Caleb Gainey Caleb Michael

My name is Caleb Michael Gainey

My Birthday is 09-08-2005

I weighed 6lbs 7ozs when I was born, 19" long

I love to eat, play with my toys, talk to my mom and dad, and watch movies!

I have exceeded everything the doctors ever said about me and I want to continue to prove them wrong.



Caleb was born on September 8,2005 @ 8:04am via emergency c-section due to me have pre-eclampsia. I had been in labor for 18 hours and thankfully Dr. Daniel said that was ENOUGH!!! :) When Caleb was born the only thing wrong at that moment was he was low on oxygen and had low blood sugar. Eveything else was perfectly fine! He went home with me & Weldon when he was 2 days old. His first few months everything was fine, all the check-ups were normal, etc. Around 6 months, I started questioning the doctor about him not rolling over, not looking at toys, not sitting up, etc. but the doctor told me that I was a first time mom and that I was just overly worried. Around 9 months of age, we moved to Anderson,SC and I took him there for his 9 mth well check-up only to get floored with loads of questions on top of loads of information. Dr. Moseley (whom I miss dearly!), informed me that Caleb was developmentally delayed and that he needed to get started with therapies, and baby net. I remember being so shocked that I couldn't cry but I eventually broke down. At first Weldon & I were in total denial that anything was majorly wrong, but we've both come to realize that even though Caleb does have problems...he's special to us not matter what!!

 After getting all services started, we started genetic testing to see what exactly was wrong with Caleb. We were sent to Greenwood Genetic Center  in Greenville, SC. We saw Dr. Everman and boy do we love him! He has been so great on our journey with Caleb. It took us 2 years of testing before ever getting the diagnosis of Wolf Hirschhorn Syndrome. WHS is a deletion of the short arm of chromesome #4. After finding out that Caleb has WHS, we took it a step further and had myself & Weldon tested to see where it came from. In the end, it came from me...I have a genetic translocation, which means...I am missing the short arm of #4 but my missing piece is attached to #16. Therefore, genetically I am balanced out.

Once we found out what was wrong then we began on how to help make the problem minor. The therapists were able to treat him better, and do different therapies, etc. At that time he was able to get more services until he turned 3. Once he turned 3 he started in the school system and has been attending Jefferson Elementary school. I absolutely love his teacher, Robin Threatt and couldn't ask for a better school for him to be at or for a better teacher and aides. Caleb loves going to school and has come a long way since beginning school. He is in the afternoon class which runs from 12pm - 2:45pm. I've seen lots of progress from him since he's been in school as well as regression in some areas. I have learned to take the good with the bad when it comes to progression and regression.

At this time in our life the biggest thing that worries us with Caleb is his speech. His speech is where he is the furtherest behind and what seems to have the most regression and progression. It's like once he gets one thing done pat, he loses something else. Hopefully with time all of this will get better and we won't have these worries anymore and on that day I will praise God because if not for Him I would not have Caleb as
I was told I'd never have kids due to Poly Cystic Ovaries Syndrome which causes infertility.

To be continued....