CIRCLE OF HOPE

​Just like the bumblebee, Clarabelle does something impossible every single day! We hope her story will inspire you to join our family to support her and help her live life to it's fullest.  

While developing during pregnancy, Clarabelle's doctors discovered that she had a small skin-covered hole in the back of her skull. The doctor’s warned us as her head grew, the hole could become quite large and could result in significant brain deformation by the time she was born.  Over the next 14 weeks of pregnancy, we prayed and prayed and prayed, along with our friends and family, that this hole wouldn't get bigger.

 Y’all, our prayers were answered!  By the time she was born, the hole had hardly grown at all.  The doctors and nurses were astounded. And we had high hopes that our firstborn little girl was going to be ok after all.   

However, what we didn't know was that as she was developing in the womb, the ventricle fluid that should have drained down the back of her spine decided to take a short detour out the hole and then back in and then down the spine.  This created a vacuum of sorts at the opening of the hole, which was located right infront of the cerebellum.  In that environment, her cerebellum simply couldn’t develop.  Her medical team discovered this the day she was born through an MRI.  Dr. John Wellons, Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Vanderbilt University Hospital, broke the news to us after he completed the surgery necessary to close up the opening.  

Our hearts sank. 

He explained that the cerebellum is responsible for coordination, balance, and transmitting speech.  Before we could even swallow this news and the implications this would have on her life, he further explained there's a possibility that she could gain most, if not all, of those qualities back over time.  How could this be?  Reading the question on our faces, he explained that since the rest of her brain developed normally and looked very healthy, that this healthy part of the brain might be willing to take on these tasks since it never 'knew' that it wasn’t supposed to.  In an adult, he went on to say, even if there was a small lesion in their cerebeullm, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for the rest of the healthy brain to take on those lost tasks because the brain already knew it wasn’t it’s job.  

So there was hope, at least in theory.  Clarabelle is 1 of 11 in ALL of history reported to be born without the function of the cerebellum and yet retain a healthy function of the rest of her brain.  So it all boiled down to this: we’ll just have to wait and see.

Two and a half years later, Clarabelle is able to sit up on her own well enough to play with her new doll house, feeds herself, blow kisses, and clearly says a handful of words. Like most toddlers, she's curious, expressive, affectionate, picky, and loves to play.  Her medical team, along with anyone who knows her story, is astonished by how well she is doing.  The healthy part of her brain is actually learning how to balance, how to coordinate her movements, and how to form certain words.  It’s honestly so inspiring!

Clarabelle is blooming right in front of our eyes.  We believe this is due in part to the fact that my wife stays home with her to reinforce what she learns through her physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Her therapists have high hopes that one day she’ll learn to balance herself enough to walk.  We can’t wait for that day!!!  What a celebration we’ll have!!! But the therapists have prepared us that it could be a long journey until that day comes and that we need to be prepared for a life with a child in a wheelchair. 

We would like to ask you to join us in funding the cost of a customized wheelchair, vehicle, and home that will allow Clarabelle to continue to bloom as she has so far. You donations will also further support the testimony God has given us to His goodness and love for all His children no matter what form they are born into this world.  

If it’s on your heart to bless us so we could bless Clarabelle, please accept a BIG BIG thank you!  You’re enabling us to give her what any parent would want to give their child: support to be all that they can be!

Thank you!!  May God bless you in every way!!