Our Pal - Tarrick-James M

Story written 2007

T.J was born 12 weeks early and was very sick. He spent a long time in hospital but got better in the end and came home. He had suffered from a bleed in his brain so we were warned he maybe disabled.

T.J was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at 9 months old; he was a late developer and didn’t walk until he was 4. He finds lying on the floor pushing his toy cars and lorries really easy though.

T.J has splints and built up shoes and although he can walk he spends most of the time falling over. T.J suffers with tightening of his hands and legs and is sometimes in pain. He loves to play with magnetix though, as he can push them together really easily.

T.J has a beautiful smile and is a very loving boy and always has a good word to say about everyone. He is a pleasure to have.

Update 6th June 2009

Teej has been really good and he is walking without any sticks for the time being. He is just so brave and gets on with it without moaning on.

He has had talks with the high school and he is very concerned about going and he has said so. I think he really wants to stay at primary school forever and never grow up. It must be really scary for him.

Teej is getting better in himself and he tried last night to get in the bath by himself. He is growing so fast and really wants to try these things out.

He is very pleased at the letters, postcards and gifts that he has been sent and wants to say a huge thank you, as when he is feeling down there is always something to cheer him up. Special thanks to Percy for his letters and the Lego and a big thank you to Lorraine for the Wii game as we are having lots of fun with this.

Update 30th April 2009

Teej got his new trainers and they are perfect. He is actually really tall which surprised me, but he is still struggling to walk. We were told yesterday that he will need to use walking sticks for a long time to come as he is swinging his legs instead of bending his knees and putting strain on his back. He is always saying his back hurts and I thought it was because he does too much. He is so disappointed at having to use sticks; he just wants to be like everyone else.

We also have to look in to his schooling as he is due to start big school in September and if he has to use sticks he will not be able to go in to main stream, so maybe he will be best starting in a special school rather than moving him once he is settled. We will have to do what is easiest for him and we are going to wait and see how he copes with his sticks first.

I haven’t updated the blog for a while as my PC was poorly and went in for repair and I lost everything, but I now have a memory stick just in case.

Teej has had some letters from Percy the poodle and he loves reading about his adventures, he should have his own book. A lovely lady called Sue sent him lots of postcards and a lucky piskie which he has under his pillow (and both the girls one too) so thank you for taking the time to write to him, it really means a lot to him that people take the time to write. Thank you everyone.

Update 10th March 2009

Teej has been having such a hard time struggling to learn to walk again. I never thought that he would do it. At first he had to just practise standing up and seeing him cry with pain broke my heart. He then went on to a child’s zimmer frame and again struggled with this. Over the last week he has got a walking stick though and he is doing brilliantly with it.

He has just had his pots off and his legs are still sore, his muscles are really weak and skinny, but he is determined he will be running by September when he starts big school.

His feet and legs are in the perfect position and he has got a new pair of fantastic splints that are so well made and support his legs brilliantly. This is the first time since he was born that i have seen his legs and feet in the perfect position.

He is waiting for his trainers to come back with a raise on as it is really obvious now that one leg is longer than the other as he isn’t growing properly, but hopefully with this shoe raise you won’t be able to notice.

He has been so bored just sat doing nothing and has been really crabby, but now he can take steps he is a much happier little boy. He can also go to the toilet alone now which makes him so much happier. He isn’t in as much pain and looks so tall stood up straight. He sees the specialist at the end of the month for a check up and fingers crossed everything will be ok.

He received a quilt today and it is so sweet and lots of hard work has gone in to it. He decided he needed to go and lay down straight away to try it out, bless him. He sends a huge thank you for his quilt, it is stunning. Thank you to all the stitchers out there who took the time to make this fantastic quilt.

I also wanted to say a special thank you to Vikki for sending us parents smiles too, they were delicious and really unexpected.

Update 6th January 2009

Teej had his legs operated on just before Christmas (21st December) and he came home the same day. He has been in a small amount of pain and he cannot put his feet down at all, so it has been very hard and frustrating for him. He hasn’t been able to play with any of his toys properly and this is getting to him a bit.

