Caleb |
"Angel" Emily | Christian
Caleb's Story
written by mom Shannon
Caleb is a spunky outgoing little boy who
was dealt a bad hand in life since birth.
When Caleb was born he was born with a club foot on his right foot.
In the first year of my son's life he spent so much time in and out of the
hospital for castings, braces, and surgery. Caleb knew from birth that he
was special.
When the nurses brought him out to see the family, and they were all there,
Caleb smiled and melted every member of the family's hearts. To this day all
Caleb has to do is bat his big brown eyes and mushhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
After the stuff with his foot mellowed out and Caleb was a little over 3 we
realized something else about Caleb. He wasn't really talking. I mean he'd
say a few words but me and my husband just didn't want to face it. So we
decided to take him to a local school that deals with speech and learning
delays and had him tested and we found out that Caleb was learning delayed
by 2 years and speech delayed by 2½
years. So we enrolled him into the school. In 6 months time, Caleb excelled
with his learning abilities which jumped and his speech cleared up.
Then on April 12th, 2004 Caleb was hit again! This time with Acute
Lymphocytic Leukemia!!!! Of all the things in this world my son was cursed
yet again.
When the doctors told me, I just couldn't believe it, there was no way. But
you look at him and he was just laying there in the bed, all doctors and
nurses buzzing around him and all I could do is stare at my son. Looking so
small laying there in that bed!
Caleb spent almost 40 days at Loma Linda Children's Hospital. And everyday I
was right there. I spent nearly every night there so Caleb wouldn't feel he
was alone. In total I came home maybe 6 days a few hours here and there and
a couple overnight trips, where I made the mistake in teaching Caleb how to
call home, (try 14 times in one day) And the overnight trips home was only
so I can get the house cleaned up so he could come home.
On May 18th, 2004, we brought him home finally. In 5½
months of being in the hospital Caleb grew up A LOT. You could see it in his eyes
and the way that he carried himself. He's our little man.
But here we are now, a few years later, and he's getting stronger and
kicking his cancer. Caleb's life has been met with so many struggles, and he
just keeps on going. He's an amazing kid. He still needs help with school
and is taking speech and resource to help with his reading and writing. His
chemo has affected his eye site, his teeth, his hearing and especially his
dexterity. We also just learned that Caleb is an Auditory learner, he
struggles with his school work because he sits and he reads his work and
just has no idea what's going on unless someone sits with him and reads it
to him and asks the questions. Then it's a matter of getting it from his
head and mouth, onto a paper. He's also has developed diabetes from the
steroids that he's on as well because of his weight. He's gained 45 lbs
since the start of chemo now weighting in at 83 lbs.
We are finally closing in on the end of treatment, the expected date of
ending is August of 2007. We've been dealing with this for 3 years now and
he's winning his battle with all the fun and little weird things in between.
Caleb still doesn't let things get him down or at least tries not to let it
show. But we know how emotionally and physically the last 3 years has taken
its toll on him. Since we are getting ready to finish treatment, I though it
would be good for him to talk to someone so we got a psychologist involved
with him so he has someone to talk to to air how he's feeling. He feels
alone sometimes because I can't always be there with him when he's
hospitalized now with the baby. I have to bounce my time between the
hospital and the house to take care of Caleb's little sister. But luckily
now I live closer to my mother so she splits the time with me and my sister
works at the children's hospital so we all take turns and its not all left
on me. But we all do what we can. He's a good kid. He loves everyone and
we're hoping he doesn't regress and it comes back, but we've learned from
the first time that we can get through this.
In the time that he's been sick, a new addition has been added to the
family. In September of 2005, Caleb became a big brother to a sister named
Aubrey. He's a great big brother and loves her to death.
Well that's it for Caleb for now. He's getting stronger and better and soon
this will all be a memory.
Abilities:
See: Yes, wears glasses now.
Hear: Yes.
Talk: Yes, with a slight problem.
Walk: Yes.
Read: Yes, now reads at a 2nd grade level and is finally reading
chapter books.
Use hands: Yes, but needs some help with this. Because of his chemo
he has a hard time.
Siblings:
sister Aubrey, age 2
Child's Interests:
Caleb has been busy growing up. Cartoons.. he watches Pokemon, The Avitar,
SpongeBob. His favorite movies are ALL Harry Potter and Pirates of the
Caribbean. His favorite toys are his video games and his Pokemon cards. His
hobbies are Crafts, his sister, Pokemon cards and Golf. Sports, he plays
golf and loves watching the Chargers for football and the Lakers for
Basketball. Favorite color is blue. He loves to read a lot now. But his
biggest interest is his family. We've all been there for him through all
this.
Sibling's Interests:
Aubrey is a rambunctious little girl and she keeps everyone busy. Her
favorite thing to do is follow big brother around. She is learning to color,
she loves her blocks and is just functioning as a normal child would. She's
very smart, she even climbs (bunk beds).
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