The Pages

Ok I have not posted updates on Ryder in a bit, so sorry.

This week was a week everyone of Ryder's DR's and therapists have been waiting on! He had a Modified Barium swallow study....to all the non-medical people....The "mbs" is a test that tells whats going on with the swallow. They needed to see if Ryder was asperating.

So Thursday my mom, Ryder, and I headed down to PCH. Great place I must say! WE LOVE PHOENIX CHILDREN'S!! Anyways The test is really cool. They give him every consistency possible of this stuff that shows on an x-ray. The x-ray isnt still shots though. Its an x-ray that you can watch his swallow, and everything really. We watched him swallow....and at this "moment in time" as the Dr put it, Ryder didnt asperate, but each swallow was as close as you can possibly get without asperating. It went right to his airway...then last second went down the correct one. So they are positive he asperates time to time. So we have to thicken every liquid.
Also they diagnosed him with a swallowing disorder....typical with CP kiddos....his suck is SO weak....and When he drinks, the fluid goes up into his nose as well. Which explains why my child ALWAYS sounds stuffy. Poor guy. But agh, he doesn't care or know so we'll let him go on being happy for a bit, then when Dr. Mancuso schedules a surgery....then Ryder will know.
Dr Mancuso will fix his genetic issue with his upper gum, un tongue tie Ryder, Fix the passage to his nasal passage way, and maybe throw tubes in his ears.

The other recent news is Ryder had another DR appt with Dr. Sweetman. She confirmed again that Ryder has 2 forms of CP, one on top one below. Like before, to floppy & weak above, and to stiff on the legs. The medicine to loosen his legs a little, will only cause more trouble in his upper body, so they can only do one thing at this point. BOTOX! they are going to begin botox shots on his body every 3 months. What does Botox do besides making Joan River look like a freak? ? It actually helps out people like Ryder with Cerebral Palsy. It loosens his tight tone for about 3 months at a time. In that time it allows him to get to know his body and what it should do. So we wish him well with that!!

They later will go into his tendons in his ankles and cut them. Detach them. That helps CP kids as well.

She also told us again she won't give Ryder a prognosis for the long run. Because she believes these kids are tough and miracles can happen. But she will say if Ryder stays the way he is...tight below, floppy & weak above, he will be in a wheelchair for his life. But with agressive therapies, that can change. She also said Ryder is NOT mentally retarded. He is very smart, and alert! YAY!!!!

Right now the only thing in Ryders body that is "semi-normal" is his left hand....he uses that for EVERYTHING! we are trying to remind him he has a wonderful right side to!

We are grateful for Ryder. He is a miracle. And such an amazing little spirit we love so much!