No News is Good News

The saying is true...no news IS good news. BUT...I'm still sorry to have left you without any news for so long. Here's a quick summary of what's happened since the last update.

Anes' recovery and rehabilitation has gone remarkably well. Recovery was without incident or major concern. Aside from a few days of low to mid-grade temps, which are common post hemi, recovery really was smooth sailing for this little man. We were all excited to see him come though the recovery so well and so quickly and move on to the nest step...rehab.

Rehab work has been going very well. Anes has been working hard since starting rehab, even if he wasn't always happy to do so in the beginning. Of course, as the days have gone by, he is tolerating and even enjoying his therapy. It has been a busy but exciting time. With 2 sessions each of OT, PT and Speech each weekday and 1 session each Saturday, he has certainly been busy. It is all paying off though, as he continues to amaze every one each day with something "new". I am excited to report that he has become quite the "jabber box" these days and that he no longer prefers to lie arround. He loves attention and wants to be held. He reacts to the environment and anticipates during little games (which I love to play with him). He giggles when tickled and he tries to play peek-a-boo. He loves watching the Baby Einstein DVDs and he smiles when I sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to him (though I know he is totally humoring me). He eats by mouth...like a champ...and is learning to drink from straw. I am excited to see what the future continues to bring Anes. i have no doubt that there are many more skills to be learned and successes to be had.

To see him now, you'd be simply amazed. That is the power of this surgery for our kids...at least what it can be. Anes has joined his life in a way that he was not able to before his hemi. He is aware of his world and taking it all in and learning more each day. What a gift to be thankful for and to celebrate with each new day! I know Adis and Aldina are...very thankful and still celebrating each new day and skill.

Anes will leave inpatient rehab this Friday, but continue on outpatient rehab for a couple more weeks. Then, around month's end, he will be on his way home to Bosnia. So many of us - myself, the medical team, the therapists, the interpreters - will know doubt be just a little sad to see him go, but will also be celebrating his journey here and keeping in touch as it continues at "home". There is little doubt that this little life will have changed us all in some way(s), leaving a unique impression on each of us.

I wish I could give you a visual of just how well he is doing, but I still can not do so. Just know that is won't be long until you can hear all about his story and see pictures from surgery day through the present day. I can't say more than that yet, but will post the information you need when I can finally do so.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of his journey here. For caring...for sharing...for helping. You've touched a life and made it better and there are no better gifts to share than those coming out of love and compassion for another. I continue to feel blessed to have been just a tiny part of his journey. I'm hoping we will all be able to gather together to say "goodbye" when the time comes. I will post details of any plans for a "bon voyage" party as they come to fruition.

In celebration and continued HOPE,
Holly