Haircuts to help the Robinsons

A dear family friend of ours has been battling with brain tumor's for the past 7 years. After three years of remission, the Robinson family received unfortunate news, Alan, the father of three beautiful children and a terrific wife, discovered that his brain tumor is back! There are a mountain of medical expenses that come along with the treatment needed for Alan to undergo. A fundraising event for the Robinson family will be held this 

Saturday from 9am-12pm. Please read the flyer below for more details.

The fundraiser will be "Haircuts to help the Robinsons". All proceeds will go to benefit the Robinson family. There will also be an auction and the amazingly talented Kathy Scoffield from Kathy Scoffield Photography is auctioning off two photo sessions. There will also be many other items up for auction as well. So if you are in the area, please stop by on Saturday. If you are not in town or available to come there is a link on the event page below to where you can help by donating to the Robinson family. Thank you all for your help!

Haircuts to help the Robinson's Facebook event page

Safe Kids Day Event and the Button Battery Experiment!

Safe Kids Day was a great success! Michael and I were able to speak with many parent's about the risk and dangers of button batteries in the home. We also encouraged parent's to keep  the tiny batteries out of little arms reach and brought attention to what items contain the button batteries..

Look closely at the bottom of the picture below... Michael and I presented two experiments, that many commented on, being a great visual to demonstrate what kind of reaction a button batteries will have on the body.

The Hot Dog Experiment:

This is a video of a news clip showing in more detail the hot dog experiment.

                 

Mitchell's Experiment:

Mitchell and his family are dear family friends. I have worked with his mother in the past on this issue of button battery ingestion. After hearing Emmett's story, Mitchell explored the idea of what other fluids would cause a reaction when comes in contact with a button battery. Here is what he discovered. (Please, do not try this experiment at home especially if you have little ones, just learn from Mitchell's experiment)

Following Mitchell's directions (modified slightly), I took three cups and placed a small amount of liquid in each cup. Each cup contained a different type of fluid. 1. Lemon juice 2. Sprite 3. Saliva

Within a half of an hour the Saliva started to cause a reaction with the button battery.

The image below was taken 6 hours after I originally placed the button batteries into each cup. 

Warning: The image below is a bit gross!

If this kind of reaction to saliva can be caused with in 6 hours, imagine what it can do inside of a small child. We believe Emmett's button battery was housed in his tiny body for about 3 days. Those who might be new to following Emmett's story, Michael and I did not see Emmett ingest the button battery. We noticed flu like symptoms and immediately took him into the doctor. He was missed diagnosed with a cold and we were sent home. Two more doctor visit's later, a chest x-ray was taken of Emmett and then the button battery was  discovered  lodged inside his esophagus. 

Button batteries are dangerous! Keep items that contain them, up and out of reach of children.

A mother who stopped by our both, brought her older son over to show him the danger's if a button battery was to be left out. She sternly taught him of the importance of  carefully putting the batteries away after using them in his electronic devices, this young man has a younger sister. I wanted to give this mom a hug! The awareness of button battery safety is not just for parent's alone but for siblings, cousins, friends, grandparents alike. 

Get the word out fast!!!

Go Emmett, Go!

Safe Kids Day!

 Safe Kids Day is the 1st ever national injury prevention and awareness day. The #1 leading cause of death for children in the United States is from a preventable injury. Just like button battery ingestion, many of these injuries can be prevented by proper education and awareness.

Emmett's Fight is excited to help fund raise for Safe Kids Day. Safe Kids Worldwide is a non for profit organization passionate about childhood safety. Safe Kids has shed tremendous light on the issue of Button Battery Ingestion and sharing Emmett's Story, bringing it not only to national but international attention.
In order for the injury prevention advocacy movement  to keep rolling, Emmett's Fight is asking for the help of those in the community. Click on over to the link below to view the Emmett's Fight fundraising page for Safe Kids Day!
Please help us make a difference!!!

Emmett's Fight fundraising page for Safe Kids Day 

Beautiful video! Tribute to all of our friends and family who love's someone with Austism!

I came across this video and just had to share it. It is so beautiful and I think a great tribute to those individuals and families who fight their own battle with Autism. I love the perspective of this family. I have learned through our journey with Emmett, that each and everyone of us have our own mountains to climb. It is our decisions to make what kind of attitude we will have as we take our journey!

Emmett and his rehabilitation at work! Go Emmett!

I have to apologize to all the Emmett's Fight supporter's and reader's, April flew by like a blink of the eye. I can't believe it is May already.

Life has been good, busy, but good. I am sure "busy" is a term most of us parent's can relate too.

Emmett has wasted no time working hard to regain his strength, learning to eat and to achieve age appropriate developmental skills.

I am so impressed with this little boy and how many huge strides he has accomplished over the past few months. Emmett has a full schedule of therapies each week, he never complains and quite actually enjoys his one on one time with his therapists.

This is a glimpse into the daily life of Emmett's journey...

This is Miss Kristen... She has been working with Mr Emmett for over two years. I had the most difficult time trying to find a Speech Therapist who was comfortable with working with Emmett and his condition right after the battery accident occurred  Thanks to my wonderful friend Brenda, Kristen came into our lives and has seriously saved the day... many times... We are so blessed to have Kristen as one of Emmett's therapist. She truly loves him and has a great listening ear for Emmett's mommy too;) Thank you Kristen.

