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New Research!

2010-01-05T14:52:00.001-05:00

Always good news to see these types of things!

New Grant For LGMD2D Gene Therapy

An MDA grant will move researchers toward a clinical trial involving bloodstream delivery of the alpha-sarcoglycan gene to thigh muscles.

by Margaret Wahl on December 24, 2009 - 12:11am

Development of delivery of a therapeutic gene via the bloodstream to the thigh muscles in people with type 2D limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD2D) is proceeding on schedule, thanks in part to a new $458,814 grant from MDA to neurologist Jerry Mendell at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

MDA's Board of Directors approved the new funding, via the Association's translational research/MDA Venture Philanthropy program, on Dec. 4, 2009.

Delivering a therapeutic gene to the thigh muscles via the bloodstream (vasculature), the ultimate goal for this project, has the potential to improve function, such as walking, for people with this disease.

To date, clinical trials of gene therapy in LGMD2D and in Duchenne muscular dystrophy have involved direct injection of a gene into a single muscle. While of crucial importance, these trials have focused on safety and gene activity, not on improving limb function. (See Gene Therapy Trial in MD First to Show Promise Beyond Safety and Gene Transfer in Alpha-Sarcoglycan-Deficient LGMD.)

About LGMD2D

LGMD2D, one of many forms of LGMD, is characterized by weakness and muscle atrophy, particularly of the muscles of the upper arms and upper legs. The underlying cause is a mutation in the gene for the alpha-sarcoglycan protein, which normally helps stabilize the membrane that surrounds each muscle fiber.

Raising alpha-sarcoglycan protein levels via gene therapy would target the fundamental problem in LGMD2D and has the potential to change the course of the disease.

Hints that this strategy could be effective came in April 2009, when Mendell and colleagues announced in Annals of Neurology that injection of alpha-sarcoglycan genes into a foot muscle in three young people with LGMD2D was safe and increased production of the alpha-sarcoglycan protein four to five times over baseline.

About the new grant

The new MDA grant, and funding from Nationwide Children's Hospital, will allow Mendell and colleagues to conduct the testing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires to obtain permission to conduct a clinical trial of vascular gene delivery in people with LGMD2D.

The proposed human trial, which can be approved only after the testing results have satisfied the FDA, involves injecting alpha-sarcoglycan genes encased in adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), via the bloodstream, to the quadriceps muscles of the leg.

Mendell, a specialist in neuromuscular disease, is director of the Center for Gene Therapy at the Research Institute at Nationwide, where he also co-directs an MDA neuromuscular disease clinic; a professor of pediatrics, neurology and pathology at Ohio State University in Columbus; and a longtime MDA research grantee.

Meaning for people with LGMD2D

Vascular gene delivery to the leg muscles, the ultimate goal of this project, would, if successful, be a major step toward helping people with LGMD2D to walk.

In addition, success in LGMD2D could have implications for other forms of LGMD and perhaps other forms of muscular dystrophy and would suggest that gene therapy is moving ahead. This is good news after some hurdles and setbacks in the field that caused its development to stall in the early part of this decade.

Look for information about the anticipated vascular gene therapy trial as it becomes available online on MDA's Web site and in MDA's Quest magazine.

LINK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

2009-12-15T08:19:00.002-05:00

Today I was given the opportunity to read such a beautiful "poem" or as i say story...

The Special Mother

by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice,
a few by social pressure and a couple by habit.
This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children.
Did you ever wonder how these mothers are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth
Selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation.
As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew."
"Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia."
"Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who knows no laughter?
That would be cruel."
"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair.
Once the shock and resentment wear off she'll handle it."
"I watched her today.
She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother.
You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of it's own.
She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive.
Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect.
She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied.
She will never take for granted a spoken word.
She will never consider a step ordinary.
When her child says momma for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it.
I will permit her to see clearly the things I see--ignorance, cruelty,
prejudice--and allow her to rise above them.
She will never be alone.
I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life
Because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air. God smiles.
"A mirror will suffice."

I think sometimes in my fit of anger, rage, and emotions; I forget to take the time to thank my Dear Lord that I am just that lucky. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful daughter. She is so bright, bubbly, smart, and fun. She has no ill will towards anyone or anything. She is so kind and gentle, and she is the best person I have ever stumbled across.

