Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

It has been a few months since the last update. We hope this update finds all of you well and full of the joy of the Lord.

Just after the last update, Chris, Stephanie and I took Micah to the Institutes in Pennsylvania (IAHP.org). This was a return visit – the previous one being six months prior. The purpose was to re-assess Micah’s development and adjust his therapies to fit his needs at this time. It would be very difficult to give you the full report – so much happened – but I will do my best to give you some of the highlights.

The first was an appointment with an ophthalmologist that has vast experience with brain-injured patients. He thoroughly examined Micah’s visual abilities. It was really interesting to watch what types of tests he did with Micah. He used various patterned and colored wheels and watched Micah’s responses as well as the responses of his pupils, etc. The end result was a report that he believes that Micah has the vision of a 5 ½ month old baby! It is a miracle – continuously in the making! Micah has a problem with convergence (which is basically the ability to turn his eyes inward to focus on an object at close range). That is not an unusual problem – even with a non-brain-injured child. With time and continued patterning, not to forget God’s great will, the convergence problem can possibly be corrected. This was wonderful news to us!

After Micah was assessed by all of the specialists at the Institutes, Chris and Stephanie were taught new patterning techniques that they are now doing with Micah. Fortunately for all of them, they were able to stop doing some of the former therapies that Micah just hated!

The top areas of focus (by no means are they the ONLY areas of focus) are improving Micah’s respiratory function, increasing Micah’s weight and size (which increased respiratory function would help immensely), and communication skills.

I am attaching a few very short video clips to show you some of the new therapies that Micah is doing.

These first two clips are of the patterning that simulates the movement of crawling. Where Micah’s patterning used to take two people to do them, it now takes a total of four people at one time, three times a day to do. Volunteers are vital to his continued progress.

The third clip is of Micah in a respiratory jacket. Chris and Stephanie are being taught how to stimulate his respirations by simulating his breathing pattern and pulling on the jacket straps to the beats of a metronome. The jacket has to be specially made to fit Micah. After Micah gets used to doing this therapy in his jacket and he doesn’t cry anymore, we will order a custom-made jacket which is actually automated and will do much of the same patterning but without the need for people. To me, it seems a lot like a blood pressure cuff only it is a jacket that goes around Micah’s mid-section and blows up and releases at the rate of his breathing. This is supposed to help increase Micah’s respiratory abilities. The better that is, the better his vision, his growth, his eating, his brain and body function, etc. This amazing piece of equipment is custom made to Micah’s specs in Germany. Once Micah has this piece of equipment, it will free Stephanie to do his reading program while at the same time doing his respiratory program. A little more on that in a minute. Here is the clip:

This final clip is of Micah doing another therapy which he doesn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, it is kind of fun for him! This therapy helps with his neurological and visual function.

I mentioned earlier about Micah’s reading program. The Institutes have put him on a reading program. If I am remembering correctly, Stephanie introduces 50 new words a week to Micah on 11” x 11” cards which she holds in front of him and then speaks the words to him. The cards and the letters are large which is perfect for maximizing Micah’s ability to see them and eventually recognize and comprehend them. This is an exciting part of Micah’s therapies. We are so hopeful for his progress in all areas in the next six months and really look forward to the six month visits to the Institutes.

This has been a lengthy update. Thank you for caring and for continuing to keep baby Micah and his parents in your prayers. We are very fortunate to have many loving, caring and sacrificial volunteers, friends and family members who are committed and devoted to Micah’s healing and care. If anyone lives in the vicinity of Fullerton, California, and wishes to volunteer to help with Micah’s patterning, please let me know. Stephanie is always looking for wonderful and caring people to come along side her to help Micah. It is very easy to do and does not take very much time at all. In fact, you would only need to commit one hour for your visit. She has openings every day of the week. Let me know if you want to help out!

Please continue to pray for complete healing of Micah’s brain and body, continued protection over his health, and continued strength and support for Stephanie in doing all that she is doing to help Micah get better.

May you be as blessed in 2008 as our family has been this past year with all that God has done. God is so good and we pray for His immeasurable love and goodness to fill your lives and families this coming year.

With love and thankfulness,

Teri and Gary Stache