Mia
Due to her missing parts of her brain she has many seizures
periodically throughout the day. Her seizures are kept under control
by the drug vigabratin. She also has optic displasia, which spikes
spontaneous fevers due to her abnormal thermostat which is controlled
by the hypothalamus in the brain. She sweats from her feet and
not her head, because of the brain disorder and the effects it has on her
hypothalamus gland. She has a gastrostomy tube to feed her through
her stomach and requires frequent suctioning throughout the day. Mia also
goes into occasional crying spells where it is very difficult to stop her
from crying. Sometimes she cries for days on end and all the mother can do
is rock her and hold her. Its at these times that she plays classical music
to soothe Mia She calms down somewhat listening to classical and nature
sounds. She loves to listen to the music, it seems to soothe her pain
away and calm her down when nothing else will.
Mia’s life expectancy is day to day. She lives
in a beautiful, loving foster home where she receives all of the love she
so justly deserves. Despite all of the frightening information given
to her family before she came to live with them, Mia is still fighting. Fighting
every day to take another breath. Fighting to stay alive. She truly is a
miracle baby.
Mia now recognizes her family members, doctors, nurses, and therapists. She makes strange like most children her age and pouts when you put her in her crib. She coos and babbles, and even laughs out loud.
She was just fitted for a standing frame and this gives her the opportunity to be nosy by looking all around the room when there are people around. The frame makes her stand giving her height to see things in a different perspective.
Mia's health is very unpredictable. She is
often sent to the hospital suffering life and death situations.
She was just recently discharged from the hospital after suffering from
grand mal seizures and respiratory distress. Once again mom and dad
watch her fight for her right to stay alive. Then after days of prayers she
miraculously comes home to her familiar surroundings to be loved and
comforted by mom and dad. Again defying all odds, she stares up at
her parents with her big eyes as if to say its okay. I did it again. I’m
home again. She is such a precious child. Doctors again tell the family to
take her home and enjoy what little time they have left with Mia.
She is our angel, “Mia” comes from that. She has inner
and outer strengths beyond comprehension. Every minute we have with
her we cherish. She has taught us how precious life is. She has shown
the family what courage is. Mia cannot speak words but she most definitely
communicates with her eyes, actions and sounds.
Mia is surrounded by people who love her. She has 5 siblings ages ranging from 2-17. From the youngest to oldest their names are, Shanley Hope, Ryan, Allen, Jennifer, and Sheri. She is also blessed with two very loving parents, Laurel and Darcy. Parents who some days survive on 3-4 hours of sleep a night caring for all their children. They also have a 2 year old who is experiencing seizures and have to cope with the terrible two’s syndrome. All in all, one big loving family who do their best to make their house into the best home that these children could ever have.
Mia is a very special child with very special parents.