Will's Walking Video

This video, shot and put together by Will's physical therapist, shows his progress in walking over an 18-month period.

5 years ago.

It was 5 years ago this evening that our son, William, was born. Five years since we began this journey. Five years. It seems like forever ago, yet it seems like just yesterday. For those who don’t know the story, Will was born at 24 weeks, 6 days; weighing 1 lb, 11 oz; measuring 12.5 inches. So small that my wedding ring fit on his arm. He spent 116 days in the hospital, then was back in and out several times over the next three months, ultimately resulting in six surgeries. Will finally was home for good in August 2004.

Over the years, Will has had some setbacks here and there, but through it all, he continues to grow and thrive. Will is still receiving physical therapy and speech therapy several times a week. Will has been diagnosed with a form of cerebral palsy called spasticity. This accounts for many of the problems that he has had walking (video to come soon). In addition, Will was diagnosed with a mild to moderate hearing impairment. He started wearing hearing aids about a year ago and the difference has been astonishing. We are seeing improvement literally on a weekly basis.
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Will began attending pre-school in January 2008 to help him adjust and prepare for Kindergarten. He switched schools last fall to a school that specializes in working with hearing impaired children. The advances that Will has made in his interaction with others, as well as his speech progress has been incredible.

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Despite all that Will has been through and all of the challenges that he has faced, he is still one of the most joyful and energetic boys I’ve seen. He has such a sweet disposition and truly lives life to the fullest. The boy knows no fear!

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Recently, Tammy and I sat down and looked through some old videos of Will and were amazed at his progress. Being around Will every day, it’s difficult for us to see progress on a regular basis… we sometimes find ourselves focusing on the things that he’s not able to do yet, but when we see how far he’s come, it gives us such an opportunity to see the blessing that God has given us through our son.
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Many have asked us how our faith has been affected as a result of what Will’s been through. I would be lying if I said that we never had doubts or struggles through the last five years. But the one thing that we definitely know is that God is in control and has a plan for Will. We have been able to put our trust in Him and know that He reigns.
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I once heard someone say that a man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument… or better said: if you’ve been through something, no one can take it away from you and tell you any different. We’ve been through some valleys, but we’ve come out stronger and more fervent in our passion for Christ.

We started this blog in order to keep people up to date on things with Will, Abby, our 2-year old, and the progress of our third child, due in late summer.

So, please feel free to join us on our ongoing adventure through life. We appreciate all of your prayers and support over the years. Please send us your comments and emails. We love receiving them.

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jason