An update on a special little boy who is the light of his parents' world.
I am writing an update about our little boy, Gideon, who is going to be three years old next month.
My name is Traegan (Trae) Edward Dickenson; my wife's name is Wendie. We are Gideon's parents. We spend many an hour making sure he's happy and/or comfortable.
It isn't easy; people ask us all the time how can we deal with such severe disabilities. I don't know; we get through it, only by the grace of God. He's brought us through the fire; we continue on, put our faith/hope/trust in Him, to get us through whatever comes our way.
To refresh your memory, Gideon was born four months early. He spent nearly six months in the hospital, just fighting to survive. It is only by a miracle that he did; however, his earlier-than-normal birth left its ugly mark: Gideon was left brain damaged, suffering from cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and gastric reflux disease.
He cannot walk or talk. He is in a wheelchair. He is tube fed. (Medicines are also given through it.) Gideon needs help with bathing and dressing; at night, he must wear an apnea monitor to monitor his breathing.
Sometimes Gideon chokes or has respiratory illnesses that put him into the hospital.
It is a very sad situation; at times I cry beause I think of the other kids in our neighborhood: how they can run, play, laugh, talk, go to school, while our son spends his days either lying in bed or sitting up in his chair while we tend to his needs. He doesn't know how disabled he is; he doesn't understand the complexity of his situation, or of the strain it puts on us.
He just takes things as they come.
Even with all his medical problems, Gideon is a sweet kid. He laughs a lot, loves to be read to, held, played with. He loves to have the therapists stretch his limbs or have them singing to him while he has his therapy.
Gideon loves the sensation of warm water on his body as he is bathed, and loves it when we make goofy faces at him or make noises as we change him or attend to his tube feedings.
When he isn't laughing or making happy noises, we know that he's sick. This is when he becomes lethargic; it terrifies us to see him in this state.
Worst of all is when he has one of his choking/apneic episodes where his face turns blue and gasps for breath.
Whenever this happens, we call for an ambulance while we try to help Gideon through his latest medical crisis. All the time we're both crying, praying for yet another miracle for our son.
Somehow God listens to our prayers because Gideon's still with us.
When he is well we can (sort of) function like a normal family. We take our son to the store, to the zoo, to the playground, so he can be with other children. To be around people is when Gideon is happiest of all; he loves the attention that people give to him when they see him.
A lot of the time there are those people who ask personal questions or stare at our son like he has the bubonic plague. It is up to us to explain why he is the way he is. Kids are usually more accepting of our son than the adlults; we sometimes have to keep from yelling at adults whenever they make hurtful comments about Gideon.
If they can't past the fact that Gideon is disabled, I wish they'd keep their comments to themselves. He's a child, first. One who happens to be disabled. He didn't ask for this. Neither did we. It just--occurred, through no fault of Gideon our us, his parents.
Often, we go to our pastor, Pastor Milton, with questions about God, why He would allow such tragedy to befall an innocent child.
Our pastor listens to our concerns, tries to reassure us. Sometimes, though the pastor's answers don't fit with the answers we are searching for, and we are left feeling more confused than ever.
He tells us to love Gideon as he is, to try to unlock his potential. Well, that may very well be all in good; however, how are we to find what our son's gifts are when he can't even talk, even walk, even take care of his basic needs??
If anyone has the answer to that, I'd love to know. Please get in touch with me; I'm interested in what others have to say.
I will write in here again one day. Hopefully by then some unforseen miracle will occur, and our son will be walking, talking, or even running! Oh, what an answer to prayer that would be!!
Gideon has indeed given a very precious gift to his devoted parents. They may not have discerned that HE GLUED them together in love and warmth, simple joys that has become rarer in our racy world. Gideon IS the gift. He and his story is the miracle. And Thank You my friend for sharing it. Please do not relinquish your task as a Messenger of Love and Kindness.
Yes, God, somehow, always listen to our prayes, the question is...are we listening to him?
Cruel inconsiderate people? everybody has one, must be in the genes.
God hears all prayers and yes it is a sad situation when people have disabilities but believe me they make up for it in other ways, if only those with that use their mouths would consider using their hearts they would clearly see. Thank you for sharing Karla.
This one is so sad, especially about the well meaning adults who open their mouths and make judgemental comments. Bad enough that Gideon's parents have to (basically) do everything for him, right? Painfully penned, Karen, well done.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Still don't understand why God allows such tragedy...children shouldn't suffer for the sin of their parents. :(
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I am writing an update about our little boy, Gideon, who is going to be three years old next month.
