Christopher was born on June 3, 2000 nearly three and one half months premature. He weighed one pound and three ounces (544 grams). Christopher was on deaths’s doorstep numerous times during the course of his stay in the newborn intensive care unit, but he never gave up fighting to live. Among his many medical complications were bilateral grade four brain hemorrhages (grade four is the most serious on a scale of one to four). Some doctors predicted that if we did not terminate life support, Christopher would be confined to the life of a vegetable if he lived at all.
After five months in the newborn intensive care unit, Christopher was allowed to come home. His liver was failing, and his doctors skillfully trained us to administer his many medications; manage his oxygen concentrator; operate his continuous feeding mechanism; insert his nasal gastric tube through which his formula was inserted; and monitor his pulse oximeter and apnea alarm device. Miraculously, after Christopher came home, his liver did not continue to deteriorate, but seemingly instantly began to improve. Within months of coming home, his liver function tests were normal.
The brain hemorrhages caused Christopher to experience cerebral palsy. He is unable to walk on his own; unable to talk; and suffers other impairments. His mother and I were determined to give Christopher the opportunity to accomplish everything possible in his life and to give him the opportunity to experience the same things as his siblings. Moreover, Christopher does not allow his limitations to interfere with his enjoyment of all of his activities, and he is always determined to accomplish that which he desires. His abilities far exceed his disabilities.
This web-site is intended to share Christopher’s zeal for life, and video footage of his many experiences. We hope that those who take the time to watch some of Christopher’s adventures will be inspired; feel of his exuberance for life; and perhaps come away with an added determination to not let life’s limitations interfere with happiness.
After five months in the newborn intensive care unit, Christopher was allowed to come home. His liver was failing, and his doctors skillfully trained us to administer his many medications; manage his oxygen concentrator; operate his continuous feeding mechanism; insert his nasal gastric tube through which his formula was inserted; and monitor his pulse oximeter and apnea alarm device. Miraculously, after Christopher came home, his liver did not continue to deteriorate, but seemingly instantly began to improve. Within months of coming home, his liver function tests were normal.
The brain hemorrhages caused Christopher to experience cerebral palsy. He is unable to walk on his own; unable to talk; and suffers other impairments. His mother and I were determined to give Christopher the opportunity to accomplish everything possible in his life and to give him the opportunity to experience the same things as his siblings. Moreover, Christopher does not allow his limitations to interfere with his enjoyment of all of his activities, and he is always determined to accomplish that which he desires. His abilities far exceed his disabilities.
This web-site is intended to share Christopher’s zeal for life, and video footage of his many experiences. We hope that those who take the time to watch some of Christopher’s adventures will be inspired; feel of his exuberance for life; and perhaps come away with an added determination to not let life’s limitations interfere with happiness.