Sunday, November 29, 2015

A Special Gift

Greetings and a Reminder:

I write this blog as we go through ET Mehta Casting with our daughter Olivia. The blog is intended to inform, possibly inspire, and raise awareness of Infantile Scoliosis and its treatment/cure. Please share our story. For more information please check out http://www.infantilescoliosis.org/ 

A very special moment happened last week. Close to two years ago a dear friend of ours, Paula, asked permission to use a photograph I had taken of Olivia at my sister’s wedding for a painted quilt hanging. Life got in the way as it does and she began working on it six months later. Paula remained very quiet about the project and I had not seen its progress at all. Last Monday she emailed me asking if we would be home because it was finished and she was hoping to drop it off Wednesday.
The work Paula does is true art. Every detail is meticulously considered and expertly executed from the selection of colors down to the last stitch. I have seen many of the pieces Paula has created and excitedly anticipated the reveal of the piece she was making of Olivia.
I was beyond blown away by the gorgeous piece she gave us, and the amount of love and care you can plainly see she put into it. The photographs do not do it justice. The most touching part, however, was Paula’s explanation of why she was so compelled to recreate the photograph.
“When I was a little girl I was a tomboy who LOVED cowboy boots. First, I saw the boots and I thought, 'oh my goodness!’...Then I noticed how straight her spine was...I knew I had to make this.”
She named the piece “Reach for the Stars” and created a background of stars because she knows Olivia, and her potential to do great things in this life. She also made certain to display Olivia’s spine on the hanging.
Both Paula and her husband Bruce have become very special to us over the past four years. We think the world of both of them and admire how talented and kind they both are. They have become like family to us, and Olivia loves to visit them.
We cannot thank Paula enough for this extremely special gift. It is something we will always cherish.





Sunday, May 24, 2015

Another Year Has Passed

Greetings and a Reminder:

I write this blog as we go through ET Mehta Casting with our daughter Olivia. The blog is intended to inform, possibly inspire, and raise awareness of Infantile Scoliosis and its treatment/cure. Please share our story. For more information please check out http://www.infantilescoliosis.org/ 

It's been three years since we discovered something didn't look right with Olivia's ribs.

 It's been two years to the day that Olivia's last cast was removed and she was fitted for her brace. 

We will be heading up to Children's for her annual some time in July. We, as a family, remain grateful every day for the care we received from Boston Children's Hospital. I am also grateful for finding The Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program. Without them I think I would have been a ball of panic when we received Olivia's diagnosis. They were an amazing resource as we learned as a family how to live a casting life. 

We were all pleasantly surprised the other day when we received an email from one of Olivia's favorite people, Ben. Ben was the gentleman who fitted Olivia for her brace. She still talks about him and asks when she can go and visit Ben. Hearing from him, truly made all of our days. This is what I love about the people we have encountered at Children's. They touch so many lives, and they recognize and individualize each and every life that they touch. They truly are special people who make such a wonderful difference in this world.

 I check her back on my own periodically and love running my finger down her straight spine. Her favorite part of our bedtime routine is a nightly back rub, something I will NEVER deny her. 

Miss O has had a wonderful year!

She is close to completing her first year of preschool at the school I work at and has learned so much!

She has a new cousin!

She decided she wanted to be Mary Poppins for Halloween.


She made a friend at Christmas.


And she had an Annie party for her 4th birthday.

Our girl continues to grow and amaze us every day. 



We thank you for following along on our journey. Here's to many more adventures!