Ah, where did our spring and summer go? Yes, it seemed to go as quickly as it arrived. School started on August 26th (or thereabouts) and the kids were off to another adventurous year of education. Ethan and Ashlee were very excited about being 1st graders, Connor was hesitant about being in 3rd grade as the term "homework" now entered his daily vocabulary and task journal. So far however everyone seems to be handling his/her own and doing well-- Ethan in particular seems to taking right off with this teacher--of which I am very thankful for. In fact, right off the get go, he got a 100% on his very 1st spelling test! Yahoo!
Outside of school, its the typical routine and we're still outside playing and on occassion riding bike. Nevertheless, Ethan is becoming quite fluent with his "crunches" (as he calls them) and we are often seen flying around the stores with him in tow... In fact the last 2 times in Wal-mart I found myself saying words I never thought I'd hear myself say... "Ethan Michael Radtke--STOP RUNNING or your in the cart!"... I literally had to stop and repeat that phrase to myself and then looked at my husband and said..."Did I really just say that?" To let you know how that story ended... Ethan opted to NOT stop running and he did run the consequence of riding in the cart (as we would have done to his brother/sister too if it were them)for the short duration of our shopping trip. Bottom line though is that he is mobile, moving and loving it!
We have an appt scheduled at the end of this month to re-do the Gait Analysis Lab in Mnpls so that will tell us what our next orthopedic surgeries will be as we still have some bone twists and muscle lengthenings to deal with. We're hoping the surgeries will be this year yet...With that being said, DisneyWorld will likely be put on hold another year until he can get physically stronger. The kids are bummed but we think it will be the best for everyone... Another summer trip is being planned however as we may take in the Omaha Zoo and some other sites next year.
The rest of the family is maintaining though and not skipping a beat. We again are involved in HOPE Incorporated and went to our 1st fall Soccer game today of which all 3 kids participated. The energy is so great there and I often find myself energized just by watching the kids. As a line in a movie went "I don't need Easy...I just need possible"... these kids portray that statement on a daily basis as they do the things most people never would dream they could do. In addition, HOPE Inc defintely plays a part in the possible piece as well by helping the kids achieve their goals. All in all they are an incredible group to belong to...
Anyhow...I've went on for a while now. Thanks for your continued prayers and support.
Until later,
Lisa
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
A call from Washington
I've never considered myself a political person but before my own eyes, I've found myself becoming a lobbiest for Stem cell research. The other day in fact, I received a call from Washington DC. It was one of our ND senator's offices and they had seen Ethan's videos...We're hoping that Ethan's progress will push the funding committee to invest the allotted funds toward adult stem cell research in the near future. We had always joked about us going to capitol hill and now here we are... it might be closer to reality than we realized...or so I hope.
Other than that, we are doing well. Ethan is officially POTTY TRAINED! Yeah!!! Yet another feat that we weren't sure would ever be accomplished but he did it and better yet...he doesn't need any help! Yeah! Anyhow...that's likely tooo much information but it was exciting so I thought I'd share.
I've posted our latest TV interviews...(see below)...enjoy!
Until later...
Lisa
Other than that, we are doing well. Ethan is officially POTTY TRAINED! Yeah!!! Yet another feat that we weren't sure would ever be accomplished but he did it and better yet...he doesn't need any help! Yeah! Anyhow...that's likely tooo much information but it was exciting so I thought I'd share.
I've posted our latest TV interviews...(see below)...enjoy!
Until later...
Lisa
Thursday, July 14, 2011
I believe in Miracles--our 1 year anniversary
Where did the year go? Tomorrow is July 15th and it was one year ago that we were in Dusseldorf, Germany waiting for our little miracle to happen. Today we're not waiting any longer as our miracle is here.
I think back to that day...it was a day of many tears. Yes, I was afraid...more afraid of the unknown than anything but I truly think that they were more tears of happiness than anything. The one thing that our child wanted...we were attempting. It wasn't that one toy that your child "HAS" to have...it was something simple...a pair of legs that work. What more could one little boy ask for?
Today... we have a little 6 yr old boy, running (okay...walking very fast) with his crutches. He climbs our playhouse ladder, goes down the slide, kicks the ball with his brother, rides a bike (and wipes out too), he does it all (including gets put on timeouts)... He's an every day run of the mill little boy. He loves the Nintendo DS and the Wii... and more times than not, he loves to pick on his sister (sometimes he sits on her)...
Life is good. Yes, we still have our challenges and his walking pattern might not be "pretty"...but you know what? I don't care. My child is happy & he's successful in reaching his goals at this stage of his life. What more could a parent ask for. We have absolutely no regrets and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Anyhow... today we had 2 news inteviews with FOX and NBC. I'll post them as available. Both went incredibly well and even the news people were astonished at where Ethan is today. He definitely has come out of his shell.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us this past year, we couldn't have made it without your support and prayers.
Until later...Lisa
I think back to that day...it was a day of many tears. Yes, I was afraid...more afraid of the unknown than anything but I truly think that they were more tears of happiness than anything. The one thing that our child wanted...we were attempting. It wasn't that one toy that your child "HAS" to have...it was something simple...a pair of legs that work. What more could one little boy ask for?
Today... we have a little 6 yr old boy, running (okay...walking very fast) with his crutches. He climbs our playhouse ladder, goes down the slide, kicks the ball with his brother, rides a bike (and wipes out too), he does it all (including gets put on timeouts)... He's an every day run of the mill little boy. He loves the Nintendo DS and the Wii... and more times than not, he loves to pick on his sister (sometimes he sits on her)...
Life is good. Yes, we still have our challenges and his walking pattern might not be "pretty"...but you know what? I don't care. My child is happy & he's successful in reaching his goals at this stage of his life. What more could a parent ask for. We have absolutely no regrets and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Anyhow... today we had 2 news inteviews with FOX and NBC. I'll post them as available. Both went incredibly well and even the news people were astonished at where Ethan is today. He definitely has come out of his shell.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us this past year, we couldn't have made it without your support and prayers.
Until later...Lisa
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Summer Time Enjoyment and our Next Steps
June is FINALLY here as is our warmer weather!
The kids are having a great time being outside. Ethan continues to get stronger and its so much fun watching him walk around the backyard doing things this year that we never imagined him ever being able to do. Over the last few weeks in May, he decided to start "walking" down and off the bus steps. He simply got his footing, grabbed the rails and carefully walked off. His bus driver, Lois, was so helpful and made sure that he didn't fall each and every night. She was a God-send! Never the less, the pride that showed on Ethan's face every night was something that made me beam as well..."Look mom--I did it" and then with a headstart, he'd race to the front steps, giggling all the way as he walked with his crutches, leaving poor mom in the dust...
Bike riding has gotten better and our rides are getting longer...hence my "workout". One of Ethan's favorite "games" is to let me get close enough to him; he'll look back; squeal and then put his pedaling into high gear...this game is repeated by the little stinker many times-
Well...our next journey begins in September as we'll be driving to Mnpls for a couple of days to repeat the Gait Lab (we previously had one back in Feb 2010) to determine what surgery needs to be done next. We're suspecting that some bone twists will need to be corrected along with some other orthopedic needs but we'll just have to wait and see what the dr's want to do. Honestly...the thought of driving in the cities gives me an anxiety attack but...we'll make it through as we always have and as one of my friends reminded me of the other day...we won't have to go through customs (which was one of the things I fretted about when we went to Germany last summer--don't ask)... Our only other concern at this point is how surgery will all play into our plans to go to DisneyWorld next year (planned for end of Feb/1st of March)... but again...it will work out and we will cross that bridge when we get there).
Otherwise, life has been good...no more nasty emails/comments since my last post. So I'm hoping it stays that way. After my last post, I had so many supportive comments from friends/supporters--THANK YOU! Those comments mean the world to us.
Well..that's its for now. Have a great summer...Until later..
Lisa
The kids are having a great time being outside. Ethan continues to get stronger and its so much fun watching him walk around the backyard doing things this year that we never imagined him ever being able to do. Over the last few weeks in May, he decided to start "walking" down and off the bus steps. He simply got his footing, grabbed the rails and carefully walked off. His bus driver, Lois, was so helpful and made sure that he didn't fall each and every night. She was a God-send! Never the less, the pride that showed on Ethan's face every night was something that made me beam as well..."Look mom--I did it" and then with a headstart, he'd race to the front steps, giggling all the way as he walked with his crutches, leaving poor mom in the dust...
Bike riding has gotten better and our rides are getting longer...hence my "workout". One of Ethan's favorite "games" is to let me get close enough to him; he'll look back; squeal and then put his pedaling into high gear...this game is repeated by the little stinker many times-
Well...our next journey begins in September as we'll be driving to Mnpls for a couple of days to repeat the Gait Lab (we previously had one back in Feb 2010) to determine what surgery needs to be done next. We're suspecting that some bone twists will need to be corrected along with some other orthopedic needs but we'll just have to wait and see what the dr's want to do. Honestly...the thought of driving in the cities gives me an anxiety attack but...we'll make it through as we always have and as one of my friends reminded me of the other day...we won't have to go through customs (which was one of the things I fretted about when we went to Germany last summer--don't ask)... Our only other concern at this point is how surgery will all play into our plans to go to DisneyWorld next year (planned for end of Feb/1st of March)... but again...it will work out and we will cross that bridge when we get there).
Otherwise, life has been good...no more nasty emails/comments since my last post. So I'm hoping it stays that way. After my last post, I had so many supportive comments from friends/supporters--THANK YOU! Those comments mean the world to us.
Well..that's its for now. Have a great summer...Until later..
Lisa
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Finding a bridge over troubled waters
Well, it looks like warm(er)weather has finally decided to come to our area...the kids are having a blast being outside and Ethan is becoming quite fast on his bike...occassionally I even find myself out of breath trying to keep up with him.
Outside of that we all are doing well and keeping in stride. We visited with the orthopedic surgeon yesterday and have some decisions coming up in regards to next steps and handling Ethan's hamstrings. More updates will likely follow in the next few weeks.
The last few weeks have been tough for me in particular. With some changes (not all details are known), the clinic we visited in Germany has closed. Some say temporary; some say permanent. Thankfully none of the known reasons include health risks but turn towards more political & ethical ventures.
Needless to say, people have been taking it upon themselves to gobble up the "scandal" and to suddenly become 'experts' on the topic. Labels such as "pathetic", "desperate" & "Suckers" have been placed on many parent(s) who have taken their child for treatment at the associated clinic.
In the last few days, I've received some harsh emails-none of which I have commented back on but instead have deleted; one comment regarding my son directly and one questioning how I can call myself a good mother. Both very hurtful. I realized that when we went into this adventure, that it was full of controversy but in turn it frustrates me when people like to comment in such a manner without knowing all the facts. In the end, I'm looking it as an opportunity to learn how to be a stronger/wiser person and as a chance to develop that "thick skin" everyone talks about.
Overall, whatever the case, what I can say is that my wonderful son has IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY and is enjoying life more than ever--thanks to the treatment. Neither myself nor my husband have any regrets.
What amazes me even more is that people are continuing to seek treatment and while the door to Germany may have closed, parents are continuing to seek opportunities to go to elsewhere to have their loved ones treated in hopes of seeing improvement. They will not give up and for that they have my full admiration and support.
That's about it for now but again, prayers & support are much appreciated as we lumber though this time of uncertainty and craziness.
Outside of that we all are doing well and keeping in stride. We visited with the orthopedic surgeon yesterday and have some decisions coming up in regards to next steps and handling Ethan's hamstrings. More updates will likely follow in the next few weeks.
The last few weeks have been tough for me in particular. With some changes (not all details are known), the clinic we visited in Germany has closed. Some say temporary; some say permanent. Thankfully none of the known reasons include health risks but turn towards more political & ethical ventures.
Needless to say, people have been taking it upon themselves to gobble up the "scandal" and to suddenly become 'experts' on the topic. Labels such as "pathetic", "desperate" & "Suckers" have been placed on many parent(s) who have taken their child for treatment at the associated clinic.
In the last few days, I've received some harsh emails-none of which I have commented back on but instead have deleted; one comment regarding my son directly and one questioning how I can call myself a good mother. Both very hurtful. I realized that when we went into this adventure, that it was full of controversy but in turn it frustrates me when people like to comment in such a manner without knowing all the facts. In the end, I'm looking it as an opportunity to learn how to be a stronger/wiser person and as a chance to develop that "thick skin" everyone talks about.
Overall, whatever the case, what I can say is that my wonderful son has IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY and is enjoying life more than ever--thanks to the treatment. Neither myself nor my husband have any regrets.
What amazes me even more is that people are continuing to seek treatment and while the door to Germany may have closed, parents are continuing to seek opportunities to go to elsewhere to have their loved ones treated in hopes of seeing improvement. They will not give up and for that they have my full admiration and support.
That's about it for now but again, prayers & support are much appreciated as we lumber though this time of uncertainty and craziness.
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