Read more about the article How #Autism unexpectedly influenced our day
Emmett John / My thoughts / Wishes Can Happen

How #Autism unexpectedly influenced our day

We had a pretty amazing day. The parade was a ton of fun and we shared the float with another, amazing wish family. While it was a great experience, it wasn't without its Autism related challenges. Emmett struggled quite a bit because the Wishes Can Happen shirt he was given to wear, didn't fit the way he like his shirts to fit. The sensory issues were in full force and because the shirt was longer than he will wear them, it was a nightmare as we waited for the parade to begin. We were there about an hour and a half early, and it was a very long hour and a half. Once it was time to load onto the float, he ended up doing okay. It was really tough…

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July 23, 2018
Read more about the article If I gave you 100 guesses, you’d never guess what we’ll be doing today
Family Fun / My thoughts / Wishes Can Happen

If I gave you 100 guesses, you’d never guess what we’ll be doing today

Something interesting, exciting and a bit nerve-wracking happened today. While we were at the Akron Zoo, the executive director of Wishes Can Happen say down to speak with us. We were meeting her for the first time and it was a very pleasant visit. ☺ During the visit, she asked if we would be interested in representing Wishes Can Happen in the Hall of Fame community parade and ride on the Wishes Can Happen float. Right off the bat, the boys were super excited and very much wanted to us to say yes, which we did. We will be riding on the Wishes Can Happen float. We're going to be the number seven float in the long line of floats, so we'll be among the first to go and the…

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July 22, 2018
Read more about the article The really cool reason we’re going to the @AkronZoo today
Day Trips / Family Fun / My thoughts / Wishes Can Happen

The really cool reason we’re going to the @AkronZoo today

We're off to the Akron Zoo this morning for a special event sponsored by Wishes Can Happen. For those who don't know, Wishes Can Happen granted Gavin's wish last Fall. It was an amazing experience and you can read about it here. Since then, there have been quite a few additional surprises, the latest being a free trip to the zoo. We were concerned about bad weather this weekend but it looks like it might just hold out. Everyone's excited to go and it will be nice to see the people from Wishes Can Happen, as well as meet some of the other wish families. Last night, we all went for a walk to make sure that Gavin was going to be up to going to the zoo, after having…

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July 21, 2018
Read more about the article Here’s how Gavin’s surgery went at @AkronChildrens Hospital today
Akron Children's Hospital / Gallery / Gastroenterology / Gavin / My thoughts / Surgery

Here’s how Gavin’s surgery went at @AkronChildrens Hospital today

Unfortunately, I'm not feeling very well tonight and I think it's my body turning on me because of all the stress. I'm going to make this super quick because there isn't a great deal of information to share for another week or so. As I said eariler, Gavin's surgery went well. The staff at Akron Children's Hospital are second to none and we are so grateful for how well they treated Gavin. The entire procedure was about thirty minutes and it went smoothly, without any complications. Gavin did well under anesthesia and that was something we were a hit concerned about because of his autonomic disorder. When the doctor met with us after, she explained that almost everything looks great. They only problem they found was in his stomach. There…

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July 20, 2018
Read more about the article A quick update because just got home
Akron Children's Hospital / Gastroenterology / Gavin / My thoughts / Surgery

A quick update because just got home

We just arrived home. Everything went as well as expected. I'll explain what they found a little bit later on. Right now I'm going to be bed. Gavin is taking a nap and sleeping off the rest of the anesthesia. I appreciate all the support we've been shown in the last say or so as we prepped for today. Thank you very much.. ☺ I'll be back after I get some sleep.

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July 20, 2018
Read more about the article We have arrived at @AkronChildrens for Gavin’s surgery
Akron Children's Hospital / Gastroenterology / Gavin / My thoughts / Surgery

We have arrived at @AkronChildrens for Gavin’s surgery

We've made it and made it early, thrifty minutes early to be exact. We had anticipated construction but it didn't occur to me that we would be driving through before the workers started for the day. Anyway, we're here, checked in and waiting for a room. I appreciate all the thoughts and prayers that have been coming in all night. This should be fairly quick and painless. Let me tell you how much I don't want to be awake right now. 😉 Zzzzzzz

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July 20, 2018
Read more about the article Please keep Gavin in your thoughts and prayers
Akron Children's Hospital / Gastroenterology / Gavin / My thoughts / Surgery

Please keep Gavin in your thoughts and prayers

Everything is a go and I'm off to bed cause we have to be up and moving around 4 AM. I'm not looking forward to that at all but I'm grateful it's actually happening that early because Gavin won't have to go without eating any longer than he has to. In theory, and barring any problems, we should be on our way home by lunch time. I don't know if we're picking the kids up on the way home or if we're going to be able to sleep for a bit first. I know that all Gavin cares about is getting a burger on the way home. ☺ Speaking of Gavin, he's very nervous about the procedures. That's a bit unexpected because he was fine the last time. He was…

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July 20, 2018
Read more about the article Gavin’s scheduled for surgery tomorrow but did we get everything worked out?
Akron Children's Hospital / Gastroenterology / Gavin / My thoughts / Surgery

Gavin’s scheduled for surgery tomorrow but did we get everything worked out?

I need to get you all caught up on Gavin's status and whether or not his scheduled surgery is a go for tomorrow. I couldn't really share anything until this afternoon because I didn't get the final word until a few hours ago. There are three things that needed to be addressed before we could move forward with his surgery. So we're on the same page, Gavin is scheduled for a colonoscopy and endoscopy. The doctors refer to it as surgery, I assume that's because of the biopsies but regardless, I'm keeping consistent with what terms his doctors and the hospital are using. I should mention that part of the complication with this whole thing is Gavin's overall health. As a result, he can't have the procedures done the way…

3 Comments
July 19, 2018