Brandon's Fight For Sight

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2009 already!! 2008 was filled with excitement, disappointment, pride, heartache, and above all....hope. I can't believe that in one year we discovered that there was hope for Brandon in China, raised the money AND spent 6 weeks in a Chinese hospital. Through it all, Brandon was such a trooper and for that, I am very proud to be called his mother.

First Christmas "AC" (After China). Brandon loved Christmas this year. He enjoyed looking at all the Christmas decorations and even helped decorate. (He was even disappointed when it was time to box everything up for the year). For Christmas he received....TOYS TOYS AND MORE TOYS! He got a new XBox and some other video games. He also got a glow in the dark drawing board. The list is endless and for the moment my mind is blank but he received several items to help stimulate his vision. Oh and he received a stack of books.......IN PRINT!! A couple of weeks before Christmas he received a CCTV which has been a wonderful aid. He can look at his books without straining with the CCTV.

New Year.... Now that that chapter in our life is over, we look towards the future with great optimism. We will always be grateful for everyone who helped Brandon. Now as we focus ahead towards a new life, we know that it can only get better for our family. Brandon has been thriving and we are so happy. Did the treatment make a huge difference? Maybe not a huge difference but it did help Brandon. He will never have perfect vision and we have accepted that. Over the next few years, we'll be able to understand more about what he can see and how we can help to make his life a productive one. He is able to navigate for the most part without a cane. In fact he does not use one outside of school. He is able to see steps where before he could not. For us that is a great improvement because it further helps him to navigate in his surroundings. The sky is the limit for him.

What's Next....We are currently trying to decide what is best for our family now. We are looking at relocating so John will be able to work closer to home without being gone for weeks at a time. We'll keep you informed on our decision!! Happy New Year!!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Brandon's update on Channel 13 News

This past month has been CRAZY!! However we did manage to meet with Jennifer Brown from Channel 13 news to do an update. As always, she did a wonderful job! Here's the link: http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?S=9378995

On another positive note, Brandon received a scholarship which will pay 90% for a CCTV. Our cost is $200. The new CCTV will allow Brandon to see printed books by zooming into the images. Hopefully his new learning tool will be in by Christmas!

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Horses, Bulls & Rodeo Clowns

Brandon & Nick with a fellow Kansan, LJ Geist. LJ is originally from Scott City, Kansas - like Brandon. He was the rodeo clown for the event. What a coincidence!! He's parents, who know Brandon's dad & his parents, were in town for the rodeo also. They had no idea the rodeo was being put on for Brandon!!

We took Brandon to a rodeo that was put together in his honor. The weather tried to hold up but at the end, it began to sprinkle. Brandon got to see a bull for the first time. He said "oohh that's big.....can I ride it?" He did get to ride a horse which made his day.

Brandon got to ride a horse!! Thanks for the ride Cody!!

Sunday, September 28, 2008

A Beautiful Sunday in September

Today John & I took the boys to Jill's Country Cafe to see Jill for the first time since coming home. At the silent auction, a lady had donated a jumper (day rental). Jill ended up with the winning bid so she decided to get the rental when Brandon returned from China. So here was the jumper, set up on the side of Jill's resturant for all the kids to come play one. The boys had a great time! After a little while, we were informed that our breakfast was ready. So the boys gave up the the jumper for bacon & eggs (although I'm sure if they had it their way they would've forgone the breakfast). After they ate, they decided it was time to hit the swings & slide which is located on the other side of the resturant. It was nice to just hang out with the boys & have "fun time". We went back into Jill's to tell everyone bye & Jill talked the boys into jumping some more - like they needed encouraged!! On the way home, the boys confiscated our cell phones so they could play with them. A little while later John & I heard Nick saying "Hello!". We turned around to find that Brandon had called Nick on the cell phone & they were talking to each other!! Good thing we have cell to cell free calls!! We've got a fly family reunion in our living room. Everytime I go in to watch TV, I feel like a carcass.

Photo's:

1st - Brandon & Nick enjoying some "jump time".

2nd - "Peak-a-boo Nick, I see you!!"

3rd - John & Brandon ~ Jill's in the background taking a customer's order. Thanks for breakfast Jill, it was great!!

4th & 5th - This is what I found when I turned around in the vehicle. The boys talking to each other - on the cell phones.

6th, 7th, 8th -
Brandon & Nick having a great time on the slide. Dad had to catch them because they would gain so much momentum, they would sail off the slide & land on their bums!! Nick learned that after the first go around.