Page 21 - Mainstreamer e-Magazine Volume 5, April 2024

FAR AND BEYOND: A BLESSING IN DISGUISE
Strong and Brave Theo

Jessa
Marmol

heo is a remarkably strong and brave nine- issues—Theo continues to reach developmental
year-old boy who has faced significant milestones and make significant progress. Each
Tmedical challenges since his premature breakthrough provides his family with more
birth on February 20, 2015. Born in the 35th week reason to strive towards helping him become
of pregnancy due to pre-eclampsia, a condition self-sufficient in the future. Below are the
likely caused by hormonal imbalances, Theo has achievements that make his family proud and
navigated a complex health journey. celebrate their journey with him since his birth:
His primary diagnosis is Cerebral Palsy with • An Oral Gastric Tube feeding and Oxygen
Epilepsy, caused by Porencephaly or cystic Support Graduate
encephalomalacia—a rare brain condition that • Skipping the Brain Operation
softened portions of his brain, leading to multiple • No Frequent common Sickness
complications. These complications include severe
brain injuries such as Intraventricular Haemorrhage • Controlled Seizure
Grade 4, Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Grade 4, • Teeth Extraction in a Regular Procedure
and Non-communicating Hydrocephalus due to • Able to eat dry mashed food and No Formula
meconium syndrome (aspiration of meconium). Milk since four years old
Additionally, Theo has congenital heart disease, • Developing his gross motors a lot
specifically Patent Ductus Arteriosus (CHD PDA), • A Genius Communicator who uses body
where a ductus arteriosus fails to close after birth. language, such as blinking to indicate ‘yes’,
This condition led to a pneumothorax (collapsed crying to indicate ‘yes’, to convey what he
lung), which subsequently caused hypoxia (lack wants and needs.
of oxygen) to his brain, resulting in meningitis—a
severe infection and inflammation of the brain and • A Student
spinal cord membranes (Mayo Clinic). • An advocate for change since 2016

His secondary conditions include Genetic • A Traveler
Astigmatism, which causes blurred vision; As parents of Theo, we have significantly
Cortical Blindness, also known as Cerebral Visual adjusted our lives to face and overcome the
Impairment (CVI); Inborn Asthma; Allergic Rhinitis; challenges that come with raising a child with
and Laryngomalacia, which is a softening of the disabilities, especially during the first two years of
larynx. his life. This period was particularly tough since
Theo recently underwent surgery for we were also struggling with our own challenges,
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), or primarily financial stability, which strained our
congenital hip dysplasia, to address and correct relationship due to the frustrations of not being
a dislocation in his right hip. He is also scheduled able to fully provide for our son’s medical needs.
to have another surgical procedure to remove the Before Theo, we had specific life plans, such
implant used in this correction. as achieving management positions by a certain
Despite these numerous health challenges— age and marrying at thirty. However, we had not
referred to by his family as a “jackpot” of medical anticipated having a disabled child—a situation no

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