Gabriell arrived with very little effort, much to Mom’s delight on May 30th, 2001. A sister for Leigha, 3 years, and second daughter for Peter and Leslie. Gabriell was perfect in every way and we were the most delighted family.
It wasn’t until Gabriell was about 5 weeks old that I started noticing “gentle head rocks” during nursing and only at night. Having never really seen a seizure of any kind before except a grand mal, I didn’t know what they were. And so it began…
Our diagnosis of Aicardi Syndrome was a very long and slow process (Gabriell was 5 months old), each week bringing something new and devastating… our world was crumbling around us… or so we thought.
We quickly realized how blessed we really were. Gabriell was a very happy, healthy, easy-going baby that loved to be held and cuddled. Right up until the day she died Gabriell remained the most loving child who continued to reach each milestone.
We are so blessed.
MEDICAL CONDITION / SEIZURES / MEDS
Gabriell was extremely healthy. Her seizures were relatively mild. At the time of her death Gabriell was seizure free thanks to ACTH which we were weaning. We only had 2-3 weeks left. Gabriell was breastfed and then weaned to a bottle at 6 months. She loved all her cereal and solids. Had no trouble eating. It all looked so positive…
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
My Favorite Things…
My most favorite thing of all was to be held and sung to. Sometimes I could keep Mommy or my Dander (Grandmother) up all night because I didn’t want to sleep unless I was being held. Music was my next favourite thing – we listened to all types all the time! Being with my big sister was a fav too.
My Least Favourite Thing…
I did not like getting OUT of the bath. The cool temps on my skin were not very pleasing 🙁 But I loved being IN the tub!!
Therapies I Received…
I was doing PT, learning to roll over, sit up, hold my head up longer, grasp and hold toys
A Typical Day for Me…
I usually woke up at 7:30am and had my bath. Mom would get me dressed, feed me breakfast and then take my big sis to preschool. Mom and I would do errands and then I would have a morning nap, usually in my pram outside. Lunch at noon and then PT before I went down for my afternoon nap. More PT when I woke up and then dinner with my big sister Leigha. Daddy would be home around 6pm – just in time for some quality playtime and then it was off to bed at 7pm. I usually slept through the night. 🙂
1 thought on “Gabriell Henderson”
Your daughter sounds as though she was very special and beautiful… Everything you’ve said reminds me so much of my daughter who was diagnosed a month ago x