Make-A-Wish Article

Make A Wish is a foundation that grants wishes for the chronically ill not neccessarily the terminally ill. I'm not terminally ill. LOL HA HA

Christopher was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in October of 2007. Chris had been very energetic, always clowning around and happy. We noticed slow changes, such as a loss of hair, he was anemic, pale, very thin, angry, and had no energy. The Doctors did extensive testing on him for 2 days and found the Crohn's Disease. He has been treated for the last year and a half by taking several pills a day and then the disease got out of hand. This year the doctors found narrowing in his smaller intestine in two different places, he also had an infected PIC line and 33 days total in the hospital. He is finally getting nutrition through a GJ Feeding tube and is beginning to grow.

When given the opportunity through Make A Wish Foundation to have one of his wishes come true, he was at first undecided between a small dirt bike or meet LeBron James, or go to Euro Disney or Hawaii with his family. However, when it came time to make a decision his desire was to do something with his family. Throughout this entire journey, no matter how rough it got, he had the love and support of his family and friends to encourage him, cheer him on, cry with him, pray with him, and on some occasions laugh with him. Even in the midst of his pain, when he was at some of his lowest points, Christopher knew he has a family that loves him and is there for him. Like Christopher says “We are going through this together”. So since his family has been on this journey with him his final choice is to have a wish where they can celebrate life and living with him together by going to either Euro Disney or Hawaii.

It has been a bumpy ride and yes there is yet a long way to go but we have no doubt that he will make it. He is a trooper!

Lisa (Mom)

It happened ....

We just increased the feeding levels to 80ml per hour. This means Chris can now be free of his backpack and Joey Pump for about 8 hours a day now. This increase means that he will probably cut back on his prednisone and he will start to gain more weight and GROW some.

Dr Gates said that he will be back on the 21st to evaluate Chris to see IF the by-pass surgery is necessary. The doctor feels that it is most likely that he will need it BUT, we know THE DOCTOR and creator of our bodies. HE has all the spare parts we need and we believe that Chris will NOT need the surgery right away.

Please pray with us that Chris's healing is in process and he will healed of this CRAZY situation.

Oh yeah, one more thing. The 4 little "tabs" holding the stomach and abdominal walls together finally fell off. This is really cool because his Mic-Key button can move more freely now and it is easier to clean so the chance of infection is lower... God is so GOOD!

Mic-Key Button

Keep your prayers coming and keep in touch with your comments!

Chris and Dad and Mic-key

Getting Better... slowly!

Just wanted to report that Christopher has been eating a little bit at a time. Last night he was looking at the Tri-Tip Roast that his big sissy Ayla was Bar-B-Q'ing and his mouth was watering big time.

Well, he started eating his delicious dinner of mashed potatoes when he asked for a bite of MY tri-tip. I scowled a little because I love my tri-tip dipped in Pure Maple Syrup... WHAT! you've never tasted steak in syrup... pure maple syrup??? Don't you eat pancakes and bacon or sausage with syrup on it?? Same thing... !! Anyway... I cut off a piece, about the size of a 3 pennies stacked on each other.... he chewed it up really good before swallowing... and... it is 1047 am the next day and he is doing great... no upset tummy, no cramps, just smiles...

His latest doctor reported that he has not only maintained his weight but gained 1 pound. He increased his formula from 65ml / hr to 71mls. This gives him 4 hours away from his Joey Pump and backpack that he has to wear 24/7. Once he reaches his next goal, he will be able to increase his formula rate to 80-82ml and he will be off his pump for 8 hours a day.. Pretty exciting for my little man..

Please continue to pray for Christopher and our family...

Thanks again for Bishop, Pastor, and everyone else that has held us up in prayer.

Thank You Jesus for your healing process... we are all becoming...!

Chris (Dad)

Back Home..

Christopher came home on Wed March 18th at 6 pm. We're feeling better but still can't eat solid foods. Still being fed through the JG tube and formula. Although, he is able to drink and eat clear foods like Jello and broth, Chris is STILL craving his 10 oz Prime Rib from Texas Roadhouse. We'll keep you posted.
PS. We met with Make-a-Wish and we are still waiting for them to get back to us and we will let you know.

Back in Again

Yes, we are back in at 4:30 pm.

Christopher is experiencing some major cramping where Mic-Key button is attached. It looks like an infection... red, swelling, hurts!!!

Doctor is coming in soon and we will know for sure.

Pain level when his stomach starts to cramp... 8 out of 10!

Pray for us... hopefully we'll be out of here soon!

Coming Home Today - It's Official !!

Well, it's been a long journey so far and Chris will be coming home today!!!

Christopher has been looking forward to going to NO LIMITS at the Rock Church were he has been held up in prayer around the world. WOW! I personally have been contacted by people that do not even personally know us that have spoken Christophers' in their daily and routine petitions.

The belly laugh continues and his stomach is getting stronger. Kind-of-like being SHOT with a bullet... he actually has a hole in his abdominal wall and plugged with a piece of silicone tubing. Ouch! But... he is a tough young man and taking it all in stride.

We will be adding to this journal as soon as Christopher is at home and doing this for himself.
He is anxious to play football in a couple of weeks if he can. He certainly has come a long way.

God bless

Chris

Out of Surgery and the Mic-Key Button

My son Christopher is my hero. He is a trooper and is braver than I ever will be.

He has endured more in the past few months than most kids his age go through in their lifetime. We believe that GOD has a purpose in all of this and Christopher will be a mighty instrument in God's future plans.

His journey this time (the fourth time in the hospital since Jan 2, 09) was an eventful one starting again with a fever of 103.9 on February 19th. His head and back were throbbing and he was delirious with the pain. We could not offer him any tylenol for his fever since the doctor wanted to find the source of the infection. We suspected the PICC line that it was in his left arm artery connected to his heart and the culture tests proved this to be the source of STAFF infection. He was immediately set up with a IV and heavy doses of Antibiotics. The staff infection was destroyed...

Christopher then was told to "Ride it out" for the weekend until the doctors came up with a plan to insert a "MICKEY BUTTON". This is a WONDERFUL instrument for this ailment. His surgery went flawless on Tuesday Morning and the doctors said that the "Hand of God was with him".

Check out the MICKEY Button here.

Interactive FLASH VIDEO <---- This is COOL!


Since then, Christopher is coping with the pain, but is sure glad that he will be going home soon. There is a cute story about Christopher and his new "friend" Mickey! We'll tell you about that later

Please continue to pray for us.

We will keep you posted.