February 13, 2012, Avon, Ohio~
Madeleine Nelson here. Thought an update was in order, so here goes ...
Amazingly, Mikkaylah Lynn, my youngest child, is still plugging away, even with having progeria, which causes her body to age four times faster than most people's. At the age of eight, she has the body of a 70- to 80- year-old person.
She is very tiny for her age: at the age of eight, she is not much bigger than a three- to- four- year-old and weighs maybe 40 pounds (on a good day). Mikkaylah has very little hair on her head (she is nearly bald), has a beaked nose, a pinched face, and huge bug-like eyes that make her look like a little alien child.
Mikkaylah is very cute. I happen to think she is adorable!
Mikkaylah is walking and talking again since the stroke she had several years back, but her one side is paralyzed: her one hand is curled in a permanent clawlike position and she wears a brace on her affected leg, yet she still walks. It has been nothing short of a miracle.
Other than that, Mik is doing fantastic; we couldn't be happier, especially since doctors said that she wouldn't live to see six years of age. She's outlived their predictions by two years! Mikkaylah is eight now and still going like gangbusters!!
My other two children, Monty and Marquise, are ten now and still act as Mikkaylah's protectors. They will beat up anybody who dares to make fun of my daughter and will not take no for an answer. They are great big brothers to her and love her with all their heart and soul! I am very proud of them; they re very good boys!
As for myself, I am doing well. Working two jobs, just to keep up with the bills (mostly medical, and most of those belong to Miss Mikkaylah!), and am engaged; first husband left after five years of marriage; he left when it was discovered that our daughter had a terminal condition: poor buzzard couldn't deal with it. I've since found another love in Ray Cameron, so in about six months to a year, I will be known as Mrs. Madeleine Nelson-Cameron (or maybe just Mrs. Madeleine Cameron). I am very excited at this new venture; Ray has treated me like a goddess and he loves my children so much!
And the children, they love Ray as well. Mikkaylah has already managed to wrap her tiny finger around Ray's heart. The two have since become the best of buddies; they are becoming inseperable!
Monty and Marquise love their new daddy-to-be because it means only one thing: serious male bonding time and serious sports outings. Nothing pleases the three of them than to toss a well-worn baseball around or have an impromptu game of tackle football after a nice snowstorm! :) (Talk about draggin' in the dirt! WOW!! Never knew three guys could get so ... so ... DIRTY!!!!)
The weather here in Ohio has been very snowy, not to mention, cold. More snow expected tonight and tomorrow, with bitterly cold conditions. Good fireplace weather and good for snuggling with the ones I love!
Well, I hear Mikkaylah squeaking in her sleep; she must be hurting or having a nightmare; better check in on her, to make sure she is okay. I will write in here again soon; sorry it's been a while! Life has a way of doing that to you, you know ... until later, this is Madeleine Nelson saying so long; may God bless you always!
~Love, your friend in Ohio, Madeleine. :)
