Better Place

Music is something that helps me every day.  While in the hospital with Max, I heard a song from Rachel Platten, "Better Place"...the lyrics are probably about a crush or romance but for me, it expresses how I feel since my children have come into my life. I'm not the best singer but started singing this song to both kids to express how much they mean to me.  It is a better place since they've been in my life, regardless of the struggles and mountains we've faced. I seem to get an expression and reaction from Max each time I sing this to him (audio here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50gPTzjhmhA):

I'll tell the world, I'll sing a song
It's a better place since you came along
Since you came along
Your touch is sunlight through the trees
Your kisses are the ocean breeze
Everything's alright when you're with me

And I hold my favorite thing
I hold the love that you bring
But it feels like I've opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
There's a song in my heart, I feel like I belong
It's a better place since you came along
It's a better place since you came along

I see the whole world in your eyes
It's like I've known you all my life
We just feel so right
So I pour my heart into your hands
It's like you really understand
You love the way I am

And I hold my favorite thing
I hold the happiness you bring
But it feels like I've opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
And the sun paints the skies and the wind sings our song
It's a better place since you came along
It's a better place since you came along

Now I'm alright, now I'm alright
Everything's alright

Cause it feels like I've opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
There's a song in my heart, I feel like I belong
It's a better place since you came along
It's a better place since you came along

The month of February was a scary one for us. Just when you think you are doing everything you can to stay out of the hospital and you have all of the equipment needed at home to keep Max comfortable...the unthinkable happens.  Max was rushed to the emergency room on Feb 3rd because he couldn't breathe. His home health nurse saved his life and kept him stable until the paramedics could get there.  We are so grateful she was there that afternoon. Although x-rays never showed that the pneumonia was completely gone, clinically he was doing better and had slowly been able to do more and didn't seem to be in as much pain. We thought we were on the right track.

When I got the emergency call, I was at work and ran out of the office and sped to the hospital. Once at the hospital, Max was put on a ventilator. That was the scariest decision to have ever made - although there wasn't much choice for him.  We weren't sure if he'd ever come off when we made the choice to put him on it. The ER staff was amazing - told us what was going on and what was happening. I had held it together until we made the choice to put him on the vent...in my mind I wasn't ready to lose him and to have to make a choice to keep him on or take him off in my mind was too much. Seeing his lifeless little body on the table was terrifying and I lost it and had to sit down because I thought I was going to pass out - it caught up with me. How did this happen so quickly? It turned out that Max had both bacterial pneumonia AND RSV (which can be a cold to most people but in small children, it can take their life - even kids without Krabbe).

The days to follow were very up and down. Some days he was doing great - other days they couldn't turn the ventilator up much more without harming his lungs. He went into the hospital as a one year old and came out a 2 year old. On his birthday, he had a good day. His stats were good. He got to meet Ironman and we had a small family party celebrating Max. We decorated his room in a superhero theme and everyone who came into his room smiled.  The Monday after his birthday, we didn't know if he'd make it through the night the way the doctor was talking. Somehow this little superhero decided that it wasn't his time and he fought to a point where they thought they could take him of the ventilator. They told us the vent wasn't doing much so they thought they'd try to take him off.  That first 24 hours were very up and down.  Everyone would come racing into his room because his stats would fall so low and then slowly his numbers would return to normal slowly on his own. Since we had been in the hospital, we hadn't had the opportunity to hold Max because there were so many wires and tubes and lines connected to him. It had been a rough night after taking him off of the ventilator and the doctor that morning during rounds asked if we had held him yet - I told him I wanted to. I held Max for 3-4 hours and then Josiah got to do the same.  You could see him relax...his numbers stabilized...the doctor came in and looked at both of us..."I can do a lot of things medically to help him...but I can't do that. Good job, Mom and Dad." Tears filled my eyes.

It took another 4-5 days until Max was stable enough to go home. The doctor told us that for most kids, they wouldn't be released because he was still on oxygen and other things...but because of his condition and because we basically have a small hospital of equipment at home, we could take him home if we were comfortable to do so. I have to be honest - I was nervous. I didn't want this to happen again but I was so grateful to all be under the same roof again.  No more trips back and forth from the hospital...no more trying to find out who to keep Emma if both of us needed to be at the hospital.  No more worrying from home when it was my turn to be home and Josiah was at the hospital. He did great and slowly we got back into a routine and we were happy to all be home.

In the weeks to follow, Max was assigned a local pulmonologist who has given us a game plan of what to do when he is well, getting sick and sick...so his lungs stay open and clear. It has worked well...I found myself getting the flu shortly after being home - my body shut down with little sleep and finally just being able to be home. Max was starting to get junky again, probably because of my illness - but the treatments helped tremendously and he seems to be back on track.

