Finding Maddux: where will we be going?

Her she is... a wheat free third grader who can now look at the camera and smile with a purpose. How do you "teach" a person to smile? I never did other than to say, "Show me your teeth" and the outcome of that is not very pretty. She now looks at me, turns her head to the side just a little and looks into the camera with a purpose of "I am going to make this one a cute one" I had some time with her in Feb. to shoot with my heart and this is what I got. It comes from a place only parents who have kids with special needs can understand. How you wish you could take out of her what was "wrong" and fix it. But then who would Maddux be? When I take pictures of families I try my best to pull their love for their kids out of their hearts and plaster it all over my camera lens. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it does not. But when it does it can make the heart of anyone sing. It is a moment, it is a feeling, it is a second in time when your heart melts and you take your love and show it to everyone. It is a picture that can make a perfect stranger cry. You do not have to know someone to feel touched by their feelings of love for each other. That is what makes love so beautiful.

Take a moment. Step out of your world of lunches, work, papers and dirty faces to clean and get to the root of why you live. It is your kids. It is your family. One moment can change it so embrace what you have now and make your heart sing.

Next time.... we will be balancing brain hemispheres!!!! Stay tuned!!!!

Her Seizures

Our journey began when Maddux had her first visible seizure cluster at 15 months. After an EEG, her final diagnosis was a rare type of infant seizures called Infantile Spasm Epilepsy. Commonly misdiagnosed as reflux. Her prognosis was that her physical and mental state would not be above mental retardation. After months of trying to find out what was wrong with Maddux, a mother's intuition, we finally had a diagnosis. We were happy to finally have a label so we could start her treatment. After 3 years of different seizure meds, hospitalizations and a special diet, her seizures are now gone. But we consider her in remission. We will never forget the shots of ACTH, the blank, over-medicated stares or the first day she went without 100 seizures. Every night we thank God for giving us another seizure-free day. Even though that was the hardest part of this journey, she was still our Maddux!

But it was our own eyes that saw these great things the Lord has done. Deutoronomy 11:7

Her Diagnosis

During our battle with Epilepsy, Maddux began to slip away from us. Her words stopped, her smiles stopped and she acted as if she were the only one in the room. The toys stayed on the shelves. I would have given anything to have toys to clean up. It was like the love was gone from her eyes. Maddux used to not answer me because she was having a seizure and her brain couldn't "hear" me. Now she was not answering me because she just didn't know the answer. When Maddux turned 2 years old she was diagnosed with Autism . Devastating, yes, but now we could take this diagnosis and find her and bring her back. Even with that label she was still our Maddux.

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. Job 9:10

Her therapy

Maddux started therapy at 18 months. She began her treatment with in-home OT and PT and as she got older she graduated into Early Intervention. She was in a full day program at Pediatric Therpay Network in Torrance, CA where she had one on one OT, PT and SLP classes as well as group sessions. Words can not express the miracles that happened behind the doors of that center everyday. Maddux was able to work with the most wonderful, caring and knowledgable people who changed all of our lives. I dedicate all of her progress to these wonderful people who I hold dear in my heart. She has come so far and I can not wait to see what lies ahead for her! She is still our Maddux!

I will remember the deeds of the Lord, yes I will remember your miracles... Psalms 77:11

3 comments:

Unknown said...: you wrote "you do not have to know someone to feel touched by their feelings of love for each other. that is what makes love so beautiful". what a true statement...... you prove that every time you put that camera in your hands. what is even more special, is having the privilege of watching your own daughter capture that love and put such sweet words to those priceless moments. makes a mama proud! God has truly blessed you with such a talent. love you jaimeloo!; August 15, 2010 at 12:12 PM
Jan said...: These are amazing. Thanks for sharing!; August 15, 2010 at 8:33 PM
Brooke said...: Beautiful Jamie. So beautifully said and what gorgeous pictures of Maddux. You are such an inspiration to me.; August 16, 2010 at 8:49 AM

where will we be going?

3 comments:

Jaime Lackey Photography

Our Maddux

Her Seizures

Her Diagnosis

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