Welcome to Rayden's page. Here you will find a story of our sons journey with Spina Bifida. There have been many challenges and struggles through the years but it's been worth it! I have tried to keep this blog updated. It might be easier to navigate by using the side bar and looking for specific dates or posts. You can even use the search engine for something specific. I welcome comments as well.
Rayden was very excited to go to William's Produce for his first grade field trip. Mr. Aaron went along to help with Rayden's mobility needs and Alex even came over for about an hour. I enjoyed watching him play with the music wall, try to throw the football through the tire, ride on the pipe roll, take a barrel train ride, enjoy the jump pad, blow giant bubbles and climb the tractor slide. He learned a little about sweet potatoes, tomatoes, chicks and rabbits. We took a wagon ride through the fields, picked strawberries, and finally had a picnic lunch. It was a beautiful day to make memories. 🍓
At 6:35am we were awakened by Rayden sitting straight up in his bed, reaching into the distance, sporadicly coughing, and repeatedly saying "ouch". Alex got to him first, followed by Michael and myself. He was able to reach for each of us and respond a tiny bit with shaking his head, but not speaking. We saw the daze in his eyes as they moved back and forth. I began videoing while Michael got the emergency medication. When he began this weird burping/breath and drool we laid him down on his side and kept talking to him. He began shivering all over, twitching, and taking weird breaths. His eyes kept going back and forth and he continued the funny swallowing like burping. After 3 minutes I administered the Valtoco. He clinched his lips and stopped breathing. Michael called 911 as Alex kept rubbing his chest. For 2 whole minutes I was yelling "breathe!" while Alex and I both continued sternum rubs. We even tried to give him a breath, but his teeth were clinched and Alex couldn't open his mouth. He just gave him a breath over his nose and mouth. Finally, he coughed and began taking shallow breaths. The paramedics arrived and did a complete workup. BP 112/60, HR 115, RR 16, BGL 109, Temp. 97.6. He was answering their questions without slurring his words. We elected to keep him at home instead of transporting him to the hospital. While Rayden slept on the couch, I sent emails to his Neurosurgeon (Dr. Scott Elton) and Neurologist (Dr. Carolyn Zook-Lewis) at UNC. Dr. Elton's Nurse Practitioner advised us to go to UNC ER for a complete workup if we were still concerned. Of course, he could always be having another shunt failure, but it could just be another seizure (as if that's not bad enough)! Who knows? I sure wish Rayden's health care wasn't such a guessing game. Dr. Zook-Lewis decided to increase his seizure medication from 8ml to 10ml. Rayden slept until 12:30. When he woke, he was hungry and back to himself. Praising God for all His blessings.
Rayden has been counting the days until he could play baseball again. We decided to join The Miracle League of Dunn this year because Rayden was too old for T-ball and we didn't think it was safe for him to play coach pitch with his peers. We didn't really know what to expect. We wondered how he would accept a team with players of all ages, and each player having a buddy by their side. Rayden never ceases to amaze us, though. He didn't say one word about teenagers playing on the team. He was so thrilled to be back out there. Having a buddy to talk to in the outfield sure made Rayden happy. (He LOVES to talk.) He was all smiles after each game and told every single person he met the next day about how he hit the ball. He was sure to invite everyone to his games as well.
Special thanks to his buddies during the games:
1. Captain Matthew Smith of Dunn Police Dept. 4. Jarius Brown of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
2. Ryan Tart of Triton High School Football Team 5. George Adler, Planning Director-City of Dunn
3. Brittany Staves of Campbell University Basketball 6. Sean and Felix of Campbell University Soccer
We appreciate all the fans that came to support this wonderful team and our one-of-a-kind Miracle, Rayden.
Mom, Dad, Alex, Justin, Granny, Nanny, Papa, Uncle Gerome Heath, Aunt Patsy Lee, Angie Parker, Tucker Wright, Mary Beth & Skye Canterbury, Michelle Jackson, Jeff Wilson, Stephanie, Case, & Cayden Bass, Carol & Harrison Raines, and Kelly & Jackie Morris.
The last game, Rayden decided to be a 'switch hitter'. His first time up to bat he hit right handed like he did every other game. Second inning, he decided to switch up and hit left handed. He actually hit the ball both ways pretty good! It amazes me how he can do things with both hands. Most people are either left OR right handed not BOTH. He also wouldn't run to first base until he put his bat away! He took care of his equipment, haha. The coaches presented each player with a medal after the last game. Rayden was thrilled and so proud of himself. He began showing it off immediately. He even took it to school the next day and shared it with his classmates. We are so proud of him for being such a wonderful sport, following the rules, taking turns, being respectful, meeting new friends, and standing/walking for over an hour even though it was hot. He enjoyed ever minute of The Miracle League games and can't wait to play again next season. ⚾
Rayden was very excited to go to William's Produce for his first grade field trip. Mr. Aaron went along to help with Rayden's mobility needs and Alex even came over for about an hour. I enjoyed watching him play with the music wall, try to throw the football through the tire, ride on the pipe roll, take a barrel train ride, enjoy the jump pad, blow giant bubbles and climb the tractor slide. He learned a little about sweet potatoes, tomatoes, chicks and rabbits. We took a wagon ride through the fields, picked strawberries, and finally had a picnic lunch. It was a beautiful day to make memories. 🍓