We are back to our "normal" which to most people is anything but normal. We are grateful to have more time on Earth with our son. It was an emotional rollercoaster but we wanted to thank all of the most amazing nurses at Banner Thunderbird and his doctors in the ICU.  Everyone took care of Max and us.  They helped us all through tough and weak moments but we were able to joke and laugh during the good moments with them.  Thanks to all of our family and friends who helped with Emma, visited the hospital, sent us care packages, sent Max birthday gifts and sent messages, prayers and love.  With such an amazing amount of love surrounding our family - we are able to get through the hard times and come out stronger.  Thank you for your support.  There are never enough words to express our gratitude.

We are looking forward to taking Max out again soon and celebrating each day as a complete family. We are in a "Better Place" and hope to stay here for awhile.

~Allison

Diagnosis Day

Shortly after diagnosis

Last night a few people sent me messages and the Krabbe community was buzzing on social media about a child being diagnosed with Krabbe on the show Chicago Med.  I have never personally watched the show, but I was curious how it would be portrayed so I checked the timing and recorded the show. After the kids were in bed, I asked Josiah if he would watch it with me. I had mixed feelings myself about watching it and I could tell he did as well.  But we both sat down and watched it together just to see how it was portrayed.

Overall the portrayal of the disease and treatment options was correct.  We are glad that the awareness of the disease was featured on a popular national show. It was an episode that pulled at the heartstrings...it is our reality in a lot of ways. There were some unrealistic things...timing to get the test results back for Krabbe in the show and being diagnosed so quickly is rare...it takes weeks. The child was a little older than the more common versions of the disease but it isn't unheard of and can happen with late onset. Even having a doctor who knows to test for Krabbe is so rare... That would have been amazing in the real world...so many kids go misdiagnosed for so long (but again it is only a 60 minute show).  The hardest part for the two of us was the scene where the doctor had to tell the parents that their child was terminally ill and there was no treatment unless diagnosed when there were no symptoms present. It brought back diagnosis day....we both remember it vividly.

Max with Josiah - starting to struggle holding his
 head and couldn't sit on his own anymore.

We all went through a month of hospital visits, tests and doctor's appointments to try and figure out what was wrong. December 1st, 2014, we were in the lobby of the neurologist's office for an appointment to talk about additional procedures we could do to try to figure out his diagnosis.  We saw so many children and families with visible disabilities...oxygen machines...machines and monitors I'd never seen before.  Here we had Max in a baby carrier...he was fussy but relatively normal looking on the outside.  He was starting to lose the ability to hold his head up strongly and needed to lean on us.  He could sit up on his own but leaned very far forward and recently was falling over all together. We both looked at each other without words but both asking each other with a simple look...what is wrong with our child...is this our future....will this be Max?  Little did we know he was struggling on the inside. We finally got called back into the room and both were waiting anxiously for the neurologist to enter the room. We were both telling Max how proud we were of him and how all of this was a speed bump and he'd prove the doctor's wrong and get healthy soon so we could get back to our normal routines.  Then it happened.....in walked the main neurologist and her assistant.  In walked Max's genetics doctor...we had been waiting for results from his bloodwork taken 2-3 weeks prior....but why was he here with the other doctors? They work at the same hospital...but they aren't in the same office...and it wasn't planned that he be included in this appointment...

"We got the results of the bloodwork," the genetics doctor told us.  "It is confirmed to be a leukodystrophy which is what we were testing for."  He had told me at the initial appointment not to google leukodystrophies...just wait until we determined if we were heading down that road...but I needed to know what we were looking at...and what we were facing.  "Max has a leukodystrophy called Krabbe disease."....my heart sank....I had read about so many different leukodystrophies but this one stood out to me as the one I was hoping he didn't have.

"Is that the one the football player's son had...Jim Kelly's son?" I asked.  I had researched a bit about it online.

Almost instantly I received a head nod..."Yes, " he said. I knew that it meant no cure. I knew that it meant short life.  Everyone told me the odds were in our favor and the blood work was precautionary. "There unfortunately is no treatment or cure for the disease."  Tears were welling up in Josiah's eyes - I rarely see him cry.  I on the other hand was in such shock to the point that there weren't any tears that I could release..fight or flight mode...just trying to get information and stay focused enough that I could get the info to help Max.

"Was there anything I did wrong in my pregnancy with him?" I asked.

"No it is completely genetic and nothing you could have done.  You both have the gene that creates Krabbe.  You both have to give that gene to your son.  There is a 1 in 4 chance for each of your children...a chance that neither of you pass the gene, a chance that one of you passes the gene and the other doesn't and vice versa and a chance where you both pass the gene like in Max's case, " he said.

