No point in trying to make some grand entrance for this post because I am just way to excited...IZZY GOT AN IPAD2!!! This has been a long time coming and I am beyond excited!!! We got it a few days ago and just introduced it to him today and he was very excited too! Here's the whole story :-)
As you probably know from past posts, Izzy has a complicated mouth (to put it easily) and is unable to speak very clearly. He has been going to speech therapy four times a month for the past year or so. While he has made small improvements over this time it is very slow and will be many years before he is able to speak well enough for others outside our family to understand him. It will also be a long time before we (as his family) know more then the 40 words (or so) that he can say along with the sounds, pointing, prompting and playing 20 questions.
There is some amazing speech and communication devices, programs and software available these days. They are called AAC which stands for "Augmentative and Alternative Communication". I have spent many hours researching, talking with experts and parents, and getting some hands on experience too. We figured out exactly what we would need to purchase that would fit Izzy's needs...and well...the price was quite far beyond our range. We applied for different grants and continued to get denied. I almost just used our credit card many times, but knew better. And then one day, I got a very unexpected phone call. My Uncle Dale (who lives in Alaska) wanted to do a fund raiser at his work for Izzy to get him the iPad! I was blown away. Within a month he had raised enough money to get everything we needed for Izzy!!! I never cease to be amazed by the generosity of complete strangers when they see a need, especially when that need is my little boy.
We introduced the iPad2 and Proloquo2Go software to Izzy today and let me just tell you...that boy is a FAST learner. He picked it up in no time at all. I just know that within a few weeks he will be able to use it so functionally to "speak" and be understood much better, thus alleviating the frustration he experiences. I am very thankful that we live in such a technical era in which such things are available. What a blessing!
*THANK YOU UNCLE DALE for your generous heart and selfless act in raising money (and giving your own too!) so that Izzy has a functional way of communicating with his world. Your thoughtfulness won't be forgotten. I wish we lived closer so you could "talk" with Izzy. I will take some videos soon and share them with you.*
In March of 2009 we were blessed with our third child, Israel David. He was born with congenital limb differences and micrognathia. This blog was started to share our journey with friends and family and anyone else who God brings our way. Our hope is to share our miracle with you...and as you read, that you will be blessed. Remember to always enjoy the miracles in your life!
7 comments:
SO excited for you!!! What an amazing gift. I can't wait to have Izzy show me his new skills and to talk more with him. I am so very proud of that boy! He amazes me more everyday. :)
Becca, your Blog was so well put together...I can tell that it was all anointed by God!! I am soooo thankful that you are having the chance to know the "uncle Dale" that I know so well...I am also so thankful that he has been given a special area to pour out his love, because he is so good at doing that with so many!! He always was there for my girls, and now he is being used for Izzy!! Thank You Jesus for the Amazing family that we have! A gift put together by YOU!!
That is such an answer to prayer. To God be the glory for providing all our needs and more!Your Aunt Linda loves you all!
SO AMAZING! I have used AAC with some friends before and it changes lives! I am so VERY excited for you and Izzy. Bless you, Uncle Dale, for putting this together!
Becca,
Izzy has been in my prayers since the day he was born and I find myself in prayers of thanksgiving for the "gifts" of generosity for his needs and again for "uncle Dale" and all his responders! Thank you for sharing this Great News!! Mary
Great News! We are rejoicing with you. There is nothing too hard for the Lord.
hi! i found your blog searching for families with children with limb differences of all four limbs. I have a 4 month old son with ectrodactyly (cleft hands) and tibial hemimelia (missing tibia bones). i haven't found a lot of other children with four affected limbs. ALSO, we live in oregon and are taking our boy to Shriners for his orthopedic issues (he has other issues, too). we were just there last week and i saw your (totally adorable!) son's picture on the wall! i'd love to email with you sometime about your experience, if you would be into that. :)
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