Local News/Donation Button

Hello everyone,

     We are super excited to say that our local news, KOAA News First 5, Colorado Springs' own Jennifer Horbelt will be here in the morning to do a story on Peyton. We can't wait to spread the word and try to help people in Peyton's position have an opportunity to walk on their own. Of course we will let you know as soon as possible when it will be airing.

     We are also happy to announce that we added a "Donate" button on the site. We are asking anyone who might like to donate to Peyton's cause and help he and his family get to St Louis for his surgery.  We have almost everything covered for Peyton and his Daddy to go, but we really feel he needs the support of his Mommy, older sister, and of course his twin brother. We originally thought he and his daddy going would be enough, but after each of three round of Botox injections, two rounds of Phenol Nerve Blocks, and an fMRI of his brain, he ALWAYS asks where his brother is. And every time he's sees his "Sissy" after surgeries he lights up. And of course Mommy needs to be there to comfort him more than daddy can do.

     We're not asking for a lot, just some to help offset the additional costs of lodging and meals for the rest of his family.

Thanks everyone, we will be back soon with the story of the news interview, and some photos of course.

24 Days!!!

Hello all. Sorry it has been so long since our last update, but things have been ABSOLUTELY crazy here with all of us. I am extremely happy to report that all of the paperwork is finished for our trip, we have everything we need to hit the road. The only thing left is to purchase a few things and pack our bags. Needless to say these last few weeks will fly by, especially since just a few days Melissa's doctor decided it was best she has tendon surgery on her arm as soon as possible. That procedure was completed on the 29th, she is doing well, but we pray she gets better by the 27th so she can be as involved as she wants to be. She's tough, and a hell of a mom, so I am sure she will be ready.

For those of you in the Colorado Springs area, we will be having a little "Good Luck Peyton" party on the 10th. If you would like to come, just let us know. We will also be having another get together after we get back from St. Louis; more to come on that one.

This week, Wednesday, March 7th, the local news will be at the house doing a story on Peyton before he goes, and another one once he gets back. We are super excited, primarily so we can get the message of the SDR and other great things for people with CP out to the public. We are going to request a DVD with the story, if we get it we will for sure put it on here for all of you to see.

Thanks for keeping tabs everyone, I promise you these post will increase drastically once we hit the road so stay tuned...

SDR surgery details.

I found this video through our Facebook SDR site and thought I'd share it with you so it was clear to everyone what the SDR procure was really about. This is a great clip of how Dr. Park does the entire surgery and what this little boys endures while he is recovering. As of now the only difference that Peyton will be experiencing is a new epidural pain medicine that will last for three days post surgery. Almost giving him a pain-free experience while he is on bed rest. Please feel free to share and educate those who do not know enough about SDR so more families' and most of all, children can have the dream of walking like you and I!

"Paint the Town" with the EFMP from Peterson AFB

Today we took part in a program that benefits children in need. This group is called EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program). This even was put on for free for our entire family and others like us. It was held at "Paint the Town" located in Colorado Springs, CO (www.paint-the-town.com) The boys and Valerie had so much fun. Todd and I dedicated our paintings to the boys, they love their super heros! Valerie did her's all by herself. 

 Peyton sitting in a chair as we are getting ready to leave. He did so good today! 

Me, Aiden, Todd, Peyton & Valerie. This is our amazing family <3 

Monday Apt. in Denver

Sorry this is late, but I'm feeling a little under the weather.

We headed up to Denver yesterday (Monday) to visit with Peyton's doctor who gives him Botox and Phenol block injections. We wanted to touch base with her so she knew what was going to be happening in the next month. We also wanted to ask her for advice in his current medications because Peyton cannot have his Baclofen at least two weeks prior to SDR.

Dr. Stratton was pleased to see how well Peyton was using his hip-flexors and crawling so well. She told us continuing with his Valium is ok and that we could go up a few marks to help give him relief during his muscle spasms. Besides a long day in Denver and a much needed lunch at iKea, we headed home with two very tired boys. Just another step toward St. Louis..

AMAZING DAY

Wow what a day, first we started off with our typical Thursday therapy routine. Peyton wasn't cooperating, Aiden spiked a fever and that threw me off right away. We had a full day planned, Aiden had a very important eye apt that was about to get canceled due to sick kiddos.
While we were at the pedestrians office , I thought lets get this referral going just incase we have any hiccups! I was in the referral guys office for an hour, he submitted two of the three which went through super FAST! I thought wow, no way. Then came the surgery one. It was declined. Really? I just want one thing to go smoothly. So I left his office with semi high hopes I'd get a phone call in a few weeks that things had been ironed out. As I was walking out Todd (AKA daddy) called and said Tri-care saw the referral and it was declined because it was entered in wrong. I could not run back down the hallway fast enough and ask him to re-enter it in again.

He did and not even 5 minutes later and I had tears in my eyes, then running down my face because it had gone through!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am overly joyed and excited, today has been amazing! Hope is just around the corner <3

Peyton's First video.

Hello all, Thank you for viewing my page. This is a start to the new journey we are up for in 2012. I call this the year of HOPE. Since last year, we submitted our application for Peyton to have a surgery called SDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizontomy). For more information on this surgery please check out this link: http://www.stlouischildrens.org/content/medservices/aboutselectivedorsalrhizotomy.htm
With the help of Dr. Park and his team we have a surgery date of March 27th. This surgery is so life changing Peyton will have the ability to walk. Something to many of us take for granted! We are new to blogging so if you have any suggestions please feel free to let us know. 

Our goal is to get his story out there and give HOPE to someone else who is struggling with the same challenges! I call them challenges because this is something you can overcome.