Update on Adam's Story
January 2, 2010
Wow! I can't believe that it has been almost two years (April, 2008) since the Foundation started! It seems like yesterday that Adam started kindergarten. He is now half way through 2nd grade and doing very well! In 2009, Adam really matured in so many ways…
Jeff and I made the decision this year that we were going to let Adam ride the bus to and from school. He loves the bus and really enjoys his new found independence. Adam is now integrated into his second grade regular education room and has a wonderful para (aide) that assists him throughout his day. He is picking up the new routines of his classroom and becoming more and more social each day. Academically he is working on his letters, sight words, numbers, simple addition, features class and functions of his school environment. Adam is talking a lot more and initiating interactions with a multitude of people both verbally and non-verbally. It is very exciting to see!
Adam is still very involved with swimming and continues to take lessons but has gone from individual lessons to group lessons to work on following directions in a group. He is a great swimmer and can swim independently in the deep end of the pool! As his confidence rises he continues to grow as a swimmer.
I received the best Christmas present this year when one day I put Adam on the bus and I said goodbye to him and gave him a kiss. He looked right at me and said, "I love you", with no prompting from me! I was smiling from ear to ear as I walked off the bus. I turned around one last time to see him looking at me with the cutest little smirk on his face. He knew how proud I was of him!
2009 was a very busy year for the Morgan household. We welcomed a new member to our family, Collin Francis Morgan, on 11/28/2009. Adam is excited to welcome a little brother into our family and is very loving and attentive to Collin, as well as Adam's two sisters, Paige and Hailey!
Each day is a challenge and Adam always comes through to rise above the difficulties. He continues to amaze me and everyone around him! Being a mother may at times be thankless but it remains the most rewarding job I have and will ever have in my life! All of my children teach me to be a better person each and every day! Adam teaches me that anything is possible…
Adam's Story
Each morning at 5:30 a.m. I am stirred awake by my adorable blonde haired blue eyed little boy. My son Adam, now six, comes bouncing into my bedroom with a smile from ear to ear giggling with excitement. When he sees me under the covers he climbs in beside me.
I have to tell you, I'm not the biggest morning person in the world. But, when my son wraps his arms around my neck and waits for me to look at him, I always hear these three little words, "Mommy hold you" and it puts a smile on my face every time!
I know in my heart this is my son's way of saying, "I love you and everything you do for me, Mom. Now, in the wee hours of the morning, it's my turn to take care of you for a few minutes to show you how much I appreciate what you do for me."
These precious moments are one of my favorite parts of the day! Our son, Adam, is not your typical six year old but he does amazing things each day. Already, at the small age of six, he has touched so many lives in a positive way. Here is Adam's story…
Adam Jeffrey was born on April 10th, 2002. There were some breathing complications and he was placed under a hood to help with oxygen intake. He also had some difficulty taking a bottle, but overall we were told he was healthy and could come home after the normal hospital stay.
Over the next eight months Adam was a happy contented baby. He was still having some difficulty feeding. It took a long time for him to take his bottle and he had trouble latching onto it. But other than that, he was an extremely laid back baby.
At his eight month check-up, the pediatrician was concerned that Adam was not rolling over, sitting up or tolerating tummy time very well. His motor skills seemed much delayed. She suggested Adam see a neurologist and that we call the First Steps (Early Intervention Program) office to set up an evaluation for him.
Adam qualified for First Steps services and began physical therapy in December, 2002. After our first visit to the neurologist, he suggested an MRI and EEG. The doctor wanted to rule out any medical issues that could be causing Adam's developmental delays. We were also sent to a geneticist.
After two years and multiple tests, we finally had some answers. Adam was almost three and had three different diagnoses. Adam has complex Autism (approximately 30% of the cases) which means that he has other diagnoses in addition to Autism. He also has Perventricular Leukomalicia (PVL) and Fetal Valproic Acid Syndrome.
This was a lot to digest and I blamed myself because I had been on seizure medication during the pregnancy. I realized guilt served no useful purpose so we shifted into high gear. We did a lot of research and let First Steps guide us in what to do for our son. We started on the journey of remediation for our family & our son…
Three years after diagnosis Adam has finished kindergarten and will be entering first grade next month. He is doing very well and has come a long way! He is enrolled in special education classes and receives speech and occupational therapy at school. In addition, he receives occupational therapy twice a week outside of school and Relationship Development Intervention. RDI is a home-based program to help with daily living skills, communication and social skills.
It has been a tough six years but also a very rewarding six years. My husband and I have gone through the ups and downs of raising a child with a disability. We still do - but we know that each day brings a new adventure. We realize we are so blessed to have such a wonderful son and, in addition, now two beautiful daughters!
Written from the heart by Adam's mother,
Rachel Morgan