"But it has never run in our families.  We've had no prior knowledge of this," I said.

"You both have to carry the gene for it to even be possible which is very rare," he told us.

We asked if there were treatments, things we can do to make him comfortable.  He told us he'd research it because he didn't get many Krabbe patients and that we should schedule for a follow-up neurology appointment in 2 months...that was it...no other direction.

Max sitting with his friend Abby 1 1/2 months
before diagnosis (end of Oct)

"Do you have any questions?" he asked.  "We are really sorry to have to break this news to you."

We shook our heads no and thanked the doctors for their time.

We both left numb.  We walked through the waiting room and everyone was going about their business...making appointments, answering questions, filling out paperwork, waiting for their turn...yet to us...the world stopped . Our son had just been labelled as terminally ill. We couldn't wrap our heads around it. There is nothing we can do. Where do we go from here? How can the world continue moving?  How can we go on with our daily lives?

We got into the elevator with another person and I started getting tears in my eyes.  We had the long walk back through the hospital to our car.  Somehow we made it without falling over.

We didn't say much - but we both were devastated, shocked and scared.  On the car ride on the way home we vowed once again to stick together and support each other (it was the only way we could get through this) and do everything we can for Max. We called our parents and told them that we needed to meet with them immediately in person. And we gave them the news.  There was a lot of emotion over the course of the next few weeks.

I started doing searches on the internet for any glimmer of hope.  We reached out to Hunter's Hope (The Kelly's Foundation) and were given some direction and support.  They introduced us to a group of families on Facebook who ask questions, vent and support one another. I value this group so much.  We are family by genes.  One of the first people I connected with was Hannah's mom (PA). She suggested us getting to PA immediately to see the Krabbe specialist and find some guidance and help.  Finally...support and direction.

Opening gifts for his first Christmas (shortly after diagnosis)

Shortly after - we consciously made the decision that we needed to stop grieving and rather enjoy Max while he is here on Earth with us. There will be plenty of time to grieve in the future but we wanted to provide him with experiences and moments that he may not get to experience. We've accomplished so much since his diagnosis - more than I've done in my lifetime.  Some of the opportunities presented and the people that we have connected with have truly been amazing and such blessings to us.

We continue to enjoy our son (and our daughter) every day.  Don't get me wrong - some days I don't even want to get out of bed because I go back to diagnosis day. But he's here...he's still physically here AND he is amazing.  I'm going to cherish him for as long as I can.

Every day with him is a gift and I don't want to waste it.

Tears, Courage and Rainbows

My heart is aching.  My emotions are high.

Max had a really good weekend and a good Monday and Tuesday.  I typically get up each morning before everyone else and head to work. I posted Wednesday morning without looking through my Facebook newsfeed.  I noted that Max had been having good days.  I got a call about 10:30 - he's struggling.  Our nurse noticed that Max's O2 levels were dropping into the 70s and staying there - his normal is low 90s and dips into the 80s but goes back up.  She administered some O2 and he got back to his baseline and had a good night.  We are watching him to make sure nothing is going on.  I received a note about lunch time yesterday that mentioned what a sad day was for the Krabbe community. We lost two beautiful kids - Addilyn and Nicholas - to this horrible disease. I hadn't seen this - it was a shock...  I closed my office door and cried.  I just couldn't hold back the tears. My heart is aching for their families, and it hurts even more to know what other parents within the community have already gone through and still do but also....what is in our future.  With every loss...I get a flashback to diagnosis day - there is nothing we can do.  Take him home and keep him comfortable. I don't know how we are going to do this...how I will have the strength to continue to move ahead.  I don't know - but I also know I'm not the first to go through it.  Others have survived and live each day the best they know how. I admire their strength, their courage and their grace.  I continue to try to live in the present the best I know how.  But it is easier said than done.

This is not the first time that Max has been having good days and then struggles when we find that another Krabbe child passes -  there is a significant change.  With Hannah, Anna, Parker, Lauren, Addilyn, Nicholas, Maximus...and others. It is as if he can sense it.  Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it has been consistent.  I think it hurts a piece of him too.  I think he can sense it.

I got it together after crying in my office and went through the rest of my day.  We are having celebrations, games and meetings at work this week.  I hope I played it off and no one recognized my sorrow - I try my best not to bring it with me.  I got into my car on my way home and sobbed.  It was a gloomy day with lots of storms.  I played sappy songs to try and get it out of my system before I got home with my kids. I try to be brave for them and try to carry a positive presence for them...or they will know something is up.  Something that is greater than they can handle.

