There was a time I wasn't sure we would be able to celebrate birthdays for Cash. I mean this in both a literal and figurative sense. This may sound dramatic, but I can assure you this was a possibility.
However, we celebrate! We celebrate a warrior who has beaten the odds. We celebrate a family that arose from the ashes of despair, and we celebrate all the little things that we took for granted before this little miracle joined us in this world.
A named this blog "My Son Will Keep Shining". At the time I started this blog it was purely a hope, a wish, a prayer. I come to you today to confirm he has done just that and he does it so well. We still have our down days, but he always seems to find a way to pick us all up and carry him on his shoulders when we need it most. A perfectly warm, bright and brilliant ray of light-Cashton Wyatt Franek is winning and he chose to bring us along on this journey. We are humbled.
On December 14, 2011, we were told by a doctor to begin planning 24/7 nursing care. We were told he would never breathe, eat, walk or communicate. Within 24 hours of being home he was eating on his own. A year later we removed the supplemental oxygen and he has never gone back except when he had a bad respiratory infection almost two years ago.
Walking is proving to be the biggest hurdle, but his mobility is not in question. He can scoot with the best of em! He will roll, army crawl and even stand with minimal assistance these days. Progress is being made daily and for the first time in 5 years we had not one but two physical therapists tell us they see a future with him walking. Assistance will most likely be required, but at this pace of improvement, they see a future where Cash will be on his own two legs, placing one in front of the other getting where he wants to go. This has always been the end game for us, and we know that with continued prayer, hard work and a little luck he will get there!
Communication is, well, um-not a problem. The boy won't shut up! His vocabulary grows daily. I'd guess he learns somewhere between 4-6 words per week, and each month his diction becomes more and more clear. He is not afraid to try saying 2+ syllable words and he is becoming less "self-centered" when talking to others.
Cash genuinely cares for others feelings, apologizing when necessary and demonstrating empathy for his loved ones. Socially he is a rock star; he is friendly, outgoing and has learned to share. He makes friends and can high five like a boss! This kid is a phenom as far as I am concerned and I believe those who truly know him would agree. I shake my head in disbelief at the growth we have seen, it has been nothing short of incredible.
So here we are, birthday #5, it will be a happy day.
Thank you for keeping up with our little miracle and God bless each of you.
(Cashtons birthday is Nov 3, I'm a hair early)
The Franeks
