For A Life Without Seizures: January 2013

Monday, January 28, 2013

A horrible nightmare!

This january we got to go to Orlando with the family. If you would like to read about it, click here.

However this is not about the fun part of the trip but about something I wish to no parent EVER. We got there a day before around 2pm, took care of the rental car and drove to the resort to rest because we had been up since 3am! We were so tired, and if you have kids, and you've been on a plane with them on a 3 1/2 hr flight, you know what that's like.

Anyways, we got our room, and we set the the hide-a-bed for Philippe and put Belle on the crib to sleep for the night. However Philippe would not go to sleep, he was awake and playing, watching TV, and wanting to eat more and more. Finally, he took a few naps, and around 2am he woke up again, I (Marcel) took him on a drive and went to Walmart to buy breakfast for the next morning. THen we came back and entertained him a little longer. Finally I put him to bed again around 5 am. I went to bed and at 8 am I finally woke up. Everything was quiet, Candice was sleeping and so was Belle. I got out of bed and went to check on Philippe, but when I did, HE WASN'T THERE! I ran around the room looking under tables, inside closets, behind counters, everywhere and MY SON WAS NOT IN THE ROOM! I ran into the bedroom and yelled PHILIPPE IS NOT HERE! PHILIPPE IS GONE!!! Candice jumped out of bed and did the same thing I did while calling his name. Philippe is so curious and observative and likes to play with switches and buttons, well, he figured out how to unlock the door and remove the safety lock too, turned the door handle and walked out to explore. I ran outside looked both ways and... nothing! I ran upstairs and downstairs and around the parking lot screaming his name but he was nowhere to be seen. I was so close to break down but the thought of my son being lost didn't let me and I simply kept running, I heard water and remembered that behind our building there was a lake with a fountain, Philippe LOVES water and for a second I saw in my head his little body floating on the lake, I ran to the lake but he wasn't there either. I ran back to the room and we had LOCKED OURSELVES OUT with Belle still being inside the room by herself, at least she was in her crib, but our phones were inside too! I ran and stopped a man that was walking to his car and said "Please help us, my son is missing, he can't talk, he has autism and epilepsy, and we just locked ourselves out of our room with our baby girl inside" The gentleman stayed with Candice while they called someone to open the room and see what else they could do, but I couldn't stay still, it was as if I had drank 10 Redbulls, my hands were shaking as was my voice. So I ran to the visitors center as fast as I could, I ran inside to the front desk where there was a line of people waiting and just went straight to the counter and told whoever was there "My son is missing, he is lost, he walked out of the room this early morning, I explained everything trying to catch my breath and sound coherent, but I couldn't, they tried to calm me down and a security guard called on his radio. Within seconds, he got a call back and he told me that they had Philippe and that he was fine. They asked me to go to my room and that they would take him there. I thanked them, and I tried to walk back but I was running without even noticing. After 10 minutes, the security vehicle pulled up with Philippe in the back seat covered in a blanket. I tried to hug him, but they didn't let me, they said they had to verify my ID first so I ran back in got my wallet and my phone and showed them pictures and they gave him back to us. He had gotten a messy diaper and his pijamas were dirty that's why they changed his diaper and had him wrapped in a blanket. We thanked them, and as soon as the door closed i dropped to my knees and held him tighter than ever, bawling. I couldn't stop sying to him, I'm sorry Philippe, I'm sorry! I'm sorry buddy, I should've been watching you and checking on you, I'm sorry!, Candice was crying too. Philippe was just happy to be with us and eager to eat some breakfast. While we were waiting, the security guard told Candice that a guest had found him in the fourth floor of our building and had called them. Then only words that they could get out of him was "mama" and "dada". I felt and still do like such a bad parent for choosing to fall asleep instead of being aware. But more than anything else I am grateful, I'm grateful that today I got to tuck my little boy in bed and kiss him goodnight. So many thoughts crossed our mind while he was missing, and I simply don't know... I just don't even want to think about it if we didn't have him with us and were still looking.

I love you buddy! and I'm sorry.

Orlando

Since Philippe was a baby he had a love for Mickey Mouse and enjoyed watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. We would play it for him and he would smile so big, laugh and giggle. I don't know what it is about it, the colors, the sounds of their voices, or their faces, but there is no other cartoon show that will get his attention as much as Mickey Mouse does. Even now, if he is downstairs playing with his toys or sitting on the couch, or looking out the window and he hears the theme song play, he will come up as fast as he can and run into our room with the biggest smile! Then he will sit on his Mickey Mouse chair that his abuelos (grandma and grandpa) got him and enjoy the show. The funniest thing is that Belle, our baby girl, shares the same love for Mickey. They're both so cute watching it with their jaws dropping as Mickey goes on his adventures.

Anyways, because of this we had been wanting to take him to Orlando so that he would see Mickey and all the magic that you can experience in all of the theme parks, but well... we didn't have enough money and we all know how much that kind of vacation can be. So we heard about Make-A-Wish and all the things they do for kids, I learned that the boy/girl doesn't necesarily need to have a terminal illness but that if he has a disability that he will carry on for life, they will grant their wishes too. So I didn't think about it twice and signed him up. A few weeks later, we got a phone call and we filled some papers, and sent them out. We waited and waited and one day we got some bad news. Unfortunately Philippe didn't qualify because he wasn't able to communicate "his wish". You see, the child has to be able to say it in some way that that's what he would like to do, and well, Philippe doesn't talk and one of his disadvantages or areas where he needs a lot of progress is communication. This was a little sad, but it didn't last long.

Marcel's family decided that it was time to go again and visit Orlando for a fun vacation with all the family and obviously with all the kids. We can't thank them enough for the opportunity they gave us to take Philippe and Belle to see all the parks and spend time with our kids. We loved our vacation so much! Philippe got a kiss from Snow White on the very first day, rode Aladdin's magic carpets, the Pirates of The Caribbean, carrousels, and got to see Mickey Mouse Clubhouse LIVE! He even rode a small roller-coaster, which he wasn't very fond of, but didn't cry at all. Belle couldn't get her eyes off all the characters whenever they showed up for pictures she was amazed and her mouth dropped at the fireworks and the music. I wish she will be able to remember all of these fun times. Her cousin Emilie is in love with her and was so sweet to buy her a t-shirt and some headbands out of her own pocket! Etienne and Eugene, shared their toys with Philippe every day and played with him too.

Once again, we are so thankful for this trip and for the moments we spent with our family, for the illusion and innocence reflected in our little one's face. Thank you abuelos for this unforgettable vacation. We love you!