I have a good 45 min to 1 hour on my commute home, and I was about 15 min from home when the sky parted and the most beautiful rainbow appeared.  There were gray clouds all around and a patch of blue sky with the rainbow in the middle - stretching above the clouds.  It was a sign to me - it's going to be ok.  You have the courage to get through this...to advocate...to take care of your kids...your family...to have strength for others who need it. You will have the courage to get through all of this and to carry on. Then a second rainbow appeared - it was the most vivid rainbow I have ever seen in my life and it stayed with me until I got home - then slowly disappeared.

I don't know what the signs mean or if I am superficial.  But I truly in my heart believe it was a sign - that those who we have lost are ok.  That I'm going to be ok.  That Max, Emma and Josiah will be ok. It certainly doesn't make anything easier or better here on Earth but a hope.

I got home and clung to my kids.  I hugged Max and played with he and Emma. Through all of this, I'm so blessed - to be with an amazing husband who has been through a lot with me already, let alone this.  To my two beautiful kids who I wouldn't trade for anything.  There is so much love and support that continues to surround us.  Friends, family, co-workers and complete strangers who are helping.

But the Krabbe Families all over the world who we have connected with... who continue to push and advocate - no matter how much pain they re-live, they push on to help future kids and families - they are heroes.  They are there to support all of us who are still going through the fight with our children and they stand together and hold strong for those who have lost their children. They are so open to helping others. The strength, courage and grace that is shared is remarkable. We are all family by genes - I would be lost without them and their support and openness. They inspire me to live each day to the fullest and continue to fight for Max. And fight for future kids. Thank you.  I can't always express how much it means - but it means a lot.

I have found that I have the courage to move forward and to live in the moment with my family and friends.  Each and every day I have with everyone is a gift. Each and every day I have with Max is a gift. There is no promise of tomorrow.  But I've found the courage to live for today.


Allison

WARRIORS

I was running errands the other day and the song "Warriors" by the band Imagine Dragons came on. This song has been used at  sporting events and in video games to elevate the level of intensity, fire and passion that people hold. It is a heavier rock song but the lyrics really stuck with me. Here is a link to the song:www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP9I8ZUwKpc 

As a child you would wait
And watch from far away.
But you always knew that you'd be the one that work while they all play

In youth, you'd lay awake at night and scheme
Of all the things that you would change, but it was just a dream!

Here we are, don't turn away now (don't turn away)
WE are the warriors that built this town.
Here we are, don't turn away now (don't turn away)
We are the warriors that built this town.
From Dust.

Will come, when you'll have to rise
Above the best, improve yourself
Your spirit never dies
Farewell, I've gone, to take my throne
Above, don't weep for me
Cause this will be the labor of my love (my love)

Here we are, don't turn away now (don't turn away)
WE are the warriors that built this town.
Here we are, don't turn away now (don't turn away)
We are the warriors that built this town.
From Dust.

These Krabbe kids are the WARRIORS...warriors battling to get through the day...to see...to hear...to experience life...to breathe.  They battle daily. Their parents are warriors for calling on insurance companies to get them the gear they need, taking them to doctor and specialist appointments to find answers, ER visits, therapies, etc to get them the care they need to thrive...or really...to survive. The community around them is created...with prayer, love and strength. They are warriors for advocating for the next generation of kids who hopefully may never have to experience this horrific disease because it is caught early enough with newborn screening. These Krabbe kids are warriors for leaving a legacy for other children...creating change within their states...their communities - so that one day they can help others survive.

...but it doesn't make the day to day easy.

I can't talk on behalf of the parents who have lost their children to this horrific disease but I can attest to living through the daily emotions and routines or surprises:

• Not wanting to put my child down because I don't know how long I'll actually get to hold him.  
• Running to his aide when he is choking on his own secretions and gasping for air (Max has been gasping lately when he's upset). 
• Keeping a journal of medicines to make sure you don't overlap and give him too many...which could lead to organ failure. 
• Figuring out how much to feed him...how to keep him hydrated...how to adjust if he isn't tolerating it. 
• Counting his diapers to make sure he's functioning properly.  
• Calling on home equipment companies to try and get the equipment he needs (going on 6 months)
• Forwarding medical necessity letters and denial letters to get the coverage needed with insurance
• Questioning everything - why hasn't this been done, how do we get approval, who can I call, how much longer should we wait?
• Learning new equipment and medical terminology (I feel like I can add a few things to my resume)
• Daily appointments, therapy sessions, nursing care
• Keeping his stats to make sure he's hitting his baseline
• Trying to figure out if his baseline still exists or if the disease is progressing

Then trying to achieve the "normal things"

• Cooking dinner 
• Trying to keep up with the housework 
• Entertaining a 3 year old
• Running errands, etc. 

