~Dana~Carter~Mason~Joshua~Nick~
Thanks for visiting our Family Blog!
We are the Sears Family and my name is Dana. There are five us, Nick “The Daddy”, Josh “J-Dog’ who is five years old, Mason “Spiderman” who is three years old and finally there is Carter “Bug” who is two. And we have another little Man on the way! Together we are one crazy big family, just living the day to day happenings that are our life. Our life is complicated, hard and filled with drama, but really its our life and we strive to make the best of it.
Dana- That’s me! I am a work at home Mom, I design Blogs & Websites to help with out families living expenses and Mason’s high costs! I am now also a practicing Doula! I used to be a skinny cocktail waitress, now I manage three little beautiful boys, a husband, all the medical appointments, day to day living, Autism therapy plans and my business. My life isn’t glamorous, it is nothing I could have expected and I couldn’t be much happier. I have my family that is all that matters at the end of it all.
Nick is currently in school, and he is going in to Welding. Nick is doing very well at school and enjoys being a very hands on Dad! He is my head shaving, rock climbing, sleep needing Hubby. And I could not do what I do without his help. He is the true love of my life, most of the time!
Joshua my first, was born in 2005, he is the Energizer Bunny and very smart. He keeps me on my toes always telling us crazy stories and letting us know everything he learns. He like his younger brothers, loves to be outside, read books and he loves his Hot Wheels. Josh has been diagnosed with a Sleep disorder and asthma. He has been also diagnosed with Impulsive Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Josh is a gifted little boy who loves school, going on the bus and math. Though he challenges me everyday, he is one of the loves of my life.
Mason was born in 2008, he is a Handsome….eat your heart up little boy. Mason likes to be outside and loves to spend time with his extended family. Mason was born with Special Needs or as we call it “Special Powers”, although we did not know that Mason was SN untill he was 11 months. At the age of two and a half the month of November 2010, Mason received two Diagnosis. The First is Smith-Magenis Syndrome, a Genetic anomaly. Mason was also diagnosed with Autism, specifically Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)Mason also suffers from; Severe Developmental Oral Motor Dyspraxia, Digestion issues, Anxiety Disorder, 5 different sleep disorders, “pretend” seizures and Sensory Processing Disorder. Mason has also received a diagnosis of Severe Impulsive Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Mason is G-tube fed, and requires 24/hr care, unfortunately for the first three years of Mason’s life we did not receive government funding. This cost us everything we had and put several tens of thousands in debt. Now that we have the diagnosis we have begun the process of getting funding, but are still trying to get more funding for much needed supplies and therapy. Mason currently has a Behavioural Interventionist for 3 hours 4 days a week and we are hoping to build a strong team around him to help him grow. At the moment Mason’s quality of life is low, but slowly getting better with some serious advocating taking place. The effects that Smith-Magenis Syndrome and Autism have on our family and our other children are highly difficult to deal with, but we are hoping, praying that we can fix this, by learning and teaching everyone how best to deal with Mason. Also that Mason learns how to deal with himself. Day by day we are finding out more things that are not quite working right with Mason, this is both upsetting and good. It is going to be a life long process helping Mason’s live to his fullest, but we try not to put boundaries on what he maybe capable of. We have also learned to be realistic with our goals and dreams for him, just taking it all day by day. I pray that other families like ours find us and feel that there is hope. Our story is like no other, you can read “Mason’s Story” in full here. Please share help us share “Mason’s Almost Completed Riddle”.
Carter was born in 2009, he has an easy going spirit, and is always smiling. Carter was also born with some health issues. When he was born he had been deprived of oxygen and after birth would not wake for feedings. Carter was hospitalized at 3 weeks old with what the Dr’s thought was the first signs of CP or another “Mason”. Carter was diagnosed with a Severe case of “Sandifer’s Syndrome” which is caused by severe GERD GastroEophageal Reflux Disease (Acid Reflux). Carter was put on a very high dose of Reflux meds and is doing alot better. It has been a struggle with feeding, he started on thickened fluids, but in the last few months has grown to love eating. And eating all day, every hour, demanding food be served often. Carter is currently developmentally slightly behind, hopefully will catch up this next year with the help of Infant Development Program and preschool. It was expected that Carter maybe developmentally behind do to his birth issues and having another brother with many needs. Many asked me why I had another and the truth is I didn’t even kind of plan him. It was God’s plan not ours. I struggled while pregnant with Carter as to why? Carter has taught us so much already and Mason learns as Carter learns. When I feel like crying I look at Carter, he is just sitting there smiling at me. Carter was our families gift from God. A little bright spot in all of our days!
The past four years have been an amazing experience. They have been filled with: happiness, heart ache, health issues, lots of money spent, desperation, answers, NO answers, blessings and MORE BLESSINGS. We have really come together as a family this past year, Nick and I have been through the worst and best moments of our lives. I felt I needed to start a journal…a Blog. I need to keep our experiences in writing. I need to see and feel what we are going through. I have learned that support comes in different forms, as long as you are willing to except it.
This