Nick
Nick was shaken for the last time on August 16, 2001, just 1 day before he turned 4 months old. His biological mother shook him and threw him across the room because he wouldn't stop crying. He stopped crying, stopped breathing, and on all accounts, stopped living at that moment. She then dropped him off at the babysitter who then called the police.
When he arrived at the hospital, he was unconscious and his eyes were deviated off to the right. A CAT scan showed evidence of brain damage consistent with Abusive Head Trauma/SBS. His condition declined and he was airlifted to the children's hospital. While in the pediatric intensive care unit, he was hooked up to many monitors and machines and there was no sign of life, but his heart was still beating. He was unable to swallow and therefore had a tube placed to feed him. The doctors had been draining fluid off his brain to help relieve the pressure.
Nick is now 7 and is diagnosed with Apraxia, which makes it difficult for him to formulate words. He has learned sign language to communicate, but doesn't have the patience for most of it. He continues with speech therapy and is assisted with an occupational therapist. He is diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, manic episodes, irrational fears, frequent outbursts and has some autistic tendencies. He has fine motor delays and still has some upper body weakness.
He is lucky to have many wonderful therapists and educators who help him along. As Nick's foster mother, I think often of the "what if's". What if he hadn't been shaken, how would his world be different? I'm learning to just take each day as it comes. Each roadblock we encounter, we try to find a detour and work through it. I am just so blessed to have him in my life and be his mom.
