Thursday, April 3, 2008

A doctor to help

Again, I am in awe at how helpful you all have been. I know you are concerned about Dennis and the medical care available to him once he is here. Don't worry, I think he will be in good hands once he is home. I have been in contact with a pediatric plastic surgeon here in our area and he has been very helpful so far. He is willing to squeeze Dennis into his busy schedule as soon as he gets back from doing mission work in North Korea. How awesome is that? The fact that I have found a doctor that emailed me back the very same day to answer my millions of questions and he does mission work is just awesome in my book. Plus, he is extremely optimistic yet realistic about what Dennis will need to have done.

He knows that regardless of whether or not Dennis could be helped, we will love him no matter what, but this doctor is pretty certain that he can improve Dennis' quality of life.....which is all that John and I want for him. The doctor is concerned that the damaged eye is still connected to Dennis' brain and wants to remove it first thing. Later he will replace it with a glass eye. We are assuming that Dennis' left eye is perfectly fine. Secondly, he wants to see if there is cranial damage or if the damage is mainly superficial. He knows that there is some damage done to Dennis' mouth because his teeth are growing upward but that doesn't necessarily mean that the rest of his skull was punctured. Some of you have asked what to pray for specifically, and I would love for you guys to pray that his facial bone has not been damaged.

Naturally, his surgeries will be less invasive if there is no cranial damage, and so of course I hope that his scarring is only skin deep. I know that the less damage there is, the less pain he will have to go through with surgeries to correct it. We are very happy that we found out about Dennis while he is still so young. Not only can he get the love and attention that every child deserves all the sooner, but he can have corrected, the further damage done just through growing. There is evidence that his nose is beginning to pull to one side, but since he is still so young it is safe to assume that this can be fully corrected and his face will not become deformed.

Besides just wanting to wrap my arms around him and love him as my son, I am so happy to think that with us adopting him he will now have the opportunity to get the medical attention he needs to improve his life.... The way he sees, the way he feels, the way he eats, the way people look at him, and just the way that he lives his life. He will finally have the chance to live the life that all of my other children live. Nothing more, nothing less.

15 comments:

Kathy Cassel said...

That's awesome that you've found a doctor. It's amazing what they can do now days. Jasmine has a cleft repair and her nose was also fixed and it's amazing. She has to have surgery for some webbing on her neck soon and I know it will be fine. I'm glad Dennis will have the chance. I can't imagine what his life would be like if he stayed in the O.

Melissa said...

so glad that you found such an amazing doctor. if you dont mind me asking, what exactly did the mom do to him?

crispy said...

So glad that he is going to be in GREAT hands when he comes home to you. And take comfort that he is in his Heavenly Fathers hands now and always.

Dave said...

Praying that his facial bone isn't damaged. I can hardly wait to see the transformation that takes place in him when he's in your care. What an incredible privelige for you to be used to bless this child! Thanks for keeping us posted!
Gina

Troy and Rachel said...

Prayers are def. coming your way! It sounds like he will have the best chance possible with you!! Besides nothing beats a mother and father's love!

Anonymous said...

I think what the mom did to him is probably part of his private story, not for the the blog or us to know.

Kelli said...

miricles do happen, a doc responding that fast is one. hehe. good luck. prayers sent you way.

Debora Hoffmann said...

I'm so excited for Dennis to come home to you and your family. How wondreful that you've found a caring doctor. I'll be praying for Dennis.

Amy said...

Christine -
The fact that you are already READY for Dennis is just awesome! He is already a lucky little boy without even knowing it yet!
I am still amazed at how sane you are with 10 kiddos! What an inspiration you are to me!

Amy :)

ArtworkByRuth said...

We will keep you, Dennis and the doc in our prayers! God is so good to connect you all!

Nataliya said...

How exciting that you found such a great doctor! I absolutely agree with you - the main goal is to improve little Dennis' quality of life. Hopefully there is no deep damage so that it will be easy for him to recover after the surgery!

Unknown said...

Christine, Doctors can do amazing things these days, I am glad you have found someone. I loved Drew before he had his surgery just the same as I love him after, as I know that you do and will love Dennis. I am reminded of a quote from Antoine de Sainte Exupery "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." I am praying for him.
Lea

Rachel said...

Wow, that is so awesome! I will be praying for little Dennis...that he will soon be safe in your arms, and that any needed surgeries will be as successful as they can be.

Joy said...

Your little man has been in my thoughts and conversations since you posted about him. I feel like I am watching a miracle.
Joy

WheresMyAngels said...

For some reason, I forgot to bookmark your blog and now, I just found it again. I've been missing out. That is such great news that you found a doctor. I will pray hard that you will be able to get him soon.