Saturday, June 28, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tough Day
Yesterday her follow up went great, her little heart is doing well and the liquid formation is gone. She has been in a rotten mood all day crying and whining. The night was just as bad, she goes through this at times. It has once lasted 4 months of constantant crying and uncontrollable tantrums, I pray that it is not going to happen again. It is very hard because Olivia is not able to tell us why she is crying, so it is a guessing game for us. I hope that she will be better tomorrow, we have a round of O/T and P/T back to back.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Cardio Follow Up
Olivia is going for her follow up tomorrow since her Heart Catherization procedure to close the hole in her heart. There were a few issues in the begining and I am hoping that we get a clean bill tomorrow. I will keep u posted.....
Sunday, June 22, 2008
A Great Sunday
Today was a great Sunday, the first of many that we did not have to rush Olivia to see a doctor because she has yet another ear infection. She was calm and joyful, which was a great relief for my husband and I. Olivia has been going through a rough patch, and because she is not able to tell us what is wrong, she cries all the time. I pray that her day at daycare will be just a good tomorrw, will keep you posted.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Olivia's Story
Hi my name is Olivia Palermo, I am 2 years old and this is my story………..
When I was born on October 4th, 2005 my mom and dad were thrilled with the prospect of finally seeing the face of the precious life that was growing inside my mom’s tummy. When the doctor’s checked me everything was perfect except that when I cried the right side of my lip didn’t move. They told my parent’s not to worry; that it was what was something called Asymmetric Crying Facies. Also that my kidneys were slightly dilated and that I would be okay, it is very common.
Much to my parent’s surprise this was not how they expected parenthood to be, everybody imagines a beautiful healthy child coming into their life. At my first pediatrician visit, the doctor heard a heart murmur and asked my parents to bring me to see a pediatric cardiologist. We have been seeing a pediatric cardiologist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital since I was 1 month old. Can you imagine my parent’s shock when they were told, that not only did I have Atrial Septal Defect (hole in the heart) but also Pulmonary Valvar Stenosis (a tightening of the pulmonary valve) which would one day have to be repaired.
As the months passed we noticed that Olivia was not progressing the way a normal child should be, she was not meeting any of the milestones that she should’ve been. At the age of 4 months we took her to see a neurologist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital where he assessed Olivia and informed us to keep an eye on her growth and milestones. Olivia had not met any of her milestones by the time she was one. Olivia is now 2 ½ yrs old and has just recently been able to sit herself up on her own. She is not able to walk, crawl does not feed herself and also does not speak, and she does not do anything independently. Olivia is a very happy outgoing little girl who in appearance is very much like a child her age. But as a parent we would love to hear her say “Mommy, Daddy I Love You,” will we ever hear those words! That among everything else is very difficult to accept as a parent.
As the months and years have gone by we are taking Olivia to Physiotherapy as well as Occupational Therapy at the Montreal Children’s Hospital as well as privately. Unfortunately Olivia would need much more extensive therapy but our Medical system cannot provide for it. We have placed Olivia on all the waiting lists imaginable, hoping somebody would’ve called, but nothing.
We took Olivia to see a Genetics specialist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, who was wonderful at trying to give us answers, but unfortunately nobody is able to tell us what it is that Olivia has, or if she will ever come out of this. We are told that she holds Autistic features / traits but we are nowhere close to being assessed, the waiting lists are so long. Time is precious and children do not have time to waste, every second counts in their journey.
My parents have tried everything, they also took me to The Hospital for Sick Kid’s in Toronto and to no avail they were not able to do more for me there than they have not already done here. I can go on and on and tell you all of the agonizing testing that has been done with no answers. We are at a point of desperation with the medical system and with ourselves trying to get answers on what Olivia’s diagnosis is and what will be the outcome. For a parent not knowing what your child’s future will be like is the worst possible feeling. We need answers, and we want answers, and we will stop at nothing to get them,
Fortunately there are lots of treatments available to children like Olivia, but unfortunately they are very costly and become unaffordable. We hope that with your help we will be able to provide these treatments and make a difference in Olivia’s life.
I thank you for taking the time in reading my story, if you would like to make a donation or sponsor my fundraiser to help me in my journey please mail it to:
Olivia Palermo (If you do not require tax receipt)
When I was born on October 4th, 2005 my mom and dad were thrilled with the prospect of finally seeing the face of the precious life that was growing inside my mom’s tummy. When the doctor’s checked me everything was perfect except that when I cried the right side of my lip didn’t move. They told my parent’s not to worry; that it was what was something called Asymmetric Crying Facies. Also that my kidneys were slightly dilated and that I would be okay, it is very common.
Much to my parent’s surprise this was not how they expected parenthood to be, everybody imagines a beautiful healthy child coming into their life. At my first pediatrician visit, the doctor heard a heart murmur and asked my parents to bring me to see a pediatric cardiologist. We have been seeing a pediatric cardiologist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital since I was 1 month old. Can you imagine my parent’s shock when they were told, that not only did I have Atrial Septal Defect (hole in the heart) but also Pulmonary Valvar Stenosis (a tightening of the pulmonary valve) which would one day have to be repaired.
As the months passed we noticed that Olivia was not progressing the way a normal child should be, she was not meeting any of the milestones that she should’ve been. At the age of 4 months we took her to see a neurologist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital where he assessed Olivia and informed us to keep an eye on her growth and milestones. Olivia had not met any of her milestones by the time she was one. Olivia is now 2 ½ yrs old and has just recently been able to sit herself up on her own. She is not able to walk, crawl does not feed herself and also does not speak, and she does not do anything independently. Olivia is a very happy outgoing little girl who in appearance is very much like a child her age. But as a parent we would love to hear her say “Mommy, Daddy I Love You,” will we ever hear those words! That among everything else is very difficult to accept as a parent.
As the months and years have gone by we are taking Olivia to Physiotherapy as well as Occupational Therapy at the Montreal Children’s Hospital as well as privately. Unfortunately Olivia would need much more extensive therapy but our Medical system cannot provide for it. We have placed Olivia on all the waiting lists imaginable, hoping somebody would’ve called, but nothing.
We took Olivia to see a Genetics specialist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, who was wonderful at trying to give us answers, but unfortunately nobody is able to tell us what it is that Olivia has, or if she will ever come out of this. We are told that she holds Autistic features / traits but we are nowhere close to being assessed, the waiting lists are so long. Time is precious and children do not have time to waste, every second counts in their journey.
My parents have tried everything, they also took me to The Hospital for Sick Kid’s in Toronto and to no avail they were not able to do more for me there than they have not already done here. I can go on and on and tell you all of the agonizing testing that has been done with no answers. We are at a point of desperation with the medical system and with ourselves trying to get answers on what Olivia’s diagnosis is and what will be the outcome. For a parent not knowing what your child’s future will be like is the worst possible feeling. We need answers, and we want answers, and we will stop at nothing to get them,
Fortunately there are lots of treatments available to children like Olivia, but unfortunately they are very costly and become unaffordable. We hope that with your help we will be able to provide these treatments and make a difference in Olivia’s life.
I thank you for taking the time in reading my story, if you would like to make a donation or sponsor my fundraiser to help me in my journey please mail it to:
Olivia Palermo (If you do not require tax receipt)
Fondation Minorite Invisible(If you require a tax receipt)
3245 Hector Lussier Laval QC H7C 2S4
Thank you
Francesca, Luigi & Olivia Palermo
3245 Hector Lussier Laval QC H7C 2S4
Thank you
Francesca, Luigi & Olivia Palermo
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