I just wish people knew more about the emotions and feelings of people like Cai. That her heart aches with sadness when people laugh at her. Her feelings get damaged when people point and stare when she falls. I wish that for once my daughter wouldn't be looked down upon rather applauded for dealing with something we never could.

God blessed me with Caileigh because he knew that I need to be witness to such glory. I needed to see that so much more could be wrong, but not a bit of it might phase her. He wanted me to observe that no matter how full one's plate might be, that the fullness doesn't have to be negativity. I am the lucky one here, I was blessed with such a GREAT kid.... :)

Caileigh's Crusade

2009-11-19T13:16:00.003-05:00

After much debate we decided to do it... To petition all city and county parks and rec. to install at least 1 handicap playground in the community. We are going to begin to do this nation wide eventually. I am spreadding the word that it is unfair for my child, your child, or any handicap child to not haev the option to play at the park.

My daughter is 5 years old and sadly has only played at the park a handful of times. Due to her muscle deterioration she is not able to climb on the equipment at a standard playground. So sadly we tell her "NO" because the risk of injury is way to great. She lacks the muscles in her neck and joints and if she were to fall in jsut the wrong way she could be more critical than she is now.

I have e-blasted this all over the web. I have added it to facebook, cafemom, and even her website. All it takes is one person to make a difference. Please help Caileigh be that person.

http://caileighspage.info/Welcome.htm

I just feel so hopeless at this point

2009-11-18T11:51:00.003-05:00

I do not normally get so sad over these things... ok yes I do. See below... I am so distraught

As many people know, my dear daughter was diagnosed three years ago with MD (muscular dystrophy). Ever since then it has been an out set of dr. after dr. never ending. Recently her neurologist requested a visit to a pulmonologist... makes since seeing as that her lungs are a muscle! She has had weak muscles for what seems like ever and her lungs have been bad for a long time... she has had pneumonia 12 times in her 5 years here. God Bless her.

The pulmonologist said there is a decrease in her strength even after the medications that were meant to help. So they are sending her in to do a sleep study and a pft. Seems normal enough, asthma people do it all the time...However I need to remember that my sweet thing is never normal and nothing surrounding her is.

The difference is, oh man its so scary to me to state this... they want the sleep study done because they are worried that with her weakening lungs, that as her body and muscles slow at night as every-one's do, hers may stop all together. I never thought of that I guess. The reality of a dr. saying that to you is sickening. To know that the possibility of that is realistic.... ohhhhh my heart sinks. The fear sets in.

They also want her to do a PFT because they know that she does not suffer from obstruction rather restrictive problems... my fear is growing every call I get from a doctor now... I didn't think I would get here this fast. I thought Cai had many many years because her form wasn't that bad... how did we get here? I am devastated with the news of the need for these procedures and the purpose... oh Dear Lord please give us the strength to get through this. We have 4 of these scheduled right up to Xmas.... Im crushed... I am hoping we can reschedlue some to give her a break to enjoy the holidays.

Cai has her own website with information about her condition, I try to update it regularly! Thanks for listening and please say a prayer for my sweet baby... She doesn't deserve this. If you have any words of advice please share them with me... I am slowly losing my mind with this disease and it's effects on my precious child.

Cai's Website

2009-11-16T09:59:00.004-05:00

So we took some pictures this weekend to try and put together a Christmas/Holiday card to send out... The very last one will be our cover for the card.. or actually the photo for the card! The others were just plain fun! They are not 100% professional but my oldest sister who is going to go into photography took them for us... I love them. More to come... as she edits them!

Sometimes I just want to crumble

2009-11-09T08:31:00.002-05:00

As my daughter has aged (and so have I) I have found it harder and harder to stop the tears. I hope I am not alone on that! I cry over EVERYTHING... ummm if there is a pretty butterfly or a rainbow , a dog on the side of the road, or an elderly couple I cry. I am not sad but I cry.... My tears are tears of disbelief that I could be witness to such grand things.