I wouldn't trade my life for anything...but some days by the time the kids go to bed...I'm ready to end my day as well...just to hear Max wailing in pain with another leg spasm. My husband is the one doing all of this at home during the day while I work - he is a rockstar! It isn't easy. I come home and we pass the baton... and he goes to work. We have such opposite schedules to provide the best we can for our kids...

It's hard to watch your child suffer.  Luckily Max doesn't every day yet...but when he is and you try everything you can think of to help him but it doesn't work - you feel helpless.  I posted recently that I feel like we "wing it" often. A lot of doctors and nurses have no idea what to expect, how to help...but we have a few who have been blessings.  We have still been blessed in the fact that he doesn't need oxygen full time and some other things but I always question if I'm missing something....just by virtue of not knowing or not knowing what to even ask. With this disease...things can turn quickly...a lot of his Krabbe friends and special needs friends have recently been battling... they have been in and out of hospitals ...they are fine one minute and battling the next.  While we get to experience fun things with bucket lists and family get-togethers, this disease also becomes very real...very quickly. Plans change, things are cancelled.  My friends know that my new clause is - "we will be there as long as Max is doing ok"...and I appreciate their flexibility and accepting of it all.  It is scary...the unknown...the "what's ahead"... is scary.  We trust we are moving forward the best we know how. We live in the moment with the wisdom and trust that we are doing the best we can...We have to.

Lately, it has been a bit frustrating when we have been advocating and telling people to test their children or themselves for Krabbe and when they try to do so...they get the run around or they get uneducated responses... "It is so rare your child will never get this"... "It doesn't run in your family so why are you testing?" ... "Sorry, we can't help you - we don't know what that is". Luckily, in these instances, these people have pursued and haven't given up. If you do want to test yourself or a child who was born - you can get a kit off of the Hunter's Hope website - it says it is for newborns, but it should work for adults as well.  It will at least show if you have carrier status...then you can get into further genetic testing to confirm if you actually have the disease or not.  I think this is the best place to start.

I sincerely hope that  our state decides to put some funding toward Newborn Screening...they may actually save someone's life.  I hope they also educate the medical field a bit by adding it to the test.  You can't put a price on life but our state is debating that still.

There are many Krabbe Warriors who have made a difference in many states which are including Krabbe in their newborn screening process.  There are many warriors who continue to battle to get it added.

Max will continue to be a warrior. He fights every day.  Josiah and I will continue to advocate and push, and educate...we can't give up - we won't give up. I continue to wear my various "Warrior Shirts" on the weekends representing the Krabbe kids across the country who fight daily and trying to bring attention to this disease.  I'm sure you have seen a few of these shirts on Max's page.  We'll continue to learn and "wing it" the best we know how.  The love we have for our children is unmatched.

We continue to uplift and pray for these families who continue to face their own daily challenges.  We appreciate all of the warriors around us who send their daily love, prayers, words of encouragement, gifts and wonderful spirit.  We couldn't do this without you, and we are grateful to have you by our side as we continue on this journey.

~ Allison 

The Daily Challenge & Our Train Park Adventure

This disease is devastating. I got in the car yesterday and looked at Max through my mirror - his eyes were staring off in the distance...they were going different directions...I started crying while my three year old asking me if I was ok.  I think Max's eye sight is very limited. This disease is moving so fast.  Josiah and I have been putting things in front of his face with no real reaction.  He can definitely hear us and occasionally I think he will lock eyes with me - but it is happening less and less.  He's also lost that beautiful smile. The baby who slept through the night at 1 1/2 months and laughed and smiled like no other baby I've ever seen...is now not able to express much.  It is heart breaking.

When I get him dressed each morning - I talk him through it. He gets very jumpy or irritated with certain quick movements so talking him through it and going slowly seems to work.  At the end, I tell him how proud I am of him and that he is so brave for not crying - his eyes always widen...a sense of pride...at least I'm going to interpret it this way. I remember posting quite awhile ago about me singing the ABC's to Max and at the end I'd ask him if he wanted me to sing again - and he'd coo.  I'd give anything to have that moment in time back - to give him back those simple abilities.  Life continues to change and throw obstacles our way...we've learned to adapt and change as needed but when you look back or think back to those early and happy days...it is hard.  It is hard to live in the present and not to grieve the inevitable.

