The Backstory As Told By Caelum’s Mother:
At my most vulnerable, my mind wanders and I am transported back to a dark day. Our family tradition of an early New Years Eve dinner, cut to the core by a familiar silent killer. Our youngest, just 17 months old, who loved all things exciting, challenging, and new, slipped away for only a few minutes beyond a locked gate. I feel the pit in my stomach as I scream for our sweet Caelum –who was face down in the pool. Daddy pulled him out, praying. The world went still as I performed CPR and our other children frantically called 911. Gratefully, seventy-five minutes, three paramedics, countless doctors and nurses later, Caelum was back.
Caelum was alive - but his prognosis, according to the scientific community, was devastating. Multiple doctors, four pediatric neurologists, three physiatrists, and numerous pediatricians, declared that he would be a “twisted pretzel” and a “vegetable for the rest of his life”. Their words seared our hearts as we were told to “leave him in an institution” and to “go home and raise our other children”. Blind, immobile, and insensate, we brought our sweet baby home.
Devastated, we began the arduous task of at home therapies. Along the way, and somewhat serendipitously, we were put on the path to The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential (https://www.iahp.org) and Caelum’s miraculous and remarkable journey began! With their help, Caelum has defied all the odds at every turn. In the last decade, he has proved multiple medical doctors and experts completely wrong. He can see, feel, and hear our love and praise. He is able to work with a tutor and is learning to write, otherwise communicating with Mommy via keyboard. He can “Caelum Creep” (on hands and knees) across the floor. Every task second nature to you or I is a grueling commitment for him, and yet he greets each day with gratitude and renewed vigorous spirit to realize his dream of becoming 100% functionally independent.
Unfortunately, though not surprisingly, no medical insurance cares to pay for these astounding results. We want to give Caelum every opportunity to realize his dreams: to walk, to talk clearly, to obtain autonomy; ultimately, to accomplish these goals in order to encourage and aid others who are given the “no hope” prognosis. We need your help to realize these dreams and help Caelum fulfill his potential to be the living testimony to everyone, that when man says “no”, God says “YES!”
Family Interviews:
http://www.laverneonline.com/2009/07/18/our-weekend-story-la-verne-has-a-genius-in-our-midst-and-to-think-we-almost-lost-him/
https://www.iahp.org/near-drowning-coma/
What The Funds Are For:
In order to help Caelum live his dream, we need to build a fully-adapted accessible space where he can grow and thrive in a safe environment. Our small home is currently non-functional for Caelum’s disability and doesn’t allow him to use a walker or complete other necessary therapies. Caelum is fighting his own body every single day in hopes of walking and talking; this space will help him succeed and create more independence for our now thirteen-year-old!
We will reconstruct our small home to make a completely handicap space for Caelum that will help accommodate his growing needs. The new space will include a bathroom, therapy space for all equipment, dedicated school space, and widen doorways for easy access. Because Caelum has an immune-deficiency disorder and cannot attend school due to the dangers of exposure, this space will finally feel like somewhere he can belong without limitations. The space will also be utilized for all of Caelum’s physical and occupational therapy.
The money will cover architect and design fees as well as construction costs, to implement the space into the current layout of our house. We also need to buy Caelum a gait trainer, which is a sophisticated walker designed to help him learn how to walk. Once the space is built, we plan on getting Caelum a special needs bicycle so he can finally ride his bike outside like a normal kid.
How You Can Help:
Most of us are lucky enough to be able to walk, talk, eat, and learn on our own, but Caelum is constantly battling his own body in order to do simple tasks. This fundraiser will help Caelum reach his full potential and hopefully inspire other families in similar situations to NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!
We are calling on our friends, loved ones, and strangers with an open heart and mind to join Caelum’s Cause! We need your help to make Caelum’s dream a reality. By donating, you will become an integral part of Caelum’s journey and help make the ‘impossible’, POSSIBLE!
We cannot thank you enough for your help and appreciate anything you have to offer, even a Facebook share would help move Caelum’s Cause along!
Love and light,
The Miller Family
What’s Next:
Caelum will soon be launching a blog sharing his journey through his own eyes accompanied by an Instagram account ran by the family. We will update the fundraiser with the details once they are ready to go! #Caelumscause
Caelum In Action:
At my most vulnerable, my mind wanders and I am transported back to a dark day. Our family tradition of an early New Years Eve dinner, cut to the core by a familiar silent killer. Our youngest, just 17 months old, who loved all things exciting, challenging, and new, slipped away for only a few minutes beyond a locked gate. I feel the pit in my stomach as I scream for our sweet Caelum –who was face down in the pool. Daddy pulled him out, praying. The world went still as I performed CPR and our other children frantically called 911. Gratefully, seventy-five minutes, three paramedics, countless doctors and nurses later, Caelum was back.
Caelum was alive - but his prognosis, according to the scientific community, was devastating. Multiple doctors, four pediatric neurologists, three physiatrists, and numerous pediatricians, declared that he would be a “twisted pretzel” and a “vegetable for the rest of his life”. Their words seared our hearts as we were told to “leave him in an institution” and to “go home and raise our other children”. Blind, immobile, and insensate, we brought our sweet baby home.
Devastated, we began the arduous task of at home therapies. Along the way, and somewhat serendipitously, we were put on the path to The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential (https://www.iahp.org) and Caelum’s miraculous and remarkable journey began! With their help, Caelum has defied all the odds at every turn. In the last decade, he has proved multiple medical doctors and experts completely wrong. He can see, feel, and hear our love and praise. He is able to work with a tutor and is learning to write, otherwise communicating with Mommy via keyboard. He can “Caelum Creep” (on hands and knees) across the floor. Every task second nature to you or I is a grueling commitment for him, and yet he greets each day with gratitude and renewed vigorous spirit to realize his dream of becoming 100% functionally independent.
Unfortunately, though not surprisingly, no medical insurance cares to pay for these astounding results. We want to give Caelum every opportunity to realize his dreams: to walk, to talk clearly, to obtain autonomy; ultimately, to accomplish these goals in order to encourage and aid others who are given the “no hope” prognosis. We need your help to realize these dreams and help Caelum fulfill his potential to be the living testimony to everyone, that when man says “no”, God says “YES!”
Family Interviews:
http://www.laverneonline.com/2009/07/18/our-weekend-story-la-verne-has-a-genius-in-our-midst-and-to-think-we-almost-lost-him/
https://www.iahp.org/near-drowning-coma/
What The Funds Are For:
In order to help Caelum live his dream, we need to build a fully-adapted accessible space where he can grow and thrive in a safe environment. Our small home is currently non-functional for Caelum’s disability and doesn’t allow him to use a walker or complete other necessary therapies. Caelum is fighting his own body every single day in hopes of walking and talking; this space will help him succeed and create more independence for our now thirteen-year-old!
We will reconstruct our small home to make a completely handicap space for Caelum that will help accommodate his growing needs. The new space will include a bathroom, therapy space for all equipment, dedicated school space, and widen doorways for easy access. Because Caelum has an immune-deficiency disorder and cannot attend school due to the dangers of exposure, this space will finally feel like somewhere he can belong without limitations. The space will also be utilized for all of Caelum’s physical and occupational therapy.
The money will cover architect and design fees as well as construction costs, to implement the space into the current layout of our house. We also need to buy Caelum a gait trainer, which is a sophisticated walker designed to help him learn how to walk. Once the space is built, we plan on getting Caelum a special needs bicycle so he can finally ride his bike outside like a normal kid.
How You Can Help:
Most of us are lucky enough to be able to walk, talk, eat, and learn on our own, but Caelum is constantly battling his own body in order to do simple tasks. This fundraiser will help Caelum reach his full potential and hopefully inspire other families in similar situations to NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!
We are calling on our friends, loved ones, and strangers with an open heart and mind to join Caelum’s Cause! We need your help to make Caelum’s dream a reality. By donating, you will become an integral part of Caelum’s journey and help make the ‘impossible’, POSSIBLE!
We cannot thank you enough for your help and appreciate anything you have to offer, even a Facebook share would help move Caelum’s Cause along!
Love and light,
The Miller Family
What’s Next:
Caelum will soon be launching a blog sharing his journey through his own eyes accompanied by an Instagram account ran by the family. We will update the fundraiser with the details once they are ready to go! #Caelumscause
Caelum In Action:
Co-organizers3
Devyn Miller
Organizer
La Verne, CA
Annemarie Miller
Co-organizer
Kati Zaylor
Co-organizer