It has been a long overdue, much needed, update from our side. So much has happened the last few months with our baby Chad who is now 6 months old. Thankfully the leg casts came off, a very difficult three weeks with them on, but he now has straighter feet and is a much happier (and lighter) baby! He has to wear regular shoes (preferably made of leather but currently his feet are just too small) to carry on straightening out the feet as he grows. We are very blessed to have Dr Stead and his amazing team assisting us along the way.

Next we prepared to head to Johannesburg to meet Dr Kelly, we again were so blessed with Garrith & Jodi Jamieson from Rescue care sponsoring us flights (Business class! was a first for us all and so very exciting!) to Johannesburg with car hire! We headed off and thankfully Chad was a happy sleeping baby. We arrived in freezing Sandton at Sunninghill hospital in the nick of time and met with Dr Kelly, craniosynostosis Plastic surgeon expert and Dr Retief (Neurosurgeon), we were welcomed openly and had realistic discussions about what needs to be done. It was decided he will need a head CT in September and the operation will take place most likely at the end of October. This will be to separate the coronal sutures of the skull and a forehead remodel to allow more room for his brain to grow as he grows. So this is a biggy and Chad will need to be in Johannesburg for at least a month during this time.

On returning we had follow up hearing tests with Dr Kara Hoffman and her team, as well as with Dr Parbhoo (Ophthalmologist). It was then decided he has lazy left eye and so needs patching 4 hours day on the good eye (we are working on this one slowly but surely!). It was also decided by his ENT Dr Williams, he will most likely be needing grommets due to fluid build up in his middle ears which is affecting his hearing.

We also have started physical therapy once a week in order to strengthen his upper body and work with various issues, and so far have been blessed with an amazing team once again to handle this. He also sees Dr Matkovich for Chiropractic support when needed.

Everyday is a challenge to not overthink the future for Chad and the struggles ahead, but we just take a day at a time as always. We have had interesting questions and i encourage people to ask as many as they can, yes he can see, yes he communicates, yes he will crawl, walk (even run) one day, yes he can even suck his thumb :)

He is happy as can be and loves to laugh, babble, grab his toys, attempt to roll and really melts your heart at how hard he works to grow into a strong healthy boy.

We are very blessed to have such amazing support from family, friends, professionals and strangers far and wide! So thank you for helping us get this far!