12-2-88
        "Dear Diary, People live their whole lives without knowing what a ventricular septal defect is. Not only can I say it; I can draw a diagram of Josh's.

1-1-89
        "There's been a complication. It's called RSV. Your son is gravely ill."

1-15-89
        "Please God, let him live until open heart surgery."

2-1-89
        "Dear Diary, People have stopped calling with congratulations. In fact, people have stopped calling us at all."

2-9-89
        "He did very well throughout surgery. In a few months, he'll be good as new."

5-28-89
        Perky Portrait Studio Photographer: "How old is your baby?"

Mom (proudly) "He is six months old today."

Nosy Portrait Studio Photographer: "Why can't he sit up?"

11-28-89
        Different perky Portrait Studio Photographer: "How old is your baby?"

Mom (proudly) "Today is his first birthday!"

Portrait Studio Photographer: "Why can't he stand up?"

Mom (sadly) "But look how nicely he sits by himself."

12-89
        Pediatric neurologist: "Your son appears to be of normal intelligence. My diagnosis is Spastic diplegia."

Mom (confused) "What?"

Pediatric neurologist: "Cerebral palsy. I recommend physical therapy. Come back in six months."

Sixth Months Later

6-90
        Pediatric neurologist: "Well, he's beginning to walk, but now I'm concerned about his other developmental milestones. I recommend occupational and speech therapy. Come back in six months."

8-90
        Occupational Therapist #1: "Mom, Josh still isn't stacking these blocks. I asked you to work with him on stacking blocks."

Mom (frustrated) "We trying to help him learn to eat with a spoon. We want him to sit at the table and eat dinner with us as a family."

11-90
        Occupational Therapist #2: "Mom, he needs to learn to do this inset puzzle. All the tests will require him to do an inset puzzle. Don't you want him to do well on the test?"

Mom (angry) "He is two years old. We want him to learn to feed himself."

12-90
        Pediatric neurologist: "He's retarded. He'll need a small, special education classroom. Come back in a year."

1-92
        Early Childhood Staff Year #1: "Josh is having a hard time adjusting to our classroom routines. We are trying to teach him to point to a picture.

9-92
        Early Childhood Staff Year #2: "Josh is having a hard time adjusting to any changes in our classroom routines. We think he's literate. He is spelling for us."

Private Speech Therapist: "Josh has severe oral apraxia. You need to begin to look for a communication device for him."

We learned that Josh has a mild-moderate high frequency hearing impairment so Josh wears hearing aids and uses a FM listening device in the classroom. The teacher wears a wireless microphone and her voice is sent via radio waves directly to Josh's ears through his hearing aids.

About a year ago, we learned that Josh has a tic disorder and several repetitive behaviors. He takes medication for these. On Sunday, July 12, 1998, Dr. Rubinstein confirmed that Josh has RTS.

We are very proud of Josh and his accomplishments. He has tremendous potential and we will continue to do "whatever it takes".

Pam

Josh