Saturday was the annual MDA Walk-A-Thon at the Zoo in Atlanta. Standing there with my beautiful daughter, family and friends it hit me just how fortunate I am. I say it all the time that I am not good enough to be Caileigh's mom. She is an amazing little girl with so much to offer, I feel inadequate to her level. She has such a wonderful support system. She has so many people who love her, she is so blessed. I am so blessed to have her. As we heard the sponsors read the totals raised for the year my eyes filled with tears. Not because my donations were huge, not because of the total raised, but because the amounts shows just how much people care.

People donated in this time of need to a cause that supports my daughter. My eyes filled with tears knowing that we all stood there with one purpose. We all had in common one desire. We all had the same hope at the same moment, knowing that there is so far to go and we have come so far. Knowing that with every dollar earned there was hope that one child wouldn't have to suffer anymore. Knowing that with every dollar maybe my child wouldn't have to suffer anymore. Knowing that the word has spread that it is time to end childhood disabilities for good.

I need to take the time to be more thankful. To my wonderful family, friends, and loved ones who came out with us on Saturday. To the families of the MDA victims who are here and gone. To the volunteers donating their time, efforts, and goods to my family. To the organization workers who spend time and know us personally. Dear God please bless these people as my family is so blessed to have them.

God works in mysterious ways. I can't keep asking why Caileigh? Why Caileigh? He planned this. Caileigh is here to show me how to love, be compassionate, understanding, and loyal.

Stuff White People Like ... Pun intended!

2009-11-06T08:03:00.002-05:00

My day started out very rough... so I decided to make it better on my own... that is why I started digging through this hilarious website. If you have a sense of humor even a small one you will giggle to yourself! This site is far too funny not to re-post... hahaha dig through and enjoy! Makes me laugh because much is true...

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com

Enjoy a good laugh no matter what color you may be! because this truly is funny... :)

Gearing up for the zoo then TECH!

2009-11-05T09:44:00.005-05:00

As many people who know me or have the opportunity to hear me talk, the MDA Zoo Walk is this Saturday Nov. 7, 2009. The walk is a way for the local ATL organization to raise funds to support adults and children like my little girl. We will be attending and we are more excited then ever. If you or anyone you know are ever contemplating donating to an organization the ATL MDA is a great one! An example of our team shirts (I forgot to order them so we had to make them!)

So I am hoping they look alright, my oldest sister helped me to make them! so glad the walk is almost here! Her website is still up and feel free to pass it along... donations are appreciated!

http:caileighspage.info/Welcome.htm

https://www.joinmda.org/mdawalkofhope2009/shauna

On a lighter note Tech and Wake Forrest play at 3:30 Saturday afternoon! We will for sure smash (sting) them! Go Jackets!!!!

Even through the rain, the sun shall shine again...

2009-10-28T08:33:00.002-04:00

There are days when I am just mean. I wake up and am just a mean not so fun person... some might say that is all the time, regardless today was one of those days. Im tired, Im just feeling plain icky and I am angry (not sure why). I worked out hoping to relive some frustration... NOPE. After almost a full month of this no weight lost.. inches slimming down but not a single pound!!!

It upset me so badly that I know it will put a damper on my entire day.... none the less I have to figure out how to make TSHIRTS for the MDA Walk-a-thon coming up! Fun fun!!!

"it isn't the size of the body the person is within but the size of the heart they love with that makes them who they are"

2009-10-27T08:29:00.004-04:00

I never knew I could love someone so much. I never knew that a cheek on my cheek and a tiny voice in the middle of the night whispering "mommy I need you" of the could be such a blessing. How was I to know that my destiny involved something so miraculous, so grand, so precious and gentle? How was I supposed to know that I would be this blessed?

I never knew that a tiny hand slipping into mine would feel so heart warming so great. I never knew that it isn't the size of the body the person is within but the size of the heart they love with that makes them who they are. How was supposed to know I would be consumed by such a presence? How was I supposed to know that in such a small time on Earth with such a small frame, she could alter my world for the better every day?

I never knew what it felt like to love someone with everything I have. I never knew that loving someone so much would mean that I would honestly give myself for that tiny one. How was I supposed to be prepared for such a task? Does she know what she did the day she came to me, changed me, made me whole? She may not, but HE does know, that's why she is here.