This is Miss Monica and silly Emmett. Miss Monica has recently come on board for Emmett's care. She is also a Speech Pathologist who is a friend of Kristen's. Emmett receives Swallow Therapy twice a week, one time from Kristen and the other from Monica. These two ladies have helped Emmett over come mountains in regards to his feeding skills. We have a long road ahead of us, but I am so grateful Emmett will have these two ladies by his side!

Emmett spends time with Miss Kim, who is an Occupational Therapist, once a week. Emmett has many sensory issues, which is common among children who have had long term hospitalizations. Kim is so patient and kind as she helps Emmett over come and face many fears. I am so grateful for her. Emmett loves to play hide and go seek with Miss Kim.

And then there is Miss Jen who is Emmett's Physical Therapist... sigh... I sure love this lady! She has been working with Emmett since he came home from the very first hospitalization post battery ingestion over 2 1/2 years ago. She has done so much for Emmett. She also has a great listening ear and has been a shoulder to cry on many a times. I wish I had video's to show what huge strides Emmett has over come since we met Miss Jen . Emmett was so fragile after coming home from the hospital in 2010,  he was unable to sit up on his own. Today, Emmett can run, jump (two feet off the ground), climb, walk up stairs and so much more. It brings tears in my eyes remembering where we were and to see how far we have come. 

I am so grateful beyond words for these four incredible ladies. God is so good!

Brayden:

December, 2012 Emmett underwent a life saving surgery. Emmett had his old esophagus complete removed and he receive an entirely new esophagus, created using a portion of his bowel. The incredible and miraculous surgery had taken place in Cincinnati, Ohio almost two thousand miles away from our home in Phoenix, Arizona.

A dear friend Brayden hiked to the top of a mountain in Phoenix with her Mom and sent off a bouquet of balloons to Emmett in Cincinnati along with a "get well soon" message. For most, hiking to the top of a mountain is not a difficult task, but for this special young lady it was a monumental event.

Emmett and Brayden had a play date this past Friday. The two sillies enjoyed watering flowers, building blocks, playing hide and go seek and giggling. We sure love Brayden!

Thank you all for the many prayers and words of encouragement! We are so grateful that our Father in Heaven has blessed us with so many wonderful people in our lives.

Go Emmett, Go!

Easter!

Spring! Such a gorgeous time of year in Arizona and to add to it's beauty is the opportunity to celebrate Easter.

In our home... the boys anticipated the arrival of the legendary Easter Bunny.

Saturday, we boiled 18 eggs and embellished them with lovely shades of green, blue, red and yellow. After many paper towels we managed to decorate all 1 1/2 dozen eggs with out a spill of food coloring. Phew!

Saturday night we had a nice dinner with my side of the family. The Easter Bunny always arrives early at Grandma T's house, it has been that way since I was a little girl. It is kind of a fun tradition.

After the Easter party, Ethan set out a plate of baby carrots and I was a scribe as Ethan wrote out a little note for the Bunny.

Every night Emmett requires a nurse to care for him. The nurse helps to monitor his ventilator, suction his trach as needed, give medications, run his feeding pump, along with many other medical tasks. Ethan was greatly concerned that the Easter Bunny would not come to our home because Emmett's nurse was awake all night. He was afraid the Easter Bunny would see her and not stop. (I love the thought process of a 5 year old).  Ethan and I came up with a clever plan.... We placed the note and the plate of delicious garden carrots out on our patio table. I ensured Ethan, that the Easter Bunny would wait until Emmett's nurse was in Emmett's room before he would make his stop at our home. 

Sunday morning, Ethan was greatly relieved to see that our plan worked. The Easter Bunny did come and left plenty of delicious Easter eggs for a terrific hunt.

Sunday evening, we enjoyed another Easter Feast with Michael's family.

Yes, I am that mother who put fruit and vegetables in my children's Easter eggs. Sometimes I get anxiety looking at all the candy.

The Easter Bunny responded back to Ethan's note... He reminded Ethan and Emmett to remember the true reason for celebrating Easter and what it means to our family. I love Spring because it gives the feeling of a new beginning. We had a nice visit with our boys as we read from the Bible the story of Christ and the atonement, His ultimate sacrifice and the resurrection. Michael and I asked both boys how it made them feeling knowing what Jesus did for them. Michael and I also showed this video for the boys to be able to see the love that our Savior has for each and everyone of us. 

                           

Happy Easter Everyone!

Officially a Soccer Mom!

I feel as if I came to a "right of passage"... I am officially a soccer mom! I don't drive a mini van or a Volvo, but I do have an adorable little five year old who is excited to kick around a soccer ball and be on a team.

Ethan has been excited to play soccer for months now. He just could not turn five fast enough. Ethan and his dad went shopping for the shin guards, cleats, soccer ball, shorts and socks.

This morning, Saturday, Ethan had his first soccer game. His team name is the Sharks. Friday night he was so excited for this game,  he carefully set out his uniform and squirmed and giggled as he climbed into bed. The next morning, just as the sun was beginning to rise, Ethan bounced into our room ready for the big game.

The Rauch family headed out the door for an 8am game. The team consists of friends that Ethan attends church with. It was great to be cheering on our little Sharks with friends and family.

  Ethan and his pal Henry

 Let's go Sharks! 

Emmett and his Grandma

Emmett is Ethan's #1 fan. He refused to get out of his stroller, watching the game pretty intensely for a 3 year old. I could hear his quiet raspy little voice holler out, "E-an" (aka Ethan). (Yes his socks are not matching... that is how we roll in our house hold)

I loved the sense of pride I felt watching my little Ethan-bug running down the soccer field. He may not be the most coordinated player right now, but what a joy to see him growing up and learning to enjoy new things. Life is so good!