Jack's Page

Hello. Welcome to Jack's Page. He is approximately thirty-three months post Stem Cell Transplant. Here is Jack with his big brother Noah at Christmas time. Please pray for Jack to grow stronger and to be able to avoid any potential sicknesses as he recovers- - David

Address 4284 E. Woodland Springfield,MO 65809 (417)881-0163 Home!, Home!, Home!

Journal

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:45 PM CDT

HELLO!!!!!!!!!!! It has been a long time I know. So much has happened I don't know where to begin. Jack is doing awesome, but he has had a very tough year. He had his shunt replaced last May, 2 double knee surgery's,(2 plates and 4 screws in each knee) many hospital visits due to headaches and throwing up, and.. my worst fear, 4 days before Christmas he had spinal fusion. This was absolutely horrible! We spent 8 days in the hospital, and Christmas. He has 3 rods and 16 screws in his back. Jack came home in a body brace that he wore for 4 months and then a back brace for 2 more months after that. He spent 4 months on the couch or in bed! He could not walk or bend or anything! This was very tough but he was such a trooper and never complained. He is awesome. I think it was harder on David and I to watch him go through this. Just last week we went for his 6 month check-up and had great news, the first in a while. He no longer needs to wear the brace but we have to be very careful with him, no running,(right), no falling or rough play. Jack will start Kindergarten in the fall! He is very bright. He tested out above and beyond his age group. Socially though he could be better. He is shy and temid around strangers, but his therapist say that it will get better once he is in school and in a routine. He has been homebound or in the hospital so much that he needs the interaction with other kids and teachers. He is going to a 3 week class this summer to prep him for school. At first he did not want to go, but now loves it!!!!!!
Last summer we did go on our Make-A-Wish trip to Give Kids the World in Orlando. Oh my gosh! I have heard people say amazing things about that place but had no idea. That was by far, BY FAR, the best week of our lives!!! A perfect week. We had so much fun and laughed non stop.
Jack is totally obsessed with baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals. He watches every game, plays t-ball, (no batting or running), and we have season tickets to the Springfield Cardinals, the Double A league of the St. Louis Cardinals. Last week they asked Jack to throw out the first pitch but when he got out there he got embarrased and let Noah throw it. It was a great throw by the way. We have been to several games in St.Louis too.
David has started his own private law firm this month and business is going very well so far. I am back to work full time now as an air traffic controller. I work weekends which I don't care for too much but it lets me be home mon-thurs with the boys and David, and David gets his time with them on weekends. It works out pretty good except I don't get a day off with David unless we schedule it in advance. Noah will start 3rd grade this fall. He is really into soccer and just made tryouts and the team for Springfield Soccer Club. We are very excited for him. We are trying to resume a "normal" life. I will be a bit relieved when Jack starts school this fall. I have never had any time to myself in the last 5 years, so Im ready to just chill a bit and hope all goes well with Jack. He has had so many surgery's we've lost count. He is quite an impressive little boy. He is growing tall and handsome. He has achieved so much and has been through so much. I just want a normal life for him. I know there will always be some complications but I guess we will continue taking it one day at a time.
Please leave us a message, I love to hear from you! Gina

I will get knew picures up in a couple of days, you have got to check out how much Jack has changed!

Hospital Information:

Patient Room: 000000

Now at home
None
see above
000-000-0000

E-mail Author: ginashuler@sbcglobal.net

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