Michael was born with an unexpected, inoperable brain stem tumor and has numerous associated challenges including hydrocephalus, facial paralysis, and global developmental delays.  He is unable to smile due to his facial palsy, but is a playful, silly boy who lives to make his big brother laugh and loves to lavish sloppy, wet kisses on him, too.


This fall Michael will enter four-year-old kindergarten, so with the hope of potty-training we have started construction on a new, accessible bathroom right next to his bedroom.  We previously had a single bathroom in our home which was not accessible to Michael due to a number of safety concerns.  His new bathroom space will be fitted with grab bars near the toilet and in the shower, and it is steps away from his bed; an important feature to keep Michael safe and to increase his chances of potty-training success.
Michael has reached other milestones with the help of a talented team of therapists, teachers, and aides.  He began walking last year when he was 3, and he continues weekly physical and speech therapies in Middleton in addition to being seen by physical, occupational, and speech therapists at school. 
However, managing Michael's care remains a full-time job.  As a consequence, our family's finances are strained by the challenges having one income.  Changes to our health care and the loss of BadgerCare in 2013 have greatly compounded these challenges.  

This spring we lost a pregnancy at 20 weeks, shortly after we signed the contract for Michael's bathroom work.  The associated medical costs have been monumental; more than labor and delivery. 
It's profoundly humbling to have to appeal to others' sense of charity on behalf of your child, but the privilege of parenting Michael comes along with challenge of providing for his special needs.