I was so blessed to meet Sofia yesterday. I can’t begin to explain the connections I have with this family but the conclusion is its a super small world. We were actually neighbors, we have a mutual friend and I went to High School with Sofia’s dad & reunited with them at my 10 yr Reunion last year. We didn’t connect everything until we were departing ways.
The timing of our session couldn’t have been any better one week out from Mother’s Day. The story of Sofia is a story of Hope & Unconditional Love. Her mother is a nurturing, loving & giving of everything she has for her daughters especially Sofia. I was able to watch her interact with Sofia and I can see how much she sacrifices for her & how much they love each other. Happy Mothers Day Christina & you are one amazing mother & Sofia is so lucky to have you.
Here is Sofia’s story in Cristina’s words:
My pregnancy and labor were totally normal…or so we thought. At 5 weeks of age Sofia had an episode where she went limp and lethargic. We called 911 and when they arrived Sofia had come to, but was still not 100% so we decided to take her to the emergency room to have her checked out. The doctors told us that she was fine, that what had happened was perfectly normal for a baby and that we were basically over-reactive new parents. Being that we were new parents we took their advice and went home. For the next few days we were going into the pediatrician for follow ups and has several phone conversations because her health had seemed to get worse. She began to projectile vomit after feedings and was not her usual happy self. After 4 or 5 days I told myself we would be taking her into the pediatrician that Monday because something just wasn’t right. Unfortunately we didn’t make it through the weekend…exactly one week after the first episode Sofia had another episode of lethargy and limpness…only this time it was much more severe. Once 911 was called she was whisked away to the emergency room, we were unable to ride with her. Once we arrived to the ER it was like watching an episode of ER or Grey’s Anatomy in real life. She was having her onesie cut of, she had been resuscitated and was being intubated to help her breath. The doctor noticed that her fontanel ‘was tense and bulging’. She was then rushed off to get a CT scan. The scan showed that she had three separate brain bleeds…one that was dated back to pre-birth/birth trauma, one that was about a week old and one from that day. That was the beginning to a very long hospital stay for us all. She was transferred to the PICU at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento. After about a week she was strong enough to be taken off of the ventilator which was AMAZING! Sofia was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP) before she turned one year old. She has had more surgeries than I can count on both hands in her short five years of life. She has a shunt to treat her hydrocephalus (too much fluid on the brain), she has a GJ tube for feedings (she doesn’t take anything by mouth), she is unable to walk, talk or move her legs independently.
Sofia has taught me about love that I had no idea existed. She is one of the most amazing individuals I have ever know and I know that she was given to us for a reason! As much as our day to day life is not easy I wouldn’t have it any other way. We also have a three year old, Madison, and to see the way they interact is truly special. I cannot wait to see how their relationship continues to develop over the years. Sofia has taught our family so much without ever saying a word. Sofia enjoys spending time with her family, being outside and music. She recently started riding in a therapeutic horseback riding program, Ride To Walk, and LOVES it!
One of my favorite stories to share about Sofia is that when she was first hospitalized her (now former) neurologist came into her room and told us all of the things she would never do…I know he listed of many things but the one thing that stuck with me was that he said she would probably never smile. Now as strange as it might sound to hear, having him say she might not walk or talk really didn’t effect me. It was the fact that he said she wouldn’t smile…you mean to tell me that our child will never feel joy and be able to express it through smiling? Well, as you will see in these pictures that doctor was wrong!
It took about a year but she does in fact smile…not only does she smile she will full out laugh at times! Many of the families that have specials needs children will say ‘what do “they” know’ because they have all heard different things from the doctors that their children weren’t supposed to do…and they were also wrong. Never say never, right?
Here is a link to Ride To Walk. Sofia has been riding there and it has helped so much. It’s mission is to enhance the lives of children and young adults with neurological disabilities by providing innovative therapeutic horseback riding activities that are recreational in nature and adapted to the individual’s needs and abilities.
See more photos here:Sofia photos
