Hi friends and family,

It's hard to believe how quickly time has passed since our last update. I want to briefly touch on a couple of events from February before sharing our latest and hopeful news. Following a couple of challenging nights that required emergency trach changes, Cliff's condition stabilized, and he also underwent successful laser eye surgery. Whew! Hopefully the last procedure for a while.

Now for the exciting updates: Cliff has been making remarkable progress in his recovery and growth. His smiles are becoming more frequent and his interaction with the world around him grows each day, which makes my mama heart very happy. He's also worked his way up to taking bottles for EVERY FEED! This is very uncommon for a kiddo with a trach - his Speech Therapist is very impressed. That means we haven't been using his G-Tube for feedings, only giving medications. One surprising update that we were not expecting is that Cliff was diagnosed with hearing loss. Thankfully it's mild to moderate and can be supported with a hearing aid. He also received his helmet to correct his flat head. What's another couple of accessories right?! But really, we're thankful for everything available to support him and help him thrive. The medical team is also thrilled with his progress, particularly with his respiratory support, which is being gradually reduced.

An important development in Cliff's journey is his upcoming transition to a home ventilator later this week, assuming all continues to go well. This move is crucial as it brings us one step closer to bringing him home. If he adapts well to the home vent and maintains stability over the next four weeks, our hope is to finally have him home by June. Can you believe it?! 

With this goal in sight, Codey and I are busy with preparations. We’re completing our training on trach care and emergency responses, assembling a dedicated team of nurses, and organizing the necessary medical equipment at our home. It’s a lot to coordinate, but each step forward is incredibly motivating. We're so ready for our family to finally be together under one roof, but we know the journey ahead will be challenging. 

We're nearly at the end of this chapter in the NICU, thanks to the immense support from each of you and the unwavering efforts of Cliff’s medical team. Your thoughts and prayers continue to uplift us, and we look forward to sharing more positive updates soon.

With immense gratitude and love,

Sadie and Codey