Meet Kevin
My name is Lori and I’m a single mother to Keith, 16 yrs old and Kevin 9 yrs old. Kevin’s due date was 12/5/99 but actually decided to arrive on 9/20/99 at a mere 1,544 grams (3 lbs 6.5 oz) and 13 inches long. He was born with high blood pressure, a small heart defect (ASD), and had grade 1 hemorrhaging in both lobes of his brain. We spent 6 weeks and 6 days in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and still made it home 1 month before his ‘due date’! NICU staff told us that being a ‘preemie’ would be a roller coaster ride with lots of ups & downs for the first 3 years – and they were right.
Keith & I spent many, many nights in our local hospital with various issues – RSV, pneumonia, fevers, and blood in Kevin’s urine, plus 2 surgeries, one to remove his adenoids and the other to remove his kidney stones. After 2 years of having this bundle of joy enter our life, we were told that Kevin has spastic dyplesia cerebral palsy. Yes, Kevin is a remarkable child and we have been blessed!
Although attending physical therapy on a regular basis can be taxing, we continue to learn and meet wonderful people along the way. One of THE BEST has been UofM Dance Marathon – which ironically, the social worker at Beaumont suggested to me as a ‘family’ type event. I was at the point where I felt that I may be neglecting my oldest son because of all the special attention, appointments and demands for Kevin. So we went, I believe it was for some animal entertainment in Ann Arbor put on at UofM for DM families. Keith went off to investigate with college (excuse me) kids while others took Kevin under their wing and I was left to mingle with other adults & parents. We ALL enjoyed the event for different reasons, but that’s what got us hooked on UMDM. Truly bringing smiles Maize & Blue style and the climax is with the Marathon in March – it’s hard to explain to outsiders.
I have touched on how our family has grown participating in UMDM, but the true changes are in our hearts & life. UMDM has made some awesome family memories. Not to mention the programs Kevin has been able to gain from joining; martial arts to help him with balance & mind, swimming to help keep his muscles stretched, tree climbing that helped build confidence, sibling classes to help address everyone’s needs to better cope, flying, biking, and plain fun days where he’s accepted as ‘normal’. Keith has grown into a fine young man too along the way, more tolerant and willing to help, not just his brother but total strangers. While I get to sit back and ‘relax’ and just watch – one of the few times that ‘Mom gets a break!’ WOW – Thanks.