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Welcome to Tabitha's Page... 
Tabitha Paige was born on December 26, 2003. She has been surviving seizures since she was atleast 2 days old....she has been on many seizure medications, but still has no total control over her epilepsy.
The first year of Tabby's life was a scary one...She spent alot of time in the hospital, and had 2 surgeries, among several procedures and tests. She has pulled through many tough situations and surprised many doctors.
In June of 2005, Tabby was diagnosed with a Chromosome Deletion, monosomy 1p36.2. We have also been told that Tabby had some brain damage that occured during her birth which was complicated. (To make a long story short, she wasn't in birthing position, and the doctor didn't know it!)
She has made many strides and we believe that she will continue to do so! In the last year, she has went from being completley being tube fed to eating atleast 2 meals by mouth a day! (with snacks!) She is also developing communication skills by the minute! We are so proud of her!
She has had 4 surgeries all together all before her 3rd birthday! The latest being a VNS implant. Of course, Tabitha is strong as an ox and continues to give us smiles everyday! Even when she doesn't feel like it! We hope her story inspires you the way she does us! Thank you for stopping by!
Tabby likes to dress up!
I AM THE CHILD
I am the child who cannot talk. You often pity me, I see it in your eyes. You wonder how much I am aware of -- I see that as well. I am aware of much -- whether you are happy or sad or fearful, patient or impatient, full of love and desire, or if you are just doing your duty by me. I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine to be far greater, for I cannot express myself or my needs as you do.
You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is at times. I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated. I do not give you answers to your everyday questions, responses over my well-being, sharing my needs, or comments about the world about me. I do not give you rewards as defined by the world's standards -- great strides in development that you can credit yourself; I do not give you understanding as you know it.
What I give you is so much more valuable -- I give you instead opportunities. Opportunities to discover the depth of your character, not mine; the depth of your love, your commitment, your patience, your abilities; the opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply than you imagined possible. I drive you further than you would ever go on your own, working harder, seeking answers to your many questions with no answers. I am the child who cannot talk.
I am the child who cannot walk. The world seems to pass me by. You see the longing in my eyes to get out of this chair, to run and play like other children. There is much you take for granted. I want the toys on the shelf, I need to go to the bathroom, oh I've dropped my fork again. I am dependant on you in these ways. My gift to you is to make you more aware of your great fortune, your healthy back and legs, your ability to do for yourself. Sometimes people appear not to notice me; I always notice them. I feel not so much envy as desire, desire to stand upright, to put one foot in front of the other, to be independent. I give you awareness. I am the child who cannot walk.
I am the child who is mentally impaired. I don't learn easily, if you judge me by the world's measuring stick, what I do know is infinite joy in simple things. I am not burdened as you are with the strifes and conflicts of a more complicated life. My gift to you is to grant you the freedom to enjoy things as a child, to teach you how much your arms around me mean, to give you love. I give you the gift of simplicity. I am the child who is mentally impaired.
I am the disabled child. I am your teacher. If you allow me, I will teach you what is really important in life. I will give you and teach you unconditional love. I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you. I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted. I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams. I teach you giving. Most of all I teach you hope and faith. I am the disabled child.
Tabitha's beautiful artwork featured in the 2008 Epilepsy Foundation Expressions of Courage Art Contest calendar!
Journal
Monday, August 11, 2008 2:00 PM CDT Wow! I can't believe today is the first day of school! Where did the summer go? I am going to miss my babies! I really like them being home with me during the day! We had such a good summer and did alot of fun stuff!
Tabby will be going to school this year the same as last year. 3 days a week for 3 hour time periods. We feel this is sufficient for her and me!
By the way, she did absolutley FABULOUS in physical therapy today! She is really on a roll with weight bearing (legs) here lately! Could this be realated to the diet? (hmmmmm) Whatever it is, she did great! She is also holding objects in her hands for longer periods and sitting for longer periods too! So Wonderful!
She still has a rough seizure day every now and then, which we will expect for eternity, but she is still doing extremely better than what we had hoped for! Which only makes my expectations higher!!!
Bradley is doing great too! He will be becoming a Advanced Blue Belt martial artist this month! We are very proud of that! He is now in the (gulp) 7th grade! I am a little nervous because this is the time that all those "changes" start occuring. (bigger gulp) I think we're doing pretty good though as far as teaching him right from wrong and so forth. Maybe not so much our parenting, but the fact the kid has a great head on his shoulders is a really good sign!
Well, I guess that's about it for now. We are so thankful for each one of you that comes by to check on Miss Tabby. We are even more thankful for the ones who leave a message! (wink-wink)
Have a great day.....until next time.........
Read Journal History
Links: http://www.vnstherapy.com/epilepsy/default.aspx Information about VNS therapy
http://quiltsoflove.com/quilt_2004/tabitha_PW/tabitha.html Tabby's quilt of love
http://216.239.63.104/search?q=cache:k2W6XibwEPgJ:www.orpha.net/data/patho/GB/uk-1p36.pdf+1p36&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 Information about Monosomy 1p36
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