One year ago...
This Friday will be the one year anniversary of Miles' cranial surgery. This week has been full of emotions as we remember the events and feelings we were going through at this time last year. As I was going through the blog posts from that time, tears were rolling down my cheeks. But I have to say that what is overwhelming to me is not thinking back to the fear and worry that we were feeling at that time, but what is more overwhelming is how much we have been blessed throughout this year. We had so many people praying for Miles: friends, family, church members, co-workers, the craniocarebears organization, the boys' daycare and their church, and people we didn't even know. People were praying for everything: Miles' successful surgery, Miles' health, Miles' helmet therapy, safe traveling as we drove back and forth to Ft. Lauderdale, our well being as we cared for Miles, Maxon's well being throughout Miles' recovery, our finances to cover medical bills, everything. I have a list of about 10 different prayer requests we had, that I emailed out to friends and family, and I can tell you how each of them were answered this year. Wow, what a year! God did some amazing work in this story that was just beginning last year around this time. When we think of all he did and how he answered every prayer, we are overwhelmed with praise to Him, and gratitude to those of you out there that he used to somehow help us through our story. Here are some pictures from the day of surgery:
One year later...
A year after the surgery and Miles is doing great! He made it through helmet therapy and has been "graduated" for about 4 months. His head is measuring in the "normal" range as far as shape goes and the bone is continuing to grow. He still has a small spot right on the top of his head (where a normal soft spot would be on an infant) about the size of a fifty cent piece where the bone has not grown in, but the surgeon said that could take until he is 4 years old. I am counting it as a blessing because as long as that is still open, we hope that means that the bones are not re-fusing at this point. While in helmet therapy, he developed quite the lumpy bumpy head, which I am happy to say is evening out now since being out of the helmet. :) Miles is developing on track and is a typical rough and tumble 18 month old boy (much to my dismay). :) Because of all he has gone through, I would be happy if he enjoyed sitting and watching TV versus running full speed through the house, wrestling with his brother, or jumping on the bed. NOT A CHANCE!! I am counting this as a blessing as well because it shows me that he is a typical child, unscathed by his surgery. Throughout this past year we grew to know the orthotist very well, who saw us every 3 weeks throughout his helmet therapy, and we also saw the surgeon every 2-3 months. This summer we met with the craniofacial team, which is a team of 12 specialists including his surgeon who will monitor him until he is about 6 years old to make sure he is continuing to grow correctly with no other issues. We were very pleased when all the specialists told us they would see us in 12 months. 12 months!!! That means he is on the "monitor annually" list because he is doing so well and the surgery is so far successful! Wow, what good news!!!
We thank God every day for what he has done for Miles and for us, and we will appreciate you joining us in praising Him for blessing our family. We continue to pray for Miles' skull bones to heal completely, for the bones to not re-fuse, and for no surgeries needed in the future. Thank you for joining us in those prayers as well. Here are some pictures a year later:
