There are a lot of details we could fill you in on, but ultimately, all of the details led Detective M to get a confession. You see baby boy was crying because he was hungry. He needed to be fed, and his biological father decided his crying was bothering him, and since he wouldn’t stop, he picked up that sweet baby boy around his rib cage, shook him several times then threw him on the couch. He then bounced off the couch and hit the floor. When the Detective asked what happened next, that man replied, ‘Well, he stopped crying.’
Then he explained how his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he had a seizure. But he didn’t call 911 because he didn’t want to get in trouble. And his wife’s response when told all the details: ‘Well, he gets frustrated sometimes.’ Oh, and by the way, she knew something was wrong with that sweet baby boy but decided to finally give him a bottle and let him be. And that woman, the one who gave birth to him, stood by that abuser even through the criminal trial where a year and a half after we first held that sweet baby boy, his abuser was sentenced to four years in prison. That baby boy was sentenced to a life of disabilities.
Courtesy of Eric and LeAnne Stadler
Now for the happy part of the story. That sweet baby boy, well he was very much loved and cared for. That sweet baby boy fought hard. When we brought him home, not only did we feed him, but we held him. Around the clock, he was held. During the day, he was wrapped to me to hear my heartbeat and feel my skin on his cheeks. At 4 months old, he began therapies. Occupational, physical, and speech for feed. He couldn’t hold up his head for many months; he wasn’t even able to sit up on his own at a year, let alone walk.
We were blessed to find specialists who fought hard with us. They told us they would not tell us what he can or can’t do, but instead would let him tell us. They said the brain is an amazing creation, and neuro-plasticity is an incredible science that allows the brain to heal. And even though he suffered what is known as a TBI (traumatic brain injury) that left him with brain damage, the brain has the ability to, in essence, reformat.
Courtesy of Eric and LeAnne Stadler
At 2 years old, he was diagnosed with Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy, something he will have for the rest of his life. He also has dysphagia, a disorder that affects his ability to eat and swallow, so to this day, he is formula fed to meet his nutritional needs. He also is dyspraxic, so his speech is not on track. His brain knows what it wants to say, but the muscles can’t always figure out how to say it. He finally began walking with the help of special bracing at 2 and a half. Every day he works hard, he fights, he uses ridiculous amounts of energy to get through his day. He has days where his body is just worn out, so he hangs out on the couch most of the day. He isn’t able to keep up with kids his own age, but he is happy! He doesn’t see his differences and he does not let them stop him.
Courtesy of Eric and LeAnne Stadler
He has had a lot of hospital stays in his short life. Because of his different abilities, he is at risk for illness, and it’s hard to fight those illnesses off, so when he gets sick, he gets really sick and tends to wind up in the hospital. He always seems to take them in stride, and the staff at the hospital always fall in love with him because he smiles through it all. He has won the hearts of all his therapists and doctors. Recently, many have shared with us they never imagined he would be at the point he is at today. Even though they didn’t put a cap on what he would do, they have all said they did not expect him to do much. He has far surpassed their expectations. LOVE and nutrition can change a life.
