HOPE FOR GABE
  • Home
  • Media
  • About DMD
  • Fundraising
  • Photos/Videos
  • Contact
  • Daddies Diary
  • Goodies
  • H4G in Action
  • WEAR is H4G

Day One of the Vecttor Treatment in Corpus Christi, Texas with Dr. Rhodes

12/27/2010

4 Comments

 
Monday, December 27, 2010 11:26 PM, CST


Our trip started a little bumpy as we did not arrive at our hotel until 2:30 AM due to flight delays from bad weather throughout the country.  Gabe then had ear issues from flying and did not sleep much at all last night
L.  As a result, we were expecting a horrible day today at Dr. Rhodes’ office.  However, Gabe slept during the actual consult while sitting in my lap.  As Dr. Rhodes video taped Gabe running, getting up off the floor, hopping on one foot, hopping on both feet, jumping, etc. thoughts went through my head from all degrees of any spectrum.  Is this equivalent to the “fountain of youth”, could this be the “real deal”, is this a “Christmas miracle”???  Not sure what the answer is but I do know that Dr. Rhodes knows what he is talking about and he seems to believe that he is going to do something that so many before him have failed to accomplish.  Regardless, here we are in Corpus Christi, Texas with all of our HOPE in the hands of a podiatrist! Oxymoron intended.  Gabe did extremely well today and essentially he sat there watching Despicable Me while he received his treatment.  At the end of the treatment I was shocked to find out that his core body temperature increased 6.6 degrees and during his night treatment it increased 7.3 degrees.  This is extremely important as lower body temperature means reduced blood and oxygen flow and allows atrophy to set in sooner.  I am not sure what is psychological at this point or factual but what I do know is his calf muscles feel a little  different (starting to jiggle) and his demeanor tonight has been incredibly good.  Dr. Rhodes says the machine makes these kids feel better and will help in cognitive development as well as behavioral development.  An example of this is when we went swimming tonight in our hotel pool (indoor) when I said Gabe it is time to go to the room he said no once but then said o.k.  No melt down, screaming, and kicking.  It was actually nice!  We are trying to be realistic and grounded but Traci and I both seem to comment on the same positive changes.  We shall see…I received many texts today and messages and thank you for all the kind words and prayers.  We have a long way to go and this is a tremendous commitment as it is 80 minutes in the morning and 80 minutes in the evening every day for the first 30 days and then 80 minutes in the evening after that.  We have many great supporters around us and for that we are so fortunate!  We will need you all going forward!!  I am so proud of Gabe as he stepped up and cooperated with the doctors without question.  At times he looked like one of the prototypes in the movie called “The Minority Report” but he did not complain…too muchJ.  He is my hero and stepped up like a champ today and tonight!  Think about if you were 5 years old and someone hooked you up to 8 electrodes (4 left/4right) and told you not to touch them, disconnect them, cross them, not to move a whole bunch, not to eat anything or drink anything, etc.  I couldn’t do it but Gabe did!!!  You are my hero Gabe!  Gabe’s Dad
4 Comments

Lookout Corpus Christi, Texas here we come...better be ready for some Gaber!!

12/26/2010

1 Comment

 
Sunday, December 26, 2010 6:00 PM, CST

I am sitting in the Birmingham Airport waiting for our flight to depart for Corpus Christi, Texas.  I would not be telling the truth if I said I was not excited and anxious!  But before I get into the trip, I wanted to share a story with each of you about Gabe and the lives he touches.  We went skiing recently and when we were getting our equipment and lift tickets I asked if someone could take Gabe down the slope as he cannot ski.  The lady stated that for liability reasons, they could not and I totally understood.  Seeing how it was a smaller resort, we really got to know the instructors.  The second day we got there, an instructor named Charlie asked if Turner and Coop were excited about going down the slope again.  I said they had not quit talking about it.  He then asked about Addie and Gabe who were standing there.  I said Addie was too scared and that Gabe could not ski.  He said sure he can, we have taught children younger than him to ski before.  I said he cannot ski as he is a special needs child.  Charlie (who is a full time paramedic for his real job) asked what type of disease it was so when I explained it to him, his face totally changed.  His eyes filled with tears and he looked at Gabe and said "Gabe you want to go skiing?!”  Gabe looked up at him and with a huge grin shook his head yes.  Charlie then said “well then dad gummit, you are going to go skiing!”  Traci started crying tears of joy as Charlie went and got his ski boots and skis…he held Gabe while the lift took them up the slope, he got to the top, and down they came.  You could hear Gabe screaming “I’m skiing, I’m skiing!!!”  It was an incredible site as Charlie did this a total of 3 times.  When he was done, Gabe hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.  I shook his hand and hugged him myself.  I told him he had no idea how he just touched my family and he said “no…you have no idea hoe Gabe has touched my life!”  What a trip and what a moment!  I sometime lay in bed and picture it all in my mind again!!

I wanted to share that story with you as I am finding there are more and more incredible people in this world willing to make a difference!  Now…on to our current trip (see previous post).  We will meet with the doctor tomorrow for about 5 hours as he teaches us how to hook up the machine and how to run the protocols.  I will try and post daily and provide as many updates as I can but there are no guarantees.  Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers!!!  We need them all and could not make it through this without each of you!  I hope every one of you hade a Merry Christmas and let’s all hope for one more gift the week after Christmas!  Gabe’s Dad

1 Comment

    To receive update notifications enter your email below:

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    May 2014
    September 2012
    November 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    May 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.