Hello! My name is Adam Parker Lloyd and I am a beautiful, blest and happy seven year old boy. I like things that other boys like. I LOVE balls, trucks and music. I love my family and friends and most of the time I wear a big smile on my face. However, there are several things that make me quite different from other kids. I have not yet learned how to sit, crawl, walk or talk yet. I want to, it's just hard for me right now.
When I was just a little newborn baby, only a few days old I got very sick. My Mommy and Daddy say I was so sick that I almost died. The doctors were never able to tell my parents why I got so sick, they say I must have had a virus that caused an illness known as Encephalitis (that's a big word!) Encephalitis can sometimes cause a "boo-boo" on your brain and that is what happened to me. So now the doctors label me as having cerebral palsy, cortical blindness, secondary microcephaly and I have a seizure disorder. I'm still too little to know what all that means exactly, my mommy and daddy always tell me not to worry, they say I'm just behind a little bit. I am so happy and lucky that they can see beyond my disabilities and they say I have a bright future. That alone makes me want to try harder.
Sometimes mommy and daddy worry about me too much. I wish I could tell them not to worry - God is looking out for me. I think they are starting to understand that, the other day I actually heard mommy telling someone God has answered their prayers and shown them ways to help make me better. Sometimes it’s hard to listen to what God wants, especially if it means making a hard decision. They are being good listeners now.
I am only seven years old and already I have been to so many doctors and I have a lot of people also called therapists that come to my house to play with me. When I was only fifteen months old we went on a big trip on an airplane to Boston, Massachusetts to see a brain specialist. He is now a good friend of ours, his name is Sarge. He helped mommy and daddy to learn exercises and fun things we could do at home every day to help me get better and we‘ve been doing that ever since. Mommy and Daddy said we were at a “fork“ in the road until we met Sarge - I‘m not sure what that means, but I know it‘s a good thing. We also went to see a lady named Dr. Bobby in Oklahoma City who helps lots of kids like me. I didn't like that trip very much, but I felt a lot better when I got home. Before I saw her I did‘t like for other people to hold me, but now I think it‘s OK. I also get to see some really cool doctors here in Lexington, their names are Dr. Vick, Dr. Stevens, Dr. Carol and Dr. Robertson. Wow, I must be pretty special for so many doctors to want to see me!!
Now Mommy and Daddy have took me to a place in Montreal, Canada. They have learnt some even different exercises to do with me at home to help my muscles get stronger. There isn’t anyone around here who knows how to do these special exercises, so we have to travel far away to learn how to do it. This place has helped many kids learn to do the things I can’t do yet, like sitting, crawling and walking (even talking too!!) I hope I can learn to do these things, that way I can show and tell everyone how I feel. So far I have had some real good results...check out my update page to see!!
So as you can tell from my story so far my journey has been filled with lots of excitement and travel - it’s far from over yet. One day I will have a great story to tell, one that I hope will change the lives of other children all over the world. My mommy and daddy, along with the rest of my family, are very committed to helping me be all that I can be. It’s not easy for them you know, they spend a lot of time, energy and money on me. That’s how I know how much they LOVE me!!!
Mommy is going to put a journal on here so she can tell everyone what’s going on in her own words, don’t worry - occasionally I’ll give an update on what’s going on too. Please visit often and feel free to come visit me sometime if you want!!
Thanks for visiting!!
Adam Parker Lloyd