He has spent most of his days sat in his chair watching DVD’s or reading. He is getting very bored and annoyed with this. He has big heavy pots on and to cheer him up I am letting people write on them.

I do feel a bit sorry for him as he is used to being able to move around when he wants to. Toileting is a total nightmare for him, but I am trying to stay positive and think when this is over he will be able to walk properly. He is just so lonely – he went to school this morning and we are hoping that he lasts the day, he will be around all his friends and he won’t get bored and the school is wheelchair friendly so he can be moved around safely.

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all the Post Pals (and a big lick for Percy) that have sent him cards, letters and gifts. He had the best Christmas ever and the amount of things he received took his mind off not being able to move.

Update 18th December 2008

Sammie’s operation has been cancelled as they had messed up big time. They are now both going in on 22nd December and fingers crossed they will both be home for Christmas.

Sammie will hopefully just stay one night if everything goes ok, but TJ is down for a few days depending on his amount of pain. Sammie is having her toe straightened and her bone shaved and TJ is having both his legs straightened and his tendons released (non weight bearing for a full 6 weeks).

So it looks like it’s going to be fun and games for us all again this Christmas.

Update 1st December 2008

T.J is just waiting for his operation date which should be before Christmas. He is going to have both of his legs straightened so he may be off his feet for a long time. He is a bit nervous about this as he doesn’t like anesthetic but is excited on the other hand as he will be able to run!

He needs to have it done this year as he starts his Sat’s at the beginning of next year and needs to be ok for those.

He is doing really well at school and is making really good progress. He has spent the afternoon at big school and enjoyed it, although they don’t have a lift and there was a lot of stairs that tired him out. He said he cannot wait to be big, but will be sad though as he likes primary school. We decided he would do a few afternoons at big school with him being so nervous about going and we are trying to squash his fear.

The problem with his arm has been found out. At some point he has fractured his elbow and it has set itself wrong and cannot be repaired without a lot of pain. We had a good think about this and think it must have happened at the beginning of the year when he had his operation and the pain killers have masked the pain, but we cannot really pinpoint it as he falls over all the time and never really shows the pain.

He is so excited about Christmas and cannot wait to see what Father Christmas brings him. We put the tree up yesterday and I always save the last bauble for him to do. He sat waiting really patiently for about 3 hours to do it. We wanted to do it early in case he goes to hospital early.

Update 1st November 2008

T.J. had some bad news earlier in the month – he has to have an operation on both feet. We cancelled it so he wasn’t off his feet for his birthday and now we are just waiting for a new date. He didn’t realise that he would have to have both feet and legs done at the same time, so he will be off his feet for a long time, and we are not looking forward to it at all. He is very nervous about it but I have told him once it is done it is done. We have had a stair lift fitted just for him so he will still be able to get around the house.

T.J. has just celebrated his 11th birthday and he got so much post and I still have to pick things up from the post office. His birthday and all the mail that he received has made him a very happy little, or should I now say big, boy. He had letters, cards and gifts and was so surprised by them. Thank you to you all for making him a very happy boy and taking his mind off what it going to happen.

I have started a blog for the children. This way each time they get a letter, I can put it up so that you can all see just how happy they are, and there is a thank you to each person on there too. The link is listed above with T.J.’s details.

Update 10th September 2008

T.J has started the new term in his last year and he is very sad about it as he doesn’t want to leave primary school. He has been there for 8 years and he knows everybody. He is very anxious about high school, I have told him to enjoy his last year and not worry yet. He is also sad that the school term finishes just before Halloween and he will miss out on a Halloween disco for his birthday, but he doesn’t want a party!

Thank you to Becky for the very unusual postcard and thank you to Hayley for the frog card, he loved them both.

Update 7th August 2008

T.J. has still got a sore foot and it is hurting him to walk on it, but he has to keep walking on it or it will get stiff. I do feel sorry for him and mean but he needs to keep at it.

This last month has been a funny sort of month and with one thing and another it seems to have gone by so fast. He has got very tall and that always affects his walking and balance. We went on a walk with the dogs and he spent more time on his bum than on his feet, but he enjoyed it and with the sun he is looking a very healthy brown colour.

