Monday, November 04, 2013

Hooray for Kendal

This is Kendal on her first day of preschool in May of 2008.
She was so so little, only three years old.
3 years old is the age they can start Early Intervention Preschool.
Because of Kendal's seizures and her lack of mental and social development, she was able to take advantage of the Early Intervention programs.
Previous to her attending their preschool, we had a speech therapist and occupational therapist come to our home every 2 weeks to work with Kendal.  When she turned three, she moved into preschool.

Sweet Kendal, she is the child that seems to be the one that deals with all kinds of crazy conditions and hardships.  The seizures and their medications, with all their horrible side effects, recently eye problems that required 6 months of wearing a patch and glasses forever, attention and hyperactivity issues, and in these two pictures, a broken leg.  (Weakened skeletal system was one bad side effect of her seizure meds.)
 
She wasn't supposed to walk on that broken leg, and the doctor said he would cast it at such a crazy angle to make it physically impossible for her to walk on.
Well, Kendal seems to be handed plenty of hardships, but she also overcomes them.
Not only did she walk on it, she jumped on the trampoline! 

(This picture was the day she got the cast removed, I didn't let her jump on it until then, promise!)

She has the spunky little personality to overcome the challenges that she gets to face in this life.
She and the great doctors overcame the seizures, she overcame her eye condition in half the time her eye doctor expected, she overcame her speech issues, she overcame her learning issues and repeated first grade with a great success, and she will continue to overcome whatever comes her way.

Last month I had a meeting with her teachers and administrators at her school where she is now in second grade.  The Special Education teachers did some extensive testing with Kendal in September and wanted to discuss the results with me. 
She has been in the Special Education system since those early days of the therapists visiting our home when she was two, then 2 years of Early Intervention preschool, all day Kindergarten, first grade twice, three years of summer school, and now. She received help in her classes every day with Math, went to speech a few times a week, and also went to get extra help with the special education teachers.  I have been pleased with all the help and attention she has received.

All the testing came back saying that Kendal is now a pretty average little second grader.  She reads above grade level, spells above grade level, and  completes math and other subjects at grade level as well.  Her IQ skyrocketed and is above average, and her speech and actions are age appropriate. 
Whew!
So, they exited her out of the special education system.
Yep, just like that.  
It was a great day.  The administrators and teachers say this rarely ever happens.  Most kids stay with the programs because they still need them.  Kendal doesn't anymore.  She overcame it all.

Those early days of so many EEG's at Primary Children's Hospital are long gone.  The days of over the top high blood pressure and kidney stones are gone.  The summers of staying in the house during the day because she couldn't actually sweat, and overheating was a real life issue are over.  The days of no immune system and seizures are gone.  The days of me worrying if she would ever talk again are long gone.  The days of me wondering if she will ever learn to read are gone.

I still worry about her, that is for sure.  I still get frustrated when I listen to her read and she sounds out the first three letters and then guesses the rest of the word.  I still tell her to sit still while she wiggles and does her homework after school.  I still have to make her eat a snack when she thinks she isn't hungry.  I still worry if she is being nice to her friends at school.  I still hope she is listening to her teacher and being respectful.
I still worry, but it is the normal worrying of a mother for a child.  
The normal concerns.
Thank Heaven.
And thank Heaven that He blessed her with the personality to overcome.








11 comments:

Jenny said...

LOVE HER, LOVE YOU!

Kerin said...

She is a miracle and an inspiration!
You have a little angel there.

We had similar health trials with our daughter (now 25 yrs. old) and we almost lost her twice.
A new kidney(thanks to her dad) and ten years later.. she's beat all the odds, with a stick.... a really, big stick.

Give your sweetie a hug, and tell her to keep up with her great attitude and spunk!

Tiff said...

Way to go Kendal!! Like Kerin said, she truly is a miracle and an inspiration :)

I think having a loving and supportive family helped her too!!

Tiff

Breanne said...

She is awesome! And you are, too. So happy for you and your family. :)

The Jones Fam said...

That is so wonderful! We love Kendal's fun personality. She is a fighter for sure!

momof6 said...

So excited to hear about her and your success!!!!

I miss you guys!!! That little guy that use to play at the playground with Matt will be graduating from high school this year.

Would love your email, mine is mholst23@hotmail.com

Love ya,
Maria Holst

Rachel said...

Thanks for the sweet words ladies! HELLO MARIA!! Miss you!

Chris Mahar said...

Rachel,

You and Amanda got a brief cameo on channel 12 TV here in Phoenix in an interview Col. Scott did for this year's American Heritage Festival. check it out at
http://www.azcentral.com/community/pinal/articles/20131119video-history-comes-life-queen-creek.html?nclick_check=1

Tell Amanda we're still making music. We miss you two at the AHF.
Chris Mahar

Chris Mahar said...

Rachel,

You and Amanda got a brief cameo on channel 12 TV here in Phoenix in an interview Col. Scott did for this year's American Heritage Festival. check it out at
http://www.azcentral.com/community/pinal/articles/20131119video-history-comes-life-queen-creek.html?nclick_check=1

Tell Amanda we're still making music. We miss you two at the AHF.
Chris Mahar

Rachel said...

Thanks for sharing Chris! I just went and watched the video. We will make it back down there one day!

Tiff said...

Haven't seen you post in awhile. Hope all is well.
How is the log cabin quilt coming along?

Tiff

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