About a month ago we had an amazing Saturday at a local train park with the Jamison Family. I'm sorry I haven't posted this until now but wanted to share that we fulfilled Max's bucket list "Ride a Train" at the park.  Emma loved the carousel, and we walked through an older train car from the 1920s - it was very cool.  Then we all got on a little train and rode it around the park - Max ws very tired for a lot of the day but was soothed by the train ride with the wind in his hair - he really liked it. Thank you to the Jamison Family for the fun Saturday and for spoiling the kids and us - it was so generous of you all and was a great day spending time with you.  I've included some pictures of the train park below - be sure to scroll to the bottom to check them out and I hope to upload the video soon as well.

We are taking each day as it comes.  Suctioning and trying to modify his feeding schedules appropriately so his little body can handle it are our daily battles.  Working to get insurance to cover certain things and working now with the state insurance to get the nursing care we need has been crazy.  Swerving to get to the side of the road because he is choking or me jumping in the back while Josiah continues to drive happens more frequently. It is scary to only have one adult in the car.  I'm sure during rush hour that we upset a lot of people when this happens. Just remember if you get cut off or someone does something on the road that comes out of nowhere - please remember that they could be racing to an emergency or trying to help their child in the backseat.  While we try to be as careful as we can, there are times that we get a little crazy. Luckily the majority of his struggles in the car have come when both of us have been there but we've been alone when it happens and it can be very scary for him and for us.

We have a nurse come out to the house once a week to weigh Max and answer any questions to be sure he is where he needs to be with everything.  We have a therapist come to the home once a week to help massage Max and stretch him - Max LOVES her.  You can tell it has been a good day when "Miss Lisa" has come to our house.

It continues to be a struggle to balance "real life" with all of the medical obstacles but we are getting through it the best we know how.  Emma is now alerting us if he is choking and has the suction machine in hand to help Max out - how many 3 year olds even know what a suction machine is?! :-( She perseveres through it all but some days the "attention" balance is harder than others and she clearly suffers with not as much.

Thank you for your continued support.  Your messages on Max's Facebook page are so loved and each one is read.  We appreciate the questions - I'm happy to help educate the best I know how.  Keep them coming.  We appreciate all of the support around the wristbands, t-shirts, gifts, money and simple notes. Your love surrounds us and helps us through each day.  Thank you for continuing to lift us up and help us out.  We appreciate it more than you know.
~Allison

Anthem Community Support

"I've heard it said

 that people come into our lives for a reason, 

bringing something we must learn,

and we are led to those 

who help us most to grow if we let them

and we help them in return."

 

~Stephen Schwartz, Wicked the Musical

I resonate the best with music. Music is so freeing to the soul.  I have quite a commute from work to my home so I find myself allowing the music to speak to me during these commutes ...some of the lyrics may not have been meant in the way that I interpret them but it helps me none-the-less. Sometimes it can be comforting, heart breaking, eye opening...the list goes on. I've had some good cries to and from work just releasing tension, fear and other things, and I've also had a sense of great joy and strength.  It is a good reflection time for me.

I love Broadway musicals, with WICKED being one of my favorites, especially the music. "For Good" came on in my car the other day with the above lyrics really making me think. I personally don't think that things happen by coincidence or people cross our paths just because...there is a reason and always a chance to learn from another.  I've found that if I allow myself to open up, I can learn.  I can learn more about them, learn a life lesson, learn about myself. I've learned so much in the past year. I've learned how gracious people can be and how many people are willing to stand by our family. I've gained friendships where I never imagined I'd find them, but I am extremely grateful to have them. I've taken the most stressful moments and tried to find a positive light through it all. Max has come into my life for a reason.  He's teaching me so much and I'm growing as a person. We all have a purpose but his is truly special and has brought a lot of good out of a lot of people, me included.  Would I change this purpose... selfishly,  YES of course - it is hard seeing him go through what he does each day, but trying to comprehend this and find a light through it all is the way that helps me get through each day. I'm also trying to help him through all of this, the best that I can.

So many of our family and friends and even complete strangers have been incredibly supportive of Max but we've found that the community of Anthem is unlike any other.  We were contacted through Max's GoFundMe account by the Anthem Country Club who was hosting a 50/50 raffle at their golf tournament and they wanted to support us with 50% of the proceeds that they received.  What an amazingly generous gesture which we greatly appreciated.  On top of that, the person who won, Elaine, decided to donate her winnings to us...so we got 100% of the raffle.  What amazing support that we have received from this community and we are humbled and grateful for love and support.  Thank you for taking the time to support us and continue to help us raise awareness.

A few weekends ago, a tennis tournament at Anthem Community Center was also hosted in Max's honor.  People went out of their way to make posters with his pictures, they had a raffle for prizes, and flyers were handed out to educate about Krabbe.  It was amazing how many kids and adults came out to support us. We were able to bring Max late in the morning to thank everyone in person.  I'm so glad Josiah was there to jump in with a short speech about our thanks because I was choked up - the blessings that continue to present themselves are just incredible.

