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ABBY'S STORY by Jill Fisher, Abby's Mom
Abigail was diagnosed with Dandy Walker Malformation along with other brain abnormalities at twenty weeks gestational. Josh nor I had ever heard of Dandy Walker and had no idea what to expect as a quality of life for Abigail. The doctors did not seem to know how she would be and really the only feedback we got was Abigail will be Abigail. Although the diagnoses was overwhelming, that has proven to be true. Abigail is a one of kind. Abigail was born at 27 weeks and 5 days gestation and stayed in the NICU for 110 days. Shortly after coming home, Abigail started first steps and weekly therapies. She started with OT and over time has added in PT and speech. Abigail was about a year and three months when she finally started to sit up on her own. It was an exciting time and proof that she could concur anything. She started walking in a gait trainer with lots of support to now walking in a gait trainer with less support and being able to navigate school and our home. It’s exciting to see her move from room to room on her own following her siblings around the house, knowing before she would just stay in whatever room we had put her in and in most cases the same spot. Abigail can maneuver her wheelchair with such skill and impresses everyone around her. She likes to go really fast in her chair and turn or slow down at the last second. Abigail started speech in the fall of 2018 and has since gained so many words and phrases. Some of her favorite things to say are: I love you. Pick me up. Snack! Shoes on. Daddy, pizza ready? (she refers to dinner most nights as pizza) Stop, Momma! – I think I might embarrass her a little. At 2 years old the neurologist stated that Abigail was doing more than they ever would have expected by looking at the scans of her brain. This would have never been obtainable without the love and support from the special learning center staff and therapist who have become a part of our family. Abigail has a huge personality. She is sweet, sassy and funny. She likes to give others a hard time by only doing certain task for certain people. Or refusing to say people’s names. Abby loves to dance, sing, laugh, play with her siblings and spend time with her family. Her favorite song and book is wheels on the bus and if you’re lucky you will hear her quietly singing the song to herself. Abby loves to have her picture taken. Always saying cheese for the camera and even requesting her picture to be taken. Abby is an extremely happy girl who is going to move mountains |
