The Story of Alex

Yesterday was Apraxia Awareness Day. I have had several people ask me about Apraxia and Alex. So, I thought I would share a little of Alex's story.

Two weeks before Alex was born I noticed that he wasn't moving as much. He did, however, stretch more and every time I felt him stretch he was in the same position. I'm not the biggest person so Jacob and I just thought that maybe he didn't have a lot of room.

When we went to the hospital to have Alex we learned that he hadn't moved much because he was stuck.  His head was shoved all the way back and because of this he was somewhat wedged beneath my pelvis bone and couldn't move. The doctor said that all of the stretching I felt was probably Alex trying to get free, but couldn't. As a mother that news wasn't easy to hear. The doctor suggested a C-Section to prevent any harm to Alex. The biggest concern was his neck breaking during birth. I was willing to do anything that needed to be done at this point so we proceeded with the C-Section.

Alex had breathing issues and at one point while we were still in the hospital he turned blue. Jacob hurried into the hall and got the nurses. 3 or 4 nurses came in, took one look at Alex and quickly wheeled him away without saying a word. The wait was torture. Finally, they brought him back and explained what had happened. One of the nurses even walked Jacob through how to deal with it should it happen again once we got Alex home.

Alex was quiet. Even his cry was quiet. When we held him he'd stare at us and lower his brow in a serious expression. It was almost as if he was disappointed with the parents he had been given! Ha!

He didn't coo as a baby or make many sounds at all. We eventually started using signs (with help from a therapist) to communicate with him. When he was around 3 he finally started using words. We also began to notice that he wasn't doing things other children his age were doing. It took a few years before we finally got the Apraxia diagnosis. We were told that sometimes it is caused from head trauma or it could just happen and no one knows why.

We were referred to a neurologist. She told us he also had Ataxia on his left side (this is the loss of full control of body movements. It made since, but it felt as if it was just another label being added to his already long list). She did an MRI and we learned that there is an abnormality on his brain near the brain stem. She said, "Has he experienced any trauma?" I told her about his position before he was born and she said, "I bet that's it!"

I had a brief moment where I felt guilty. I should have gone to the doctor sooner. I should have demanded that they do something because I knew something was wrong. I should have . . . I should have . . . I should have . . . Then, I decided that it really didn't matter. There is no changing the past.

Alex now has a list of specialists, therapists, a regular teacher and a special needs teacher. His schedule keeps us hopping. He knows how to perform certain tasks and CAN do them. You can watch him do things. He will struggle because it's difficult but he'll do it. Then you can ask him to do it again and he won't be able to. Apraxia is the weirdest and most frustrating thing!

He is one cool little guy, though. He is ornery. He will do things just to get a reaction out of me and then laugh. He is smart, helpful, and determined. When you have kids you think of all the things you want to teach them. You don't really think about all they will teach you. This gremlin has taught us SO much! Raising him hasn't always been easy but it has been filled with joy!

I can't wait to see what his future holds! I'm sure a cape will be involved!