The Anthem Community comes together to take care of those in their community.  We are so honored that Max was highlighted in their programs.  He's so loved by so many.  Thank you to both the Country Club and Community Center teams for helping us raise awareness and helping us financially with Max as well.

We have been fortunate in the fact that a lot of the money raised has not had to be used yet.  We don't know what is ahead but have been fortunate with our insurance and family support. However some most recent necessary equipment was deemed "comfort items" so we may be tapping into that resource.  I wanted to mention that if we end up not having to use it for expenses for Max's equipment, therapies etc. we look to donate it to help other families or support some of the programs who have supported us.

We did launch a t-shirt booster campaign to raise awareness about Max and Krabbe. If you are interested in getting a T-shirt or Tank Top, you can do so here until June 15th: http://www.booster.com/miracleformax1

As I mentioned to someone recently, we continue to take things a day at a time.  We help Max through the rough moments but we really enjoy the moments of joy and fun, celebrate the little milestones and continue to love him as much as we can.

I will have an update soon on our Train Ride with Max and also our experience at Luke Air Force Base soon. We've continue to tackle his bucket list at a rapid pace - it has provided some great moments and memories for our family.

Thank you as always for your continued love and support.  You help us daily, more than you know.
~Allison

Baseball and Mother's Day

We've been fulfilling so many fun things on Max's bucket list and I got a message from a huge Krabbe advocate who has created the Team Krabbe Strong Facebook page, John Neal.  He told me that he had contacted the Arizona Diamondbacks about Max.  They all were so touched by his story that they decided to invite us out for an amazing experience so that we could fulfill some of his bucket list items - going to a baseball game, meeting someone famous, meeting a mascot and playing catch.  We were concerned this past week that we wouldn't make it when suddenly Max came down with a fever on Wednesday and it spiked to 103.  His baseline continues to change...he's slowly losing things but we also knew that we couldn't push it.  Luckily, while a bit fussy on Friday, his fever finally broke and we were destined to go to the game on Saturday.  The game started around 5:20 and they wanted us at the ballpark at 2:30 so we could have an amazing day.

I had the opportunity out of college to intern one season at the Arizona Diamondbacks in their game operations department where we had the opportunity to get on the field for promotions, interact with the players, etc.  But this time is was special - going back after almost 10 years (I can't believe it has been that long!!) was awesome - but it was an even greater experience to be on the receiving end of things and to experience it with my family...for Max...all because of Max.


We started meeting in the amazing Dbacks lobby.  We were greeted by Paige in the community relations department and she had jerseys for the kids, a teddy bear for Max, a hello kitty bobble head for Emma and lots of baseballs to get signed. We went onto the field for their batting practice and got to take it all in.  A normal day in May in Arizona would usually have the roof closed (hot!!) - but luckily we had a day in the 70s and got to be at the ballpark with the roof open. It was fun watching all of the players fielding...hearing the crack of the bat and watching the ball sail into the stands. I missed this...I love baseball.

They led us into the dugout to get some family pictures.  I shifted Max and he cried - these days whenever you laugh, shout, breathe, move him...it takes him a bit to calm down and he tells you all about it (he was very jumpy unfortunately that morning so we didn't know what to expect for the day).  While we were calming Max, the manager of the Diamondbacks, Chip Hale, came over and talked with us. He thanked us for being there and said hi to both kids.  He asked Emma how old she was and asked if she was going to be a ball player some day.  She of course replied that she would be lol.  And luckily she didn't tell him she was 18...that she was 3- I think she's finally getting that one correct.  We then took some more pictures and Emma kept crawling up to the top of the bench.  She also put her glove next to one of the ballplayer's gloves.  It was pretty funny to see the size comparison.  We mentioned while in the dugout that she is going to expect this every game - what an awesome experience.  We watched the players go in and out and got to watch batting practice from inside the dugout - so fun!

