2015 Highlights

Each year, around this time, I like to reflect back on the past year and share the most significant moments.  2015 was a big year for Isaiah.

10.  Isaiah's 2nd birthday: Isaiah turned two.

During the month of August I was a blubbery mess for a second year in a row because I felt so blessed.  Another year with my baby that was predicted not to live more than a few moments.  That heart-in-the-throat feeling is becoming more and more distant and we're so grateful.

9.) Respite care: Dave and I got to go on our first date since Isaiah was in the NICU!  For those wondering that timeline, TWO YEARS.

Respite care has been wonderful for all three of us; it gives Dave and I time together and it gives Isaiah social time (with nurses available if needed).  We've taken advantage of that amazing opportunity twice now and hope to again in the new year.

8.) Isaiah's hydro diagnosis: This was one of those highlights that wasn't totally positive...

It all started because I sent the above side by side shot of Isaiah around Valentine's Day to Dr B. and he noticed how much Isaiah's head size and shape had changed.  Speaking selfishly, this diagnosis put me into a bit of an anxiety riddled depression....I was so afraid of the diagnosis itself, the surgery, the possible shunt malfunctions of the future, etc....and it just hurt my heart that my baby had yet another diagnosis...

7.) But then he had his Shunt surgery: And it was a game changer.

Isaiah made it through his surgery without an issue.  He was put in the PICU as a precaution post-op and got kicked out of there because he really did SO well.  It was amazing that he didn't need any breathing support and that he was just in such a good mood post-op....and since then his head size has gone down 1.5cm (and we were told it wouldn't go down, that growth would just plateau for a few years), the veining around his head calmed down, and he's talking more.  Pictures of his brain show just that, BRAINS, (ALL THE BRAINS!) not spinal fluid all over.

Game changer.

6.) Wishbone Day!

Wishbone Day is always a highlight of our year....to have so many people turn the world yellow for Isaiah and all of those living with OI is AMAZING! It is a beautiful, cheerful, and day full of love! (And I CANNOT wait for it this year!)


5.) Isaiah's facebook page gaining popularity: Back in September, I was at DuPont with Isaiah and all of a sudden I was getting tons of notifications on my phone.  It turned out that one of his videos started getting shared, shared, and shared again....Within one week we went from a little less than 2000 followers to 35,000.  Three months later and here we are.

70K people follow Isaiah's page.  70,000 people.  Tens of thousands of which had never heard of OI until they came upon Isaiah's page.  A few who had OI themselves or someone in their family had it and they never saw anyone else with it.  Thanks to Isaiah's page, they felt less alone (even more so because I was able to introduce them to support groups online).  Thanks to Isaiah's page we are really spreading awareness of OI.  It's extremely intimidating at times, and worries me because I know it's the internet and not everyone is kind on the internet...but we continue to post and share Isaiah's life because we want others to understand what OI is and that life with OI is NOT sad or doom and gloom.  It's LIFE.  And life is what you make of it, friends! We choose joy in our life and we hope you do too!

By the way, three months later?  That video that got shared and shared and shared....has continued to be shared...

69,456 times.  Liked by 90,696 people.  Has 4.4 MILLION views and has reached over 11 million people. And counting.

 Jaw-dropping. 

4.) When Isaiah got his Scooot- This was the year he got mobile!

The Scooot was a life saver for us.  Isaiah's doctors weren't sure if a manual chair was the right choose for Isaiah.  They were concerned that the bowing in his arms would cause him to fracture if he pushed himself and that maybe a power chair was the way to go to move independently....but thanks to Jack and his family and friends, we have the Scooot, and Isaiah was able to move it right away.  I took many videos and photos of Isaiah pushing himself around the house and when Isaiah was inpatient for his shunt surgery, I had the chance to show his doctors the videos of him pushing himself.

And there were no more doubts on if Isaiah could push himself.

3.) Isaiah's first vacation: Isaiah went to Disney World!

And it was more than magical.  He loved seeing all of the characters from TV in person (His jaw literally dropped when he saw Mickey for the first time) and rode his first theme park rides!  To see Disney World through Isaiah's eyes was indescribable.

2.) Saying goodbye to the Cpap

Although we still have the travel C-Pap in the house (as a precaution through this flu season), Isaiah was officially cleared to stop using the C-Pap this year.  His obstructive sleep apnea is now mild and he no longer needs support.  To go from needing it 24/7 two years ago, to only at night one year ago to now?  Amazing.  Packing is so much easier now! lol  We're so grateful for the c-pap and how it made Isaiah stronger but we are grateful to finally put an end to that chapter of our lives.  <3

And our favorite highlight of 2015?

1.) Isaiah getting his Wheelchair

Isaiah's First Wheelchair from Vicky Martin on Vimeo.

Isaiah's wheelchair gives him freedom inside and outside our home.  It's so amazing.  I had a number of people share that they expected me to be sad that Isaiah was getting his chair...and I was honestly expecting to feel some sadness...and the day he sat in it for the first time, there were tears...but they were absolutely tears of joy.  To see Isaiah excitedly roll down the hallway to our Christmas tree, to see him roll up to his book and toy shelves and yank everything off of them, to have him make his way up to what catches his eye in stores?  It's incredible.


2015 was a year full of changes and excitement for us, and we hope you had a positive year as well.
For fun you can check out our 2014 highlights here and our 2013 highlights here....but for now, we'll see you next year! :-p

Happy New Year!