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| This is an update forwarded to me last week. Thanks in part to all of you, here is a very positive update from Ashton's family.
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My grandson, Ashton, was born October 1, 2001. He came into the world
to the surprise of everyone with a very severe bi-lateral cleft lip and
palate. This birth defect was not picked up by the ultrasound, so his
parents, doctors and grandparents were all unprepared. What a little
fighter he was and still is. At first, his struggles were just to
nourish. His mother had planned to breast-feed, as this is the
healthiest way in her eyes. And while she struggled to accomplish this
and accommodate his special circumstances, it became too hard for our
"little trooper." He tired easily and was not getting the nourishment
he needed, so he started to lose weight. When you only weigh 8 lbs.,
you don't have a lot to work with. This brought on the need for special
cleft-palate nursing bottles. They have a special valve system and an
elongated large nipple that allows a baby with even the weakest suckle
instinct to take in nourishment. What a godsend they were, but how
expensive. Eight bottles cost $200.00, and the nipples are only good
for four weeks because of the extra soft material they are made from.
Now imagine being a young, married couple just staring out, facing
expenses like this that you never imagined. The many trips down to
Madison to meet with a surgical team to poke, prod, and take
measurements of your little newborn son's face. How traumatic it all
was, not just for Ashton, but his parent's, and his big sister (Layla)
was also 18 months old at the time. Can you imagine how brave this
family had to be? They've weathered so much in Ashton's short time with
us. He has already had two surgeries before the tender age of one, with
at least five more to go, but there will probably be more as it is never
simple to just build somebody a precious little face. He has gone
through a lip adhesion, and had a soft-palate built already. While this
all sounds simple here, it required many doctor visits and two hospital
stays in Madison. The road has not been all trial though. We have this
wonderful, little happy-go-lucky boy that just keeps right on smiling.
We also found a wonderful group of supporters on the MuskieFirst board.
They have held countless auctions, sales, raffles, etc...to help raise
money to defray the costs of all the special care Ashton has required
since birth. What an effort they have put forth, their time, energy,
donations, well wishes. I can't begin to touch on all that has been
done to help a little boy, most have never met. Ashton had other
problems too, severe skin allergies to everything but 100 % cotton. The
members of this site upon hearing of this, sewed him his very own quilt,
made completely of cotton, just so he could have his very own blanket.
To this day, he is still using it. Every night he gets lovingly tucked
into bed using this special quilt of love. What more could I say
besides, that they have stood by my family through thick and thin. They
have restored our faith in our fellow man. They have made all the
difference to this little boy. Greatful, can't even begin to touch on
how this grandma feels. I thank God for little Ashton, but even more I
thank him for such a special group of supporters. Without
MuskieFirst.com and all the people behind it, my family would have a
much harder life. This grandmother's heart would have been broken,
watching her grandson struggle and her daughter struggle harder.
Because of all the special people on this board, Ashton gets the
special care he needs. Thank You MuskieFirst.com For All You've Done
For My Family and May You All Catch A Record Book Musky In Your
Lifetime, You All Deserve It!
Sincerely,
Jody Holbrook
aka. Ashton's Grandma
aka. muskiegoddess
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Thanks again to everyone who has donated an item or won a bid. More updates as Ashton and his doctors make progress.[:bigsmile:] |
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| Thanks for sharing Stever...been all over the world and can honestly say I've NEVER met a greater group of peeps, especially " sight unseen" for the most part. As for catching a record book fish, that would for sure cause me to pass out, fall overboard and ruin me for good; I enjoy just listening and reading about the conquests of others. Life is a struggle from DAY 1 on, and it is nice to see folks make sacrifices to help those in need, because when all is said and done, it is those things that matter most. Children are truely special, and if we could only follow their example of trust and wonder, what a neat thing that would be! |
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| Jody,
Glad to hear the little guy is doing good[:)]
We are "ALL" glad to help in any way we can, I look forward to meeting Ashton one day soon.
God bless you and your family. |
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| Thanks for the great update. I needed a boost this morning. |
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| Hi Muskie Goddess! This is a great update!
The only thing that you seem to miss is that Ashton and family aren't the ones which are benefiting from the efforts
of many on this website, but rather we are the benefactors!
We are getting the opportunity to make a small difference
in a life of a little guy with big needs. Without this site we would not have ever been aware of Ashton. What as loss that would have been! We are the lucky ones!
God's Blessings to Ashton and his family![:bigsmile:] |
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| Goddess, many thanks for the update on our favorite little "Muskienut". As SVL has said before me, we here at M1st are the ones that have been blessed. Many thanks to Steve, Jason, Zach etc. for bringing Ashton to us. Remember as he gets a little older that there is a special spot in my boat for him. Thanks again for letting us be a part of Ashton's life. We all love him to death. [:bigsmile:] |
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| What a truly GREAT Group of people that you are. It warms my heart everytime I read the messages that you write. Thank you all.
JO-----[:halo:] |
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| Jody
All of us at the Thiede household are so glad to hear that he is doing well. It's good to hear when things go well for those who deserve it. Thanks for letting us all be a part of this. Thanks for keeping us "in the loop" on what's going on. Ashton has an awful lot of big brothers and sisters out here.
Here's hoping that things continue to progress this well in the future.
Scott, Gail, Amanda and Alyssa Thiede (Doc too)
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| I needed some cheering up today. Thanks, Ashton. Mission accomplished![:)] |
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| I am glad to hear that Ashton is doing so well. I heard last weekend he has started speach therapy also. I can't wait to hear one of his musky seminars at the chicago show someday. You did know he is going to be a professional musky fisherman didn't you?[;)] |
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