After we came out of the dugout, we were standing and watching the guys take batting practice.  Chris Owings (2nd)  ran out onton the field next to us and said hi to Emma and asked her if she wanted some bubble gum.  This was a new experience for her but she loved it and gave him that flirty grin that she always does.  For the next 10 minutes all she asked for was that bubblegum so finally I gave in and let her have it - she's never had bubblegum before.  She put the whole thing in her mouth and had baseball "chew" in her mouth - clumped in there with a big bulge in the side of her cheeks.  She grabbed her glove and was ready to run out onto that field if we had let her. Max also brought his glove and one thing we had on his bucket list was to play catch.  We weren't expecting for his first game of catch in his life to be with Aaron Hill! He came over and asked if Max wanted to catch a ball - it definitely was pretty simple...he dropped the ball in his glove a few times and Josiah dumped it out of Max's glove and into Hill's.  BUT it was awesome.  Max got to experience this with his dad - something any kid would love.  To play his game of catch with a professional athlete and his dad on a major league field is something truly special.  You can tell that Aaron Hill is a family guy - he was so good with both kids and asked Emma what her favorite kind of candy was - in which she replied..."all of them." So he ran into the dugout and brought out a bunch of chocolate for her (after permission from us of course).  It was very neat and she enjoyed eating it throughout the game.  He also wished us the best with Max.  Poor Max was alert at some moments and sleepy other times.  It was a lot for him to take in and he was sensitive on top of it all.  Hill signed a ball for us and ran out onto the field.  Class act and he seemed very happy to be able to play catch with such a special little boy.

They let us get closer to the batting cage and there was Emma, hands on her hips telling the guys when to swing and "good job".  Tuffy Gosewisch kept talking to her and she kept telling him "good job" after he was done taking a few swings.  The guys definitely thought she was cute and thought she could be a future manager :)  Paul Goldschmidt also came over in-between at-bats to say hello, wish us well and sign a ball.  And he of course made the comment that he liked Emma's shirt (thanks Kasey!!). He's been such a big part of the dbacks program so it was very great to get to meet him.

We thought we were about done with the day after getting to watch some of the team hit some balls out of the park when Cliff Pennington came up and said hello.  He chatted for awhile with both kids and was very gracious as well. He asked a bit about Max - whenever anyone asks about Max, I'm an open book and want to educate - I didn't go crazy like I do with some doctors but I told him kind of what happens.  It was great to be able to share about our special boy and we thanked him for taking the time to recognize him and give him such a special day that we will treasure as a family forever.

But it wasn't over yet.  Baxter came down to the field and took the time to interact with both kids.  Max was crying when he came over initially. But Baxter approached him slowly and gently stroked his hand.  Max stopped crying...I then proceeded to ask Baxter if he could come to our house every day to soothe him.  I think this was actually Max's favorite part.  He was so alert and calm.  Josiah and I were both so happy.  Baxter then proceeded to play around with Josiah and took his hat in exchange for his own - a bobcat has a huge hat and the hat had  holes for his ears.  Emma thought it was funny and Baxter tried Josiah's hat on his head but it was too small...so he put it on Emma.  It was a great way to end our on field experience. They gave us some amazing seats to enjoy the game - 2 rows up from the dbacks dugout.  We lasted through 6 innings and both kids were spent and both slept on the way home.  Thanks so much to Paige and the rest of the Community Relations Team at the Diamondbacks for going out of their way and making our experience one that we will never forget.  And thank you for allowing our precious boy to do something in his lifetime that we never imagined would ever happen.  We are forever thankful and grateful.  What an amazing organization!  And thank you to John for taking the time - not even knowing us personally - to write the Diamondbacks and help set this up for Max.  We are so grateful and you have such a kind heart.

These experiences are bittersweet.  It is amazing to get to do some incredibly fun things but we also know and it puts into perspective that our time with our son is limited. We don't know when things will turn like they did this past Wednesday, and we don't ever know if they will turn back.  I found myself sitting and watching the game with tears in my eyes.  How many games will we enjoy as an entire and complete family...maybe only one...maybe lots but it was tough.  I watched these little boys running to the dugout and asking the players for the game balls - Max will never have that opportunity.  When everyone cheered for an amazing play - Max cried...the noise...the startle...I know everyone around us was thinking...why bring a baby to the game?!  Because this might be his only one...

This Mother's Day has been the hardest yet for me.  I don't know why, but I have been extremely emotional.  I was spoiled with this experience for Max and by my husband and kids with gifts and flowers but it was tough not knowing the future...looking at our present lives and seeing how crazy things are with Max, with new equipment and experiences but special all at the same time.  I think the hardest part is that I miss my mom more this year than ever before.  She was always there to help me understand why...to help me through things. Don't get me wrong - we have support all around us with all of our families and numerous friends...but when something happens...you usually want your mom. I know at times I look at Max and think about what he could he be doing, but Max is special the way he is.  He is perfect in my eyes.  He has taught me so much about life and love.  He has shown me the kindness of complete strangers.  He has helped expand our friends and family to people we never thought we'd ever meet.  He has given us some amazing experiences.  He is Max...just perfect.  But it doesn't make things easy. 

Thank you to everyone who helped make this an amazing experience.  To be able to let our boy live is all that we could ever ask for and through these experiences, he is living.

Thank you for your continued love and support for our family. 
~Allison

PS - for more pictures of our experience...be sure to check Max's Facebook page soon!