We are home!!!!!!!!! Cue the dance party! Our three month stay at the gymie-school has come to an end. It feels surreal to be at this point. Judah and I went back on Tuesday for his therapy and an orthotics adjustment appointments. The outbreak status was extended for this week, so Judah didn’t get to go back to the pool or school. Before we went up to our floor, we said goodbye to his teacher in person, which was so special. She hadn’t seen Judah since the first week of November. Thankfully, we were able to say goodbye in person to everyone we had a card for, so it made the goodbyes feel a bit more real. When Judah was saying goodbye and “thank you for helping me” to his physio and OT therapists, they said the same thing: “My pleasure, Judah. You did all the hard work.” And he did. He fought through and persevered when he was physically weaker and adjusting to all the change in his body and environment. He learned new skills, and has more stretching range in his muscles, balance, coordination and endurance that he didn’t have pre-op. We are beyond proud of him and all that he has accomplished thus far.

We were told by Judah’s neurosurgeon that this surgery is an investment into his future. He has the ability to make gains six months, one year, five years, tens years down the road and beyond. The fact that we are already seeing gains at the three month mark is all God and the prayers of our community! We are so thankful to God for all He has done and we are grateful for the army of friends, family and church family that has been continually lifting Judah before our God. 

Judah’s friend that he made at the gymie-school moved into our room, so they got to have some enjoyable playing time together before we left. When I asked Judah what he would miss at the gymie-school, he said, “my friend and the clowns”. Of course that is his response as a five and a half year old. Judah knew that the clowns sang a special song for kids leaving and it was important to him to have that moment too. He danced his heart out laughing away to their songs for him. 

Moving forward, Judah will have therapy at the centre he has been going to since he was almost two years old. Judah has a wonderful rapport with these therapists and I know they are the right people for him for this part of the journey. He will be back to school next week and he is definitely looking forward to that! 

Thank you for reading along, praying along, and supporting our family over the past three months. Your encouragement and thoughtfulness means so much to us and we are so grateful.  We are grateful for the care Judah received from SickKids Children’s Hospital and Holland Bloorview Rehabilitation Hospital. We are thankful to God for leading us to know and learn more about this surgery and advocate for Judah to be assessed for it. We know full well that God has been guiding us through the past three months and He will continue to. Our journey is entering a new phase now and we feel ready and hopeful for what is next for Judah. 

Praise God for:

-the overall health of our family

-the opportunity to bring our little family closer together even though we’ve spent time apart 

-God’s hand on Judah’s life and our family 

-Judah will be going back to his pre-op therapy team and back to school next week

-Our community supporting us along the way 

Prayer Points: 

-Judah’s transition back to his pre-op therapy team and back to school and all that entails 

-Judah‘s continued understanding, motivation and confidence to try new exercises and activities for physio and occupational therapy 

-Strengthening of Judah’s muscles for proper coordination, endurance and balance