Meeting Liam

A couple of weeks ago I got a phone call on my cell phone while I was at work. I didn't answer since I didn't recognize the number. I tend to do that alot. I figure, Hey, if it's important they'll leave a message. So, I just let it go to voicemail. I listened to it right away since even though you ignore a call, if they leave a voicemail it tends to peak your curiosity. Turns out it was the mother of a little boy who has been diagnosed with the same condition as Logan, Chiari Malformation. I had forgotten that we gave permission to Logan's neurosurgeon for him to give our # to other families who might be going through this and want to talk and get an idea of what it was like and will be like. I didn't mind at all. This was the first call I'd gotten.

Jessica is the mother's name. She asked if I could call and speak with her about the condition and what we've been through. She also gave me her email address so I emailed her right away. For me it's easier since I'm working all day and have easy access to email. I told her it was nice to hear from her, that we'd be happy to chat with them, but would they be interested in meeting for lunch one weekend instead? I guess I'm the type of person who would rather meet in person than speak on the phone. Especially about something so involved, long and drawn out as this way. I wanted to meet them face to face, let them get a feel for the situation, meet Logan, see his scar, and just ask any and all questions they had. I figured it would be a great week to meet new friends too. Afterall, they are going through the exact same thing as we have with Logan. It's nice to connect with people who are in the same boat, have been there, and you can relate to.

We met Jessica, Mike, and Liam Saturday at Wild Wing Cafe for lunch. They have lots of food options, is good, and fine for families. It was perfect. They live in Decatur which is not right down the street from us. They suggested to meet up near us. Jessica has family that lives is Cumming and they were visiting with them after meeting with us. So it actually did work out perfectly. We had a nice lunch. The boys warmed up to each other finally. They were both a little shy at first but as soon as Liam's race car came out it totally broke the ice. Logan didn't want to share for some reason which isn't really like him. He acted out a little bit but after we ate they played and ran around some. It was great.

Jessica and Mike were super sweet. We told them Logan's story. We started with the sleep apnea, his tonsils and adenoid removal fiasco, and finally to his MRI and Decompression surgery. It was all a total whirlwind. It was hard to separate his stay at Scottish Rite in January from his stay in May. It kind of ran together. But we told them the basics. They asked lots of questions and said we did help to ease their fears. That's why I thought it was important for them to meet face to face and see Logan and see how well he's doing. Every kid is different, every kid responds differently to situations, no one recovers the same way from things as others. But it gave them hope and I was glad we could do that for them.

I think God put them in our lives for a reason. It just so happens that Liam is at the same age as Logan was when he was diagnosed. The herniation size of their chiari's is only 1 mm difference. Logans' was 14 mm, Liam's in 15 mm. They both see the same ENT. They both are having their surgery done by Dr. Andrew Reisner. Just a lot of similarities. So both parties have been going through a lot of the same things. All of Logan's previous symptoms have been no more since the surgery and they saw how well he is doing with it all. I know it had to have lightened their hearts and make their worry much less. Here's hoping that we made some life long friends in them. Thanks for meeting with us Jessica, Mike and Liam.



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