This is Eric Mindel sitting for his first preschool picture in March 2002.
Eric will be 4 on July 13, 02, it’s hard to believe that 4 years have passed since he came into our lives. He has changed our lives completely, I believe for the better.
So at age four Eric has just begun to use a posterior walker, we’re hoping it will help strengthen his legs and get him used to being “up”. He is still being fed via g-tube and he will take his bottle, although he will at times put his tongue out to lick some foods. We are hoping it will blossom into him wanting to put food in his mouth. But we will keep on trying. Eric is still in the babbling stage of “talking”, he doesn’t form any actual words, but he does up a couple of signs. He still has seizures, but they are well under control with medication. He has SVAS and pulmonary stenosis, the SVAS will need repair, possibly this year, and the cardiologist wants him to gain some more weight so that he will be stronger. But aside from all the health issues, Eric is the light of our lives, his 8 year old twin sisters adore him, they fight over who gets to play with him. And no matter what has happened during the day, I look at that sweet, smiling face and I cant be upset or mad. He is just so beautiful and we love him more everyday.
Cathy Mindel cmindel@sc.rr.com
http://home.sc.rr.com/cmindel