And The Journey Begins Again…

My son’s medical journey, I mean.

After several months of hiatus from the rigorous process of setting doctors’ appointments and consultations, we are once again back in the same route. Before I go further, let me share this to you:

membership

Yes, I finally became a member of DSAPI. After several months of contemplation, I finally realized and accepted that I need them for my son. Let’s just say that I am still in the process of accepting my new reality and that it was not the reality that I had hoped and planned for. It’s not going to as easy as 1-2-3, you know. It takes time to let all those hopes and dreams go and build new ones. I am still a work in progress. So becoming a member has been a big step for me.

Now, enough of that, before I go teary-eyed and start to pour my heart out (trust me, you wouldn’t want to know all that 😛 ). Becoming a member of DSAPI has quite a few perks. Given that it is not easy (and I mean NOT easy) getting an appointment with a Development Pediatrician, DSAPI was tapped by Ateneo School of Medicine for their outreach program. The slots were limited (as I think there was only 4 slots for each Friday until the last Friday of August) but I was able to secure a schedule for my little Z.

The consultation was done at MedMom Child Development Clinic in Fun Ranch, Ortigas, Pasig. We got there about quarter to 1 PM and the doctor arrived about an hour after. Little Z was assessed a few minutes after that.

Z was assessed on 5 areas based on the Griffiths Mental Development Scales:

  • Locomotor Scale
  • Personal-Social Scale
  • Hearing and Speech Scale
  • Eye-Hand Coordination Scale
  • Performance Scale
  • Practical Reasoning Scale – this is not yet applicable for little Z

Overall, Little Z has global development delay. He’s already 10.5 months old but in terms of development, overall, he is at around 5 months. I guess I knew that all along but hearing it said out loud from a reliable source (aka Dev-Pedia), I felt heartbroken.

The doctor talked to me outside of the room while my sister watched my little boy while the medical students check on Z’s stats further. I was actually hearing what the doctor was saying but something in me just wanted to start arguing with her. Good thing I was able to keep my composure and was still polite all through out. The doctor explained that her assessment was based on what she was able to observe during the time that she saw my son. My only problem there was that the assessment was done when Z had just awoken from his nap because he was disturbed. Given that his nap was disturbed, you couldn’t really expect him to be his usual talkative and playful self. He did babble a bit during the assessment but not the usual one when he is wide awake. He didn’t reach much of the toys showed to him regardless of the color because he was more distracted by the environment he was in. My son knows when he is in a new place. You would have to give him about an hour to observe his surroundings before he would totally divert his attention to anything else.

I guess I just find it quite unfair that my son was assessed in such a wrong time. But I guess that is me being the distrustful mom when it comes to doctors. I dunno, I guess the first few months that my son and I went through just made a dent in me that I find myself questioning everything a doctor is saying. Well, with a few exceptions, of course.

Maybe the assessment is accurate, maybe it’s a bit off. Regardless, my son has developmental delays – I do accept that – and it is something that I need to address as soon as possible. He was also recommended for a thyroid test which I had it done this afternoon (poor little Z cried while being restrained prior to being pricked with a needle for another blood extraction). The results will be released by Tuesday. Crossing my fingers that it will all be normal (or passed, whatever the terminology is used there).

And so there starts our second leg of the medical journey. He needs to be checked by a cardio again (hopefully the hole in his heart already closed) and he still needs to see a geneticist (so we will know what else we need to monitor). Another one that I need to decide on real soon is his physical therapy. *Sigh*

So many decisions to make and so may appointments to set all at once. This is another set of information and emotional stress overload.

Well, welcome to my new reality.

Before I end this, let me share one other photo taken earlier in the day. Cute, eh? 😀

:D
😀

 

 

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  1. I’m not a doctor, but whenever I see migs, I always thought that for his condition his development is quite advanced. Don’t be too hard on yourself, Liz. So far your doing a great job being a mom to migs, so you don’t have to worry too much. I hope all the tests will turn out ok. I will pray for that. 🙂

  2. Hi mommy Liz, I know how it feels to have a child who has developmental delay. I have a 3-year old daughter who has epilepsy, and until now she is still non verbal. REality is hard, but we need to be strong as parents. Hugs. -Mommy Cel

    1. Thanks, Mommy Cel. I am now just enjoying whatever milestone my son reaches. I guess this is my lesson in patience (I am known to be impatient 😀 ). But at the same time, it’s not easy getting envious of other “normal” babies doing things that they should already be doing at a certain age. How is your daughter?

      1. I feel the jealous pang when I see kids same as my daughter and they are running and talking and just normal. But I learned to accept and love what God has given us. She is still non verbal sis, and can’t follow instructions yet. 🙁

        1. well, i guess our kids have take their own sweet time to reach milestones.. no need to rush them to it.. 🙂 she will eventually talk and learn to follow instructions, just as my son would be able to reach his own milestones… all in their own sweet time 🙂

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