Brisan and Parker Stults | Living with Niemann-Pick Type C

Archive for May, 2010

This week has flown by! While our yard is developing it's jungle tendencies, both Brisan and Parker have had issues this week with mucas and drainage. They were coughing like they where standing on jack hammers every morning. Many of you know that for Brisan this is always an issue because of that life long sinus infection he has! I sure hope we can figure out these polyps in his nasal cavities.

On Tuesday Duncan had somehow hurt his knee so Jenn was instructed to take him into the ER. He seems fine now and maybe just accidentally bumped it pretty good.I think it might be a case of being a “boy”.

Starting this week through a program called Carousel which is palliative care for serious ill children, we have a registered nurse that comes a total of four hours a week. That will be nice to have because if something is pretty urgent then they can come over anytime we need them. We also have a social worker that also will come by. Also let's not forget the dietitian every few weeks to check on our needs if any at that time. Brisan and Parker will also get music therapy every few weeks too! That should be fun for them!   I laugh because if you turn on MTV or something like that…they all just kinda of stair!

Oh yeah…the van overheated pretty good. Looks like the head gasket needs to be replaced. 🙁

This weekend there is a softball tourney called “Battin' for Batten Disease” First Annual Softball Tournament. It is a very similar disease as Niemann-Pick Type C but strikes very quickly. We have a friend who's daughter is affected and not doing well who arranged this. Doesn't matter who you are….arranging fundraiser's isn't for the faint of heart!

Thank you to everyone for keeping us in your prayers. It is truly your caring and support that helps us because we know I'm not superman and Jennifer isn't superwoman!

Did we say how nice it was to be actually home all week and not traveling? This past Monday Brisan was able to access his port-a-cath for the first time since surgery on April 7, 2010. It was a calm week besides all the work Jennifer put into getting ready for the IEP meeting for Brisan, Parker, and Duncan on Friday the 7th.

Brisan's first usage of his port-a-cath

The meeting overall went well. Since Brisan is moving into Kindergarten next year, we needed to have the discussion on what was next for him. It was an emotionally charged atmosphere at times. We all know with Niemann-Pick Type C Disease that the outcome isn't pretty with the grim truth that there might not be an abundance of schools years left.  As a family we had many concerns if GV school district could accommodate us.

Brisan will essentially be going from 8:30 to noon, which isn't much different from now. He will participate in the regular class with his peers and also eat lunch with them. They agreed to hire an LPN for Brisan and starting Monday they will have an additional Para in the class for both of them for the remainder of the school year and beyond. Next year Brisan and Parker will both be in different buildings which poses a challenge. It probably is unlikely they will hire two LPN's.

The IEP isn't final until they formally write it up and give us our 10 days to review. We also spoke about Duncan starting next January. Parker's IEP will be talked about in this upcoming week.

Overall the stark truth was very sad and disheartening as we listened to all his inabilities. This is the time reality sets in and gives you a smack across the cheek. Just over the course of a year Brisan has regressed in a lot of his abilities. For others who are outside our home it might be hard to completely see this digression.

We will write more later! Honestly there is way too much to write about. If you have any questions please feel free to email Jennifer or myself .

Below are some pictures of Brisan graduating preschool on Thursday May 6, 2010.

It's been a week ago tomorrow evening (Monday) that we were finally able to return home after Parker's crazy situation while in DC. Nothing new has transcribed since we've been back with our doctors. You almost get the feeling that with Brisan's sinus polyps and Parker's blood redirection or loss that no one has an answer.  Leaves you wondering what shall happen next?  Brisan's sinus situation is so bad that it is causing his right eye to matte shut and consistently be weepy. Our new nickname for Brisan is “Pirate Pete”. That is what he looks like! Hopefully we can get somewhere!

Friday  we have an important IEP meeting with the Grain Valley School District regarding the future of the boys. Jennifer will be busy gathering information and coordinating up until then. The meeting will speak to all points hopefully on how they can and cannot fulfill the needs of Brisan and Parker. We also will speak about Duncan going next January to school. . There will be probably upwards of 20 people in attendance to discuss this matter.

Brisan is suppose to start Kindergarten in the fall. After three hours in the morning now he is completely wore out! There is no way in the world the little man can go all day. They would allow him to go a half a day from previous conversations, eat lunch at his own leisure, and allow additional attention to his needs. Many things besides what some would call “minor decisions” for us. The important issue here is safety, the schools funding of the special needs program, and if they can provide for our children. No hard feelings if they cannot.

Some would say that his progress is indeterminable because he has been absent from school a lot. Regardless, Niemann-Pick Type C is already taking it's toll on him and Parker. All we've seen from my recent memory is digression in all areas from quarterly updates.

We feel that there is a better alternative for both boys out there. With a state representative telling us that our school district will be losing  $400,000  in funding in the upcoming school year, this doesn't point to a sign that says they can fulfill the basic needs for our sons.