Growing Every Day

2009-10-26T09:01:00.004-04:00

While I started this blog as a way to keep up with my daughter, I guess it has quickly become a way for me to grow. To learn new things. See new things. To maintain and not forget daily lessons thrown our way. I must say that recently I have battled some heavy burdens. I have fought some terrible things in my life. All the while asking, "Why me?"

I started going to church, not because I wanted to "thump" anyone but because there was a calling to me that I needed something deeper. I needed someone bigger than myself or my problems. I found that. I had a very rough week last week and begged of my BF please let's get up and go to church this weekend. I am so glad that calling occurred because the sermon was beautiful.

The Pastor spoke of giving to others. Thinking of others. But most of all, doing that selflessly. I have a huge problem of doing things with only myself in mind; for that I am wrong. But when he said to decide which question was correct:
"What can others do for me?"
"What can I do for others?"
I instantly knew that I had been living my life incorrectly. Although I had been laid off last year, I found a new job. Although I took a huge pay cut, I have an income. Although I struggle to pay my rent each month, I have a home. Although I get so mad at my family sometimes, I have the love and support of my family to rely on to get me through troubling times.

As I left the church I felt so compelled to figure out what exactly "I can do for others". I am still working on that. I want to be able to be known as a giver. As a helper. AS an encourager.

I must always remember that it doesn't matter how far gone you think you are, it is never to late to be saved.

I am me

2009-08-21T07:48:00.005-04:00

written for Caileigh

I am me
I am young
I am an old soul
I am anything I want to be; I am me

I am me
I am strong
I am weak
I am more than they thought I'd be; I am me

I am me
I am smart
I am becoming educated
I am everything you want to be; I am me

I am me
I am beautiful
I am courageous
I am what you can't be because I am me

If only they Knew...

2009-08-19T13:08:00.006-04:00

I guess my only message for my daughter, really at this point wouldn't be how much I love her... I tell her that every day. It wouldn't be how much I miss her when she is gone, Lord knows I tell her that 100 times a day. Nor how much fun she can be to be around. It would be that she really needs to always understand.... People are ignorant and afraid to ask.

When Cai started school I had my fears. I had my doubts, my concerns, and all of my questions. After all this wasn't like sending any child to school; this was my child. She was not so much different rather BETTER than the others ;)

While attending school she has been picked on, questioned, looked at, and judged. The odd part is, so have I. Whether I am parking in the handicap section, walking her inside while other parents just stay in their cars, or helping her get her wheel chair out of the office where they store it for her, we are constantly questioned and stared at.

I always assumed that being plagued by a disability would circumference those types of actions; I never knew people who do it to a 5 year old. They tell me I need to buy her new shoes so she wont fall. They tell me I shouldn't park in the handicap section without a handicap. They tell me I shouldn't try to walk her in every single day. I should tell them to back off and not be such ignorant people.

If only they knew that regardless of the shoes she has on, her muscles are deteriorating at such a rapid pace she will always fall for what appears to be no reason. If only they knew to look into my car to see the blue hanging tag on my mirror; not all handicapped individuals look handicapped. If only they knew that I walk her in because the front door is far too heavy for her to open by herself; she is only 45 pounds. If only they knew.

Caileigh will know. She will know that people are rude. She will know that people are scared to ask so they form assumptions. She will know that they stare because she is beautiful inside and out; and that's something they will never be. She will know that regardless of her difficulties she will overcome so much. I can promise you one thing, She will know.

Oh the first day of School!

2009-08-03T09:37:00.005-04:00

Well today was the day... it was the day I have been waiting and not waiting for. My little darling started the big K... that's right all of a sudden she turned 5 and then two weeks later I am dropping her off at a REAL school for kindergarten! I was so distraught, I didn't sleep a wink last night. She was so giddy with excitement that I got visably upset...
Why does she want to leave me and go to school so bad? Why is she growing up so fast? Is she already old enough to drive? Ok that's pushing it BUT really where has 5 years gone? Where was my time to prepare for this? I am not ready to let go. I am not ready to let her do this... There are still too many what if's.
What if the kids pick on her because she walks funny? What if the kids are not nice to her? What if they make fun of her wheel chair? What if she gets hurt? OHHHHHHHHH please help me, what can I do to relinquish control???

