5,4,3,2,1, blastoff!!

We have been going for rides in a rocket recently.

Yes Annabelle and I have been doing Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy everyday for the past 3 weeks. Here is a picture of us getting into the chamber, I just sit inside with her and change DVDs when they are finished and act as a chair for her. Things seem to be going well she doesn't seem to mind going in and tolerates the pressure. We go into the chamber that is pressurized and Annabelle wears a treatment hood and pure oxygen is piped directly to her to breathe. We stay in the chamber for about 90min.

A quick explanation what Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is - a prescription- only medical treatment in which the patient breathes pure oxygen under greater than normal atmospheric pressure. The patient's blood-oxygen level is then raised many times above normal, helping control infections and promote healing of many illnesses/injuries.Pressure is built inside the chamber and therefore allows the oxygen inhaled to be dissolved at great levels in the blood, spinal and lymph fluids, as well as all other tissues.

HBOT has been a treatment that has been around a while and illnesses such as MS, Stoke, Cerebral palsy, head injury, Autism, are well known to be helped by HBOT.

Spring brings new hope

"Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry season in life do not last. The spring rains will come again" Sarah Ban Breathnach

I can't believe it has been over two months since I last posted, so much has happened in those two months, and I wish I had a week just to spend updating this blog on all that has happened.
I will start by saying that we still have no answers yet but we did see a wonderful doctor today, a geneticist, we have been waiting 3 months to see her and well it was worth the wait, she was recommended by another Mom at CCS ( California children services - Annabelle goes there for therapy PT and OT) This Mom said she is really good at diagnosing, I always prefer a recommendation from another parent you feel you can trust it more than say one that comes from another doctor, well she did a thorough examination on Annabelle which most doctors don't do, she asked loads on questions which most doctors don't do! She basically said that we have done most of the tests that could possibly be done but there are 2 more that have not been done and they might be what Annabelle has.

So the quest is back on to find a diagnosis the roller coaster ride has began again! First the blood draw the screaming that accompanies that, the searching and googling to find the disorders that the doctor is testing for and scaring yourself half to death reading what you child might have, then the waiting for the results, then getting the results, just one long roller coaster ride (did I ever mention that I hate roller coasters!)

Well I will post again soon with what has happened in the last 2 months. I am also going to cover all the therapies that we are doing with Annabelle and hopefully some new ones soon too.

The lessons we come to learn

I believe that people come into our lives to help us learn the lessons we were meant to learn in this life, and especially our children. At first I thought Annabelle was given to me to learn patience, I always thought I was a patient person but oh boy Annabelle has stretched me to my limits and beyond some days.

But now I think that wasn't the real lesson I need to learn, I now think it is my ability to ask for help was the real lesson. I have always been a very independent person never wanting help from anybody to do anything and always thought my way was the best way to do it. Take for instance packing the dishwasher if my husband does not pack the dishwasher exactly the way I would do it, it would be wrong, and I would have to re-organize all the dishes my way. To the point were I would have to do everything because it wasn't being done my way. Well now that Annabelle needs so much of my time some days I don't even have time to pack the dishwasher let alone repack it if it was not done in the right way. Now I let my husband pack the dishes the way he wants to, its not wrong, its just different. I do need help to get through this I can't help Annabelle if I don't get help myself.
I came to this realization when 2 of my neighbors came by my house offering to help me, either to look after my son, help me clean my house, look after Annabelle while I take a shower. Before Annabelle's Angels they did not know about Annabelle and I would not have dreamed about asking for help. But without family nearby we have to rely on friends, neighbors to be there for us when things are tough. I just need to learn how to ask.


Annabelle doing really well sitting on the couch if you put her in the groove she will stay there for about 10-15 minutes before toppling over and of course if the right show is on the TV.

Truly Angels!!!!

These ladies are my dear friends and are truly Angels, the original Angels,

Zen, Thalia, Erin, Lyndsey, Madeline, Simone, Raegen, Melanie, Pamela and Casey.

At the busiest time of the year, just before Christmas, they all took time out to help my daughter, and I am truly grateful.

They amazed us all by showing how powerful moms are, in less than a month they managed to fund raise $12000,00 for tests and therapies for Annabelle.

Not only did they raise money but prayers where being said for my daughter and our family,  I received notes and emails saying people where thinking of us we were truly blessed.

THANK YOU.

Our Search for Answers - Cousin Caroline

On returning from England, we were a little disappointed that we could not obtain the medical records for Cousin Caroline. My husbands Aunt called various doctors and hospitals and they all said they do not keep records for more than 12 years and since it has been 26 years since Caroline passed away we have given up hope on getting our answers there. We did manage to get these 2 photos of her and we are hoping that "a picture will tell a thousand words" to the next set of doctors we see. Caroline Age 3.

My Prayer for Annabelle

O God of the impossible
All things are possible with Thee!
Give me the faith for the impossible -
To trust implicitly!
And when I ask impossibilities
Our Father God, of Thee,
And know that Thou art able,
I prove my faith in Thee
If I ask only "possibles"
I reduce Thee to my size,
And limit Thee to my requests
As seen through human eyes,
But Thou dost love to give much more
Than my mean cup can hold,
So, Father, help me ask aright,
And in Thy Will be bold.
Give me the vision of Thy Power
Thy inexhaustible store,
That, no matter what I ask of Thee,
There is forever - more!
Give me the faith to comprehend
Thy Will, O Lord, for me...
That in Thy Will Thou wilt perform
IMPOSSIBILITY!
Mavis L Greig

" with God all things are possible.
(Matt. 19 :26)