And Back To Ecuador We Go!!!!!

After a long successful swim season for the Cranford Gators, I can finally take a breath and relax and refocus on my three children and our future. With time to relflect on our lives and our journey my heart always returns to the overwhelming gratitude I feel towards all the wonderful people that have helped us and Patrick get to where we are today. One group of people that have not been mentioned in my posts are the men that attend The Patrick French Foundation Golf Outing. For 8 years these men have returned over and over again to support Patrick and provide the funds needed to give him the best equipment and medical treatments available. To my brother and his golfers we thank you and will always be grateful.

This year started with Patrick's guardian angel our Tracy and the Cranford Elks wooshing in and getting us funds to take our first trip to Ecuador. Then the golf outing was again such a success that it has provided a pool, a walker, a wheelchair, and ankle braces. God bless all of you and there are no words to explain how we feel. We love all of you!

Since we returned from Ecuador Patrick has made incredible gains. His functional vision is astounding. Our backyard is about 60 feet deep and Patrick saw me come out of the back door with his lunch from 60 FEET!!!! screaming with glee as he watched me come forward with his food. His awareness and responses to everything have changed and best of all he is happy everyday!! This happiness comes from the most important gain. Patrick the boy that has suffered over and over from gastric issues including severe constipation is going to the bathroom several times a day!!!!!! This probably seems trivial to others but when you child bites his hands in agony, starves himself, and physically hurts his self and his caretakers over gastric distress, relief of this is everything. Now for the best part. Almost everyone has seen Patrick's blue rolling chair. Well since we got home he has been pushing his body out of the chair half way so it kinda looks like he is doing the limbo and he walks around like that. The reason he is doing this is.... he doesn't want to sit in the chair after he has gone to the bathroom!!!!!!!!!!!! Patrick is ready to be potty trained! This is nothing short of a miracle. We once again ask for your prayers as we await the results of his current blood work. With all the improvements we have seen so far I find it hard to believe we will not see improvements in his IgA level so send out those prayers.

With all that said, as you all know I would mow down anything or anyone standing in my way to further Patrick's development. So it is back to Ecuador we go!!!! We want more and know that he wants more and this treatment can surely provide that. The doctors are also anxious to further Patrick's success. This time we are bringing guests! This time we will be traveling with Emma and Jennifer Love!!!! Emma is so in need of this treatment. She is brilliant but her autisim has her trapped in a nonverbal world. She can get on the internet, control a VCR but can not speak. Further communication along with potty training are the biggest hopes for the Love family.So once again we will asking for your help. Many of you attend the annual "Autism Speaks" walk that Jen runs in October. This year the after party at The Cranford Elks will not only be a thank you party from Jen to the walkers. This year we will be raising funds at the party to send Emma to Ecuador. Precious Thyme(the French's) will be donating the food, The Cranford Elks will be donating the room, and then we just need everyone else to help out. We need to get donations rolling in so spread the word! Spread the love and say your prayers for Emma too!!! We can do this with all of you behind us.

Thank you once again for listening, caring, praying and being there as always.And please watch for the upcoming blog "Emma Goes To Ecuador Too!!"

Love, Jacki and family