Here is her proud moment prior to entering her school career.... awwwwww how sad I am...

Just found this, probably old but WOW!

2009-07-31T09:18:00.002-04:00

New Stem Cells Move From Blood to Muscle, Slow MD in Mice

MDA-funded scientists have shown for the first time that stem cell injections can prevent muscle wasting and improve strength in mice with muscular dystrophy (MD).


Kevin Campbell

Previous attempts at stem cell therapy for MD have met with little success. Scientists have tried injecting the cells directly into muscle or transplanting them into bone marrow, but whether tried in animals or in people neither procedure has led to enough muscle regeneration to slow the course of MD. Ideally, giving stem cells through a bone marrow transplant would send them through the bloodstream to muscles all over the body, but in reality, very few of the cells get to muscles this way.

An Italian team led by Giulio Cossu, at the University of Rome and the Stem Cell Research Institute in Milan, has isolated stem cells that normally live in blood vessels and thus can rapidly find their way to muscles when injected into an artery. Kevin Campbell, a longtime MDA grantee at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, was a member of the study team.

First, the scientists isolated the vessel-dwelling stem cells — called mesoangioblasts — from normal mice and tested them in mice lacking alpha-sarcoglycan, the muscle protein flawed in people with limb-girdle MD type 2D (LGMD2D). After a single injection into an artery in the hind leg, the cells had migrated to several leg muscles, and alpha-sarcoglycan could be detected there for at least three months afterward.


Johnny Huard

When the injections were given three times over four months, the protein could be found in more than 50 percent of fibers in some leg muscles. Muscles in the injected leg showed less degeneration and less fibrosis (a buildup of fatty tissue) and the individual fibers were stronger than those of untreated mice. The treated mice were also better at staying on a spinning rod called a rotarod.

The scientists also isolated mesoangioblasts from mice with alpha-sarcoglycan deficiency and used a virus to give the cells an intact alpha-sarcoglycan gene. Those cells were as effective as normal cells when injected into the mice.

These results, published online by Science on July 10, suggest that people with MD could be treated with intravascular injections of their own mesoangioblasts, Campbell and Cossu say. The cells havent yet been isolated from adult human tissue, however.

Meanwhile, a study in the July issue of Nature Cell Biology might explain why the bone marrow transplant method of delivering stem cells hasnt been very successful against MD.

MDA grantee Johnny Huard of Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh isolated stem cells from the muscles of mice with Duchenne MD, fixed the cells with a miniaturized version of dystrophin (the protein missing in DMD), and injected them into mice with DMD that had their bone marrow destroyed.

As reported previously, the injected cells restored the bone marrow, but only a tiny fraction of them made new muscle. In other experiments, Huard found that once muscle stem cells become bone marrow, they lose some of their ability to make muscle.

* * * copied from mda website * * *

2009-07-31T09:15:00.002-04:00

Sometimes life can be the most difficult journey ever presented to an individual. You can wake up knowing what terrible tragedies lie ahead of you or what golden path you might stumble upon. When you are born you are considered a miracle. You take your first breath, see your first sight, and love unconditionally. So what do you call a miracle later diagnosed?

My daughter was born 5 years ago July 19th. I can still remember the day I laughed off the contractions to a little more than my pants being too tight. I was 17, scared, in labor, and didn't want to be. I couldn't help but think of how this little girl soon to be out in the world was about to turn my life upside down. How something so little was going to cause me so many problems. I couldn't help but to continuously ask myself, "Shauna, what have you done?".

As I was wheeled into my delivery room the fear set in. This was it. The end of my life as I knew it... was over. I was about to be a mom. I couldn't go out anymore. I couldn't do simple things anymore like sleep in on a Saturday, or any day for that matter. I remember having the epidural, pushing a couple of times, getting extremely dizzy and hearing her cry. I am not sure what caused me to pass out after that. It might have been the pain of delivering a 9lb 22 inch child, it might have been the pain from all of the needles and stitches, or it might have been the pain of knowing there was no going back. It was official, she had changed my life forever.

Over the next 5 years we have been through a lot. Her father and I separated shortly before and after her birth. I dated around, worked odd jobs and struggled to be a single mom at such a young age. We asked for help from friends, family, and churches just to survive at times. But I was doing the best I could. Until that day.

I was told by a family friend that something was not right with Caileigh's legs. So I took the warning and saw an orthopedic specialist. It was then my world came tumbling down. We were instantly told to drive across town to the neurologist. No reason or rhyme, just to go. So she and I, my little life changer drove across town to the neurologist who was waiting for us. Without a sound he nodded his head and walked out of the room. I was SHOCKED to say the least. What did that nod mean? Where did he go? Then he returned. I was not sure if it had been seconds or minutes he was gone but it felt like days. He came in with a handful of documents. He wanted blood samples and urine samples and DNA tests run. He sat down with one hand on my shoulder and said, "Mom, we have a problem. She appears to have some form of muscular dystrophy."

It was as if someone had pulled my lungs out, my ears started to buzz, and my heart attempted to pump out of my chest. What was this man saying and was he nuts? He was confused. Not my Caileigh. Not my little life changer. He must have confused me with another mom. But he sat there for a moment as tears filled my eyes. Then he left the room. I stared at her playing with her blocks. As if nothing were wrong. Life in her eyes was great! Life in my eyes was over.

Could Life be Worth Any MORE? pt 2

2009-07-07T08:11:00.006-04:00

Life had instantly become a nightmare. I had so many questions. fear filled my mind. Doubt. Concern. And all of the WHAT IF'S? What if she gets ill? What if she gets worse? When will she get worse? Will she die? The questions filled my mind and there I sat all alone, with no one to answer me. I sat there. She sat there. All of a sudden I noticed, she really was my life changer.

With one sentence my entire life changed quicker than the day I delivered her. I had 9 months to prepare for that, this was from left field. When we finally got our release documents I stumbled to gather our things. We went to the car and drive home in silence. Caileigh in the back seat sleeping while I was in the front seat fighting. fighting tears. Fighting doubt. Fighting the knowledge that I obtained but wanted to lose so badly. Fighting the want to lose the will I once had. She and I had been through a lot but how would we overcome this?

I will never forget putting her to bed that night. I walked out of her room, shut her door, and my body collapsed against the wall. I lost it. I cried harder than I have ever cried in my life. Tears came from so deep inside of me I thought they would never end. My shirt was soaked my hair was soaked until the tears stopped. I cried but there were no tears. I had finally cried the last tear I had in me. By that time it was 3:00am. I didn't sleep that night. I sat there wondering. Thinking. Contemplating.

Will she be able to be a ballerina? Will she be able to be a cheerleader? Will she be able to walk? Will she be in a wheel chair? Will she die? Oh my GOD... Will she die? I kicked myself. Only 2 years ago I cried knowing my life was over when she was delivered and how I nearly resented her then. If only I had know. I would have loved her more. I would have kissed and cuddled her more. I would have read three books instead of two and I never would have sent her to bed hungry because she didn't like what I made. What a disgrace I was.

But somehow we survived. She kept growing. I kept growing. I grew in more ways than I ever thought possible. I learned to be patient when she took an extra 10 minutes to climb the stairs, I learned to be patient when she fell down while we were walking in the mall. I learned compassion. I learned to be strong when inside I am in pieces, she could never know I was distraught inside. She taught me so many things so quickly without even knowing it.

On July 19th we celebrate my dear Caileigh's 5th birthday. What a miracle this is for me. It is in a way a birthday for me as well. I have dedicated 5 years of myself to this child and aided her in growing, as she dedicated 5 years of herself to help me to grow. We have had some rough patches. Broken bones, bouts of pneumonia, virus after virus, wheelchairs and x-rays. But we somehow survive.

I truly believe that God sent her to me as a gift. She taught me things some people die without knowing. She has made me a stronger person, a better mother, and a better companion. God never gives you more than you can handle. He knew I could love and take care of my precious life changer as he knew she could handle every obstacle her disability throws her way. God did a good job when he matched us together, he perfected love.

Could Life Be Worth Any MORE?

2009-07-06T07:57:00.006-04:00