September 2015

After a momentary glitch with our comment section, that is back running again. Your comments are welcomed. We do ask that you leave your first name with your comments - but only if you're comfortable. But do not provide more information than that. After all, this is the internet!

And since this is the internet, we respectfully ask that you not get into an online debate with someone who has a different opinion or belief system than you. This is not the place nor the time for that.

Thank you,

Alisha, Josh, and Emmett - Frank and Pam, Roger and Rhonda

Emmett's camping trip for this weekend is cancelled.

It is very unfortunate but is absolutely the safest thing to do. The only thing to do. Josh, Alisha and Emmett were going to be taking a group of young people from their church on a camping trip to the Chilliwack Lake area. Many precautions had been put into place to ensure that Emmett would be safe and sound, but obviously, all of that has changed in the last two days. Alisha and Josh simply don't have the time or the strength to lead this active group of teenagers - along with the support team of adults - during this weekend. In consultation with the other pastors at Level Ground Church, Josh made the decision that it could not take place at this time.

There will be another weekend camping trip planned. Sorry this one had to be cancelled, but stay tuned for more events! Emmett loves camping and hiking! (Please note: Emmett had multiple supporting hands just outside the scope of this picture, ready for any adventure that Emmett might have decided to take! We just couldn't pass the opportunity to create a photo moment with our little woodland angel!)

BTW, Emmett's room in BC Childrens' Hospital has a white board. With encouragement from Emmett, along with a few suggestions from Emmett, the room has been dubbed Emmett's Place and all medical personal entering the room have been given the mandate that they must tickle Emmett's feet. That just makes his day! Hopefully, it won't be Emmett's Place for long. 

We do have a photo of Emmett in the Emergency Department. I am sure that there were many other marvelous children and families in emergency at that time, but notice that Emmett is Number ONE!

Smiles. Full of smiles.

That's our little boy, Emmett. He's been poked and prodded and checked over and more. And he's smiling! It may take 10 or 15 minutes after the procedure, but then he gives a smile. And then there are probably a flood of them. He's staying overnight at BC Children's Hospital. Maybe longer. Or maybe he'll be home for the weekend.

Tonight he will be monitored for breathing and oxygen levels throughout the night - similar to what occurred at Abbotsford General. He's had a nasal-gastric tube inserted into his nose - and he didn't enjoy that one bit - and he's receiving all food and oral medication that way. He is on an antibiotic because the Doctors believe that this has been brought on by a virus. Blood work - wow, that hurt a lot and I was two metres away from the needle - show that he is fighting an infection.

Alisha and Josh are staying there overnight. We were there and now are back in Abbotsford. We have to get a proper sleeper if Emmett stays over another night. Right now he's in a salmon coloured gown. Faded pink, actually. And Emmett is man enough that he can wear it and pull it off well! But tomorrow we will have one of his own sleepers.

This is a fact of life for children with SMA Type 1. And a terrifying fact for their parents. Emmett has been doing so well. We weren't complacent, we just all thought this a situation like this might still be a few months away.

If you read the last post, you know Emmett had a very challenging night. While being monitored after midnight, his oxygen numbers dropped three times. That's very concerning and the on-call paediatrition, in consultation with BC Childrens', have decided to transfer him there for closer observation.

Emmett is hoping the ambulance uses the siren. Alisha will travel with him and the rest of us will be in cars.