Tink's Mom

Sooooo happy for you! And you are right, that granddaughter is PERFECT!

Lisanne

She is adorable - but I can't agree with the rest of this. Spina bifida is a seriously disabling condition. Right now it's not visible to us in Morgan's pictures, but it's not just "a little adjustment once in a while" for most children and adults. It's major, and it's every day of their lives and usually, of their family's lives, which often revolve around the person's needs and limitations. At least things have gotten better with better accessibility, the availability of adaptive devices and more aware social attitudes.

I am very, very glad for your grandson's sake, as well as for everyone in your family, that he won't have spina bifida.

Elisabrat

She is beautiful the little one and sighs of relief I am sure on the results. It takes a strong family to support each other during times that are so unlike what we had originally envisioned. I am disabled but truthfully I prefer to say I am less abled. I think the vision of what can be is always so much greater. Your blessed to have so many to love as are they in return. I am so happy for your good news today. Happy tears are ALWAYS the best kind.

mrspete

Glad you re enjoying HIS blessings. God is Good!

Ninnie

Congratulations on the beautiful perfect grandson!! And what a beautiful special big sister he has!! You must be on cloud nine for sure!!

Quilt Mom

What a blessing to have a granddaughter like Morgan, and another grandbaby on the way! She looks like she enjoys life, and will be a help to her mom when the next baby comes. A happy attitude can take her a long ways. :D

brushandthimble

Congradulations on Grandbaby # 2! Morgan is beautiful!

mcdaniel023

Congratulations grandma. Two beautiful grandbabies!

sdparent

Congratulations Dove, your grandchildren are simply perfect!

thequilteddove

It is 'major', but we are blessed - there are so many things associated w/spina bifida that could have afflicted Morgan that does not. She never developed hydrosepholitis and to date she has only had to have the initial surgery. She has a great spirit and a loving family who's willing to be strong enough to not do everything for her so she will grow strong & self suficient.

I am fortunate to have been able to retire at a young age & be there to help out. She is definately the ray of sunshine in my day :)

I've posted a few more pictures of Morgan so you can see some of what Lisanne meant by how things are not 'visible' and some of the fabulous technology out there to help.

Morgan can not walk (there are a few other 'issues' w/her lower extremeties as well) but she has a sharp, excellent mind. She uses a wheel chair. Any movement that her legs do comes from what little hip flextion she has & her fabulous stomach muscles. Even though the Dr. says she won't walk, we still spend an enormous amount of time doing physical therapy for her. Being where she's only 2 1/2 yrs old, she thinks we're all just play'n with her. Morgan thinks that every body is her play mate :)

Some days she trys really, really hard & then some days she refuses to cooperate. She can't be left on her own in her RGOs. It's really hard for her to 'work' them. When she wants to she does a great job of moving in them, but motivation is a problem - hard 2 motavate someone so young to do something that is so hard (not because she has any pain but because she can't feel her feet/legs and to try to walk she must balance & use the rest of her body).

We also have a special stander that she gets strap in to. It has a table set up & holds a bowl. We fill the bowl w/water & she's content for at least 1/2 hr *giggles*. I don't have a picture of her in that yet... This contraption is to enable her to be in an up right position & for weight bearing since she can't do it on her own.

There will be no vegitating 24/7 for this kid *giggles*

We have an entire net work of therapists and a case worker that is very helpful. So, yes this is serious but with today's medical & technological advancements we can be thankful that Morgan will have a productive and happy life.