A note from Hope's mom & dad

Hello All,

We thank you all sincerely for your thoughts and prayers - it has been a long 30 days for the 3 of us, and your support has helped us get through some difficult times.

Today has been one of the rougher days we have faced. Hope's cranial ultrasound this morning indicted that she has areas of PVL - periventicular leukomalacia. These are basically areas of damaged brain tissue and will not be able to heal. The ultimate result of this for Hope is most likely Cerebral Palsy. The doctor claims that he does not feel that this will be severe enough to leave her in a vegetative state, as she continues to exhibit great activity. He also has indicated, however, that it is not likely one of the more mild cases of CP either.

Cerebral Palsy can affect people in two ways - by affecting motor skills and by affecting cognitive skills. While it is possible to have CP manifest in only one way, the doctor believes it likely that Hope will be affected in both areas. This will not be immediately evident in her behaviour - we will most likely not be able to determine the severity until she goes through the developmental process.

While this has been difficult news, we are still thankful for the fact that we still have Hope with us. Had we been given the choice of having Hope (even with significant challenges) or having a normal life without her, we would have picked having Hope without a thought. We have been so blessed to have been entrusted with the parenting of such a precious little girl, and we know all of you will join us in loving and supporting her through her challenges.

Again, thank you all for your continued prayers, thoughts, and support. Our lives are in a stage of profound transition, and knowing we have all of your support gives us great comfort in this time of need.

With Love,

Andrew, Sarah, & Hope