Jaden is in here at 6:14, as well as a bunch of other amazing kids. Just wanted to share!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Pediatric Stroke Video
Pediatric Stroke Awareness Video
Jaden is in here at 6:14, as well as a bunch of other amazing kids. Just wanted to share!
Jaden is in here at 6:14, as well as a bunch of other amazing kids. Just wanted to share!
Dear Jaden
Turning Two
Looking back at the last 2 years, I have been on a rollercoaster of emotions. When I first saw your sweet, new pink little face, I would have never guessed in a million years we would be here in just 2 short years. I will never forget feeling in the pit of my stomach, knowing something was wrong. Looking back just days before all the appointments started, we were at the fair and a lady wanted to see our new you. When she did, she blurted out “oh he’s cute, what’s wrong with his head.” My jaw hit the ground I am sure, we at the time made a joke of it, oh we all have big heads…. Never knowing that “joke” would turn out to be our forever reality. It’s hard not to think about your shunt, is it working? Does it hurt you? Will it work tomorrow? It brings me to tears to think of the answers of hard questions you will ask me as to why? Sometimes, when you are having a bad day I am wishing I could take it away. Truth is I know I am not strong enough to be you, survive what you do and be as happy as you!
In a way I think life brings us to where we need to be and with the people who we need or may need us even more. Because of you I have learned so much about myself, you, your brother, dad, our family, hospitals, doctors, your body, your brain and sometimes total strangers it amazes me it has only been 2 years and at the same time it feel as if the future is charging front and center, faster than ever.
You inspire people everywhere we go, and people who meet you learn something new. I want you to know that I am ever proud of you being 2! I believe in you more than you believe in yourself sometimes and even when it is unbearable, just keep trying. You can do it. Mommy, Daddy and Big Brother love you.
Happy Birthday Big Boy!
 |
| Jaden, 2 and Daddy |
Monday, April 9, 2012
News Paper Article, 4/9/2012
This is the article about Jaden in the news paper. Very proud of Jaden, we are happy to be along on his journey. We are very blessed as parents; our son’s are growing into amazing young men.
Jaden Brown, the infant son of Christina and Roy Brown of Durango, has been chosen the Face of Hydrocephalus Awareness for 2012 by the national Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation.
Hydrocephalus is an incurable condition in which excessive spinal fluid gathers in the brain, placing potentially damaging pressure on tissues.
Jaden, who will be 2 on April 26, was the subject of a story in The Durango Herald on March 13, 2011, about his mother’s effort to form a support group for people with hydrocephalus. Jaden has a shunt in his head to drain spinal fluid.
Jaden will be the boy featured in promotions for National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month in September. Mackenzie Holcomb, an 11-year-old girl from Ohio, will be the featured girl.
“We’re happy to be part of this recognition,” Christina Brown said Friday. “It’s so cool.”
Jaden’s designation as the face of hydrocephalus carried a $500 stipend, which the family is going to donate to Children’s Hospital in Denver for research, Brown said.
Hydrocephalus occurs about once every 500 births.
The Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation is an all-volunteer nonprofit that works to raise awareness about the malady, promotes research and serves as an advocate for the hydrocephalus community.
Follow this link to the Durango Herald's site:
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Introducing The National Face of Hydrocephalus Awareness 2012
Making us so proud, Go Team Jaden!
The PHF is proud to present the winner and now the National Face of Hydrocephalus Awareness 2012, Jaden Brown:
Jaden was born in April 2010, unknowingly as a healthy child with no known health issues at birth. Jaden’s head started to grow at a rapid rate around 4 month of age. My older son has a “large head” and has had an MRI to confirm that there is no medical condition. So at Jaden’s 4 month well check- we all didn’t think much of his “big head”. When his head continued to grow our doctor recommended he have an ultrasound which, then lead us to an MRI and neurosurgery consultation. Because of where we live in Southwest Colorado, we have to travel to Colorado Children’s Hospital for specialty treatment which is about 350 miles from where we live. During the first visit with Jaden’s Neurosurgeon, we learned about the large amount of extra-axial fluid on his brain and that Jaden had also suffered a stroke.
He has a large amount of brain damage affecting the left side of his brain and right side of his body. Jaden’s diagnosis is Hydrocephalus, infant Stroke, Cerebral Palsy and a vision condition called Cortical Vision Impairment. Jaden had his Shunt placed in 10-2010. Knock on wood his one and only shunt is working well and his MRI’s show a lot of improvement fluid wise. Jaden works hard with physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. He is little to no use of the right side of his body and is developmentally delayed. His movement is = to a 6 month old, and cognitive = to a 12 month old.
Yet he is full of personality, strength and joy. It is amazing how many people’s lives he has impacted in his small years- his future is bright to say the least. Jaden has something in his smile that lights up a room. He enjoys working on therapy with his iPad, playing cars with his brother and laughing with his family
~ Jaden’s Mom Christina
Monday, March 5, 2012
The Colorado Pediatric Stroke Parent Support Group: About Jaden
Family Spotlight in the CPSPSG news letter 2/2012
Jaden,
Being the parent of a special needs
child is very challenging and has proven
to be the most emotional experience in
my life so far. Some days are good while
others are harder, making me ask a
question I will never know the answer
to- why did this happen to my child? It
is important to take into consideration
the effect that having a child who is a
stroke survivor has not only on my son
Jaden, but also on our family, friends
and everyone we meet. People tell me I
am the strongest person they have ever
met, and while this is an amazing
compliment, I can’t help but think that it
is Jaden who is strong, not me.
The hope I see in Jaden and the
inspiration he gives others has led me
to raise awareness about
infant/childhood stroke. The impact of
Jaden’s stroke has been life-changing
for our family and other like us who
have had a child diagnosed with stroke.
However, through it all we have found
strength and remain thankful in
knowing that Jaden and others like him
will achieve success and believing in him
even when he may not believe in
himself. Jaden has shown us to cherish
the small things -- sitting up, tying our
shoes, clapping our hands and what it
means to have a life free of occupational
therapy, physical therapy and
speech therapy.
My son has changed people’s idea of
what it means to have the diagnosis
stroke. He has inspired me to encourage
people to speak openly about
medical conditions and meet with
members of the community to share
our story, spread information and help
patients and their families cope with this
life changing diagnosis, the diagnosis of
childhood stroke.
Please visit our blog website or e-mail
me directly if you have questions or
would like to connect.
www.jadenstory.blogspot.com
Christina Brown
E-mail:
christinaandroy@yahoo.com
Colorado HealthStory
Here is Jaden’s health story that I recorded for Colorado HealthStory. I am always looking to share our story and bring awareness to the issues that affect our lives and the lives of so many people.
I very much enjoyed working with Joe and being a part of Colorado HealthStory.
Love and Health,
Micah and Jaden’s Mommy
Please follow the links provided to have a listen and feel free to share.
Our Health Story
Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved
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