor appointments, therapy appointments, or in the car driving to doctor appointments and therapy appointments. You name it, and our son has been there and tried that. Cranial Secral therapy? Don't knock it'til ya try it . . . God bless our friends and family for helping us juggle our other two children and their schedules so that we could utilize every available treatment.

Let's fast forward a few years. Our son attended Pre-School Services in Wilton. We cannot overstate how critically important and successful this program has been for him. Through preschool, he saw some private therapists in our "spare time," but if not for the outstanding effort of the Wilton staff, and the resources available to them, our son would not be capable of doing the things he can do today.

We would like to thank Senator Blumenthal and his assistant, Grady Keefe, for helping us through some tough battles with a couple of insurance companies. The Senator's concern for our son was exemplified when he came to our home last year to help raise Pediatric Stroke awareness. 

We are pleased to report that our son is now a very proud kindergartner at Miller-Driscoll, with another AMAZING teacher and team! He is quit a kid, with a personality bigger than Texas (and I can say that because I am a bonified Texan!) Our oldest son's baseball and football teams have made him the un-official mascot of their teams. And he is FINALLY playing baseball himself. OK it is just Little League T-Ball, but nothing could stop him from participating in every aspect of the game and making it clear to every adult that he would be the pitcher (did I mention it was T-Ball?) This has not been the easiest of journeys, but it has been our rewarding journey, and we wouldn't change a thing!

So the next time you see a kid named Patch running through town, get out of the way for your own safety! Not bad for a kid who was told he might never walk!

To learn more about Pediatric Strokes and learn some statistics please www.CHASA.org