A mother's hope...
In Fall 2010 a beautiful baby boy was born to a young, single mother. A mother whose joy was soon overshadowed by the unexpected news she received from sober faced doctors. Her precious son was born with severe multiple disabilities…a brain malformation, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, hearing and visual impairments. She was told his disabilities were so severe that she should not expect much of a future for her son. She was told that she should put her energy into loving him and keeping him well because Gary would never be able to learn.
Confused, grieving and feeling lost, she brought her child home, loved him and tried to keep him well. But soon Gary began having seizures and a cocktail of medications was introduced. He was unable to swallow food without choking and underwent surgery for the placement of a stomach feeding tube. After a series of respiratory illnesses, it was decided that Gary must have assistance to breathe and a tracheostomy was inserted. As Gary grew, his inability to bear weight and walk led to a severe curvature of his spine, crushing his lungs with his malaligned ribs. Yet another surgery was recommended, the insertion of a titanium rib.