T.J. would like to say a big thank you to everyone for talking the time to write to him, he so enjoys getting post and it always makes him smile and feel important.

Update 1st July 2008

T.J. has been to see the specialist who is ordering tests for his tremors. He is concerned that they are affecting him now and he doesn’t know why he has got them. His arm is slightly tight and he cannot straighten it from the elbow – we are hoping it is just muscle but we will have to wait and see.

T.J. is on the waiting list the see the person who deals with the gene problem. He said he doesn’t mind x-rays or blood tests but he wants it in the holidays as this year he has not missed one day from school. It is the first time in 7 years he has completed a full year and this is because the school installed a lift and he is no longer tired.

T.J. had sports day last week, the school works in teams so no one is under any pressure and then at the end they do a race for fun. Well, T.J. did the race and although he came last he did it alone and all the parents, carer’s, teachers and children were clapping and shouting his name. He finished the race and was so pleased with himself and proud he had done it alone.

He has a very sore ear that is black and swollen. During a P.E lesson he accidentally got smacked across the head with a cricket bat. I spoke to him on the phone and he said he would rather stay at school then come home. Lee went to see him and said it’s very swollen, but he wanted to stay. I am so proud of him.

He is growing up very fast and getting very tall and doing very well at everything.

T.J. received a watch from Karen and he was very fast at learning to tell the time, so now he tells me it’s time for tea or time for a bath and he knows when it is his bedtime. I am very proud he has done this. He loves his watch, he wears it every day and it fit perfectly, so thank you.

Thank you for all his cards too, especially the one from Karen with Eddie that has pride of place. Thanks to Post Pals for the little box of goodies. Every time he gets mail he is so excited, thank you once again and big hugs to all the Post Pals.

Update 15th April 2008

T.J. has had a fantastic couple of months and is really growing up fast. He had his pot removed and his leg is almost straight now. He stepped wrong when coming out of hospital and sprained his ankle, but he is ok, he just cannot run as fast.

He has had so many cards and letters and he even got a koala postcard all the way from Australia which he loved and took to school so he could show everybody that it had traveled all the way just to see him.

He is learning to tell the time, he is very bad at it though and we are looking to get him a small watch that teaches you the time, but his arms are so small he may have to wait while he has grown a bit. He has finally parted with all his playmobil toys and is really in to Lego. This was something he couldn’t do before due to the tremor in his hands, but he has got so patient over the last few months, he will work really hard to create his master pieces.

He has grown quite big and just needs to grow another inch or two so he can get rid of his booster seat in the car – he said it makes him feel like a little boy and he is a big boy now!

I wanted to thank you all for the letters, postcards and gifts he has received over the last couple of months. His favorite is his Dr Who penny that is on his display shelf taking the best spot, so thank you Helen for that.

Update 30th January 2008

T.J has decided he loves Lego and has saved up his pocket money and bought a petrol station.

He has had a really good month and has been moved up to the top group in his spellings, which I am really pleased about. He had a weekend at his auntie’s house and I missed him like crazy but he loved every minute of it.

Update 3rd January 2008

TJ started the month sad because he lost his Nanna, but with the excitement up to Christmas he soon got over it. He has had the best Christmas ever and was showered with gifts and cards and a boomerang!! He said he didn’t want to throw it in case it went all the way back to Australia as he said they return when you throw them, bless him!

He still has gifts that he has not taken out of the box as he got so many things. He has asked me if when people send him things could they put their address on so he can make them a thank you card, as he was very grateful for what he got.

He has met his aunty for the first time and is really enjoying being part of a family now and he told me today he is the happiest he has been in his whole life!

I wanted to thank each person that sent TJ Christmas gifts, there is so many to mention here, but he got 19 presents and was overwhelmed by the kindness of all the people who sent them to him! He also had a string of cards all to himself, how nice it is to know there are caring people out there! Thank you to Wendy, Andrew, George and Anna, who have sent them from Australia.

