Hi, my name is David Joseph Chiappetta and I was born on July 27, 2007. I was born with something called holoprosencephaly and it means that my brain was not divided and I don't really have much of a brain. I do have a brain stem which controls my heart and lungs so that's good. My hypothalamus doesn't work either though so I can get either really hot or really cold very easily and quickly. Mom and Dad have to be my thermometer for me though which keeps them pretty busy at times. I also have a feeding tube in my stomach so I can eat since I can't swallow and I have a trache so I can breathe since I only have one nostril and it's blocked. Mom and dad have to suction me out too since I get mucuous buildup and have acid reflux. Sometimes I can keep them busy with that too. I also have Diabetes Insipidus which is a water issue and so I have to be given a certain amount of water with my medicines. If my sodium level is too high then that will cause me to have more seizures as well as if my temperature gets too high. I already have a seizure condition because of my lack of brain so some things can make it more complicated like high temperature and high sodium. See, my normal temperature range is 94 degrees to 97 degrees. Anything above that can cause me to have more seizures. See, I told you I keep my parents busy. :-) The doctors said though that I may not make it to birth and if I did I would only live a month or so. They also said that I will not be able to talk or walk or crawl or any of those normal baby things. Well, I'm here to tell you that I am4 years old now and I am learning to pick my head up when on my tummy! I'm also learning to put some weight on my legs and I laugh and smile. Cool huh? I just wanted to add that although you see mom and dad in the description above...it has just been mommy and me for a while now since daddy passed away in January of 2010.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Me and My Cars Cake




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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy, happy 1st birthday!!!!!!! I check your blog every few days so I can keep an eye on you and see what you've been up to. And, of course, I always look at all of your pictures and then say, "I have to meet this little guy soon!"

Hope you have a fantastic birthday!

Anonymous said...

Cute, Cute, Cute !!!!! Adorable, sweet, lovable, unresistable (as Alysa put it :-). And many more words can describe that bundle of energy and love!!!! I am sorry I have not written for a while. When returning home, I had quite a bit to take care of. Alysa still talks about you!! I think and pray for you several times a day! You have lots of love coming your way daily!

I loved being with you and your family!

Love You Baby Boy!!!
Happy Birthday Loved One!

Auntie Foo Foo

Unknown said...

Hi, my little guy! It's Aunt Michele. I just showed off your picture to a friend of mine here in Tulsa. She thinks you're cute, just like I do! Of course you are. :-)

I see you're scrunching your nose up in one of those pictures where Daddy's holding you in front of your cake. Guess what? I make the same face when I don't like something. I guess you inherited that from me. Can you believe that?

Love you!
Aunt Michele

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday David from Grandma Gerri!