As his mum, i have been overwhelmed buy the kindness and generosity of people we do not even know. TJ has really enjoyed the last year of receiving letters and gifts from people. Thank you to everyone.

Update 2nd December 2007

It has been a very sad month for TJ as his Nanna has just died.

I owe someone an apology as they sent TJ a parcel, but I didn’t get around to picking it up and it was returned, so who ever sent him it I am very sorry about that.

He enjoyed his birthday and enjoyed the disco at school and he even managed to stay until the very end!

Thank you to Wendy who has been emailing – I have had problems with my email but they came through ok.

Update 30th October 2007

T.J. has not had a good month this month. He has had a month full of sickness and spent most of it in his bed, bless him. He has just gone back to school but was ill again yesterday, although he managed to stay the full day so I was very proud of him… The lift is in and fitted but the outside needs a little more work before he can use it. It cannot come soon enough for him. We have given up on PE lessons as they just drain his energy and hopefully when he is fully recovered he can start again.

Thank you everyone who sends T.J. post, it has really changed his life getting letters and cards from people he doesn’t know and some from far away. It has restored my faith in people.

Update 10th October 2007

T.J has had a sad month. He has had to cut his school week down to 4 days – he just cannot manage the full 5 days as he is so tired, but hopefully after the holidays the lift will be installed at his school, which should take some of the pressure off him.

T.J. has been getting postcards from around the world. He is saving them all and putting a small coloured sticker on them and putting the sticker on the globe. It’s helping him to learn about the world.

We have a countdown going as it is his birthday soon. The school is having a Halloween party and he thinks it is just for his birthday. We also have a countdown going for Christmas – bless him, he is so excited and can’t wait but only wants one thing for each!

A big thank you from him to Julie this month.

Update 17th August 2007

TJ has decided that he loves postcards and has asked me if he can collect them. He is saving them all and putting them in a flip album, whilst learning about the world…

TJ has had a really good time this month and has been really well and he has grown a little bit too. This has to be a first for him – a good month and a growth spurt!

He has just been for another eye test and his eyes have got a little worse, but he said he doesn’t mind as his new glasses are really cool!

He wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has posted him letters, postcards and gifts. He said he loves being part of post pals. This month he especially loved some cars that were sent to him – he has played with them non stop. Thank you to the person that sent them. He also loved some handmade pictures that were sent to him.

Update 1st July 2007

TJ has just found out who is teacher is going to be for September. He and his carer and are going to be spending some time with them so that the change over is smooth for him. He is very excited about this and can’t wait to start the new school year…

He came home on Friday with 7 certificates for good behaviour. It is so nice to see him getting on at school and how nice they are about having him around…

TJ has just decided that The Simpsons are brilliant and has a massive thing for Dr Who at the moment. He has just had his room decorated in planets and Dr Who themed things.

T.J has had postcards this week form all over the world he is so excited, it’s nice to know that so many people care…

Update 26th June 2007

T.J has just got over a virus that knocked him off his feet for a while. He has also had a growth spurt which knocks all his balance off, so he is very unsteady on his feet.

He got star of the week for helping another child at school and I was really pleased with him. He showed kindness after the other boy was hurt and upset.

He has just had some results which show he is making progress at school. This is the first time he has made real progress so he was really pleased with himself.

He has just bought a new Simpson game for his play station and I never see him now he is always playing it…

He is so happy at the moment; I would like this to last forever…

Update 10th May 2007

T.J is back up on his feet again after a really bad fall that resulted in a bruised bum and back. He gets so frustrated when he cannot do the everyday things others take for granted. He is on a school trip today and was really looking forward to going. He was the only one that got to go in the car, as it was a long walk and he said that made him feel special…

He is due to get some new splints at the end of the month. This means we will have to buy him some more new trainers and he just loves shopping for new things. He is unsure of what pattern to have on his splints and said he wanted something a bit different, that’s just him…

Update 7th April 2007

T.J has had a really bad month this month and has really struggled with keeping on his feet. He has had a growth spurt but I think he has stopped now. He has spent most of the month on his bum, bless him. He has got a cold that has lasted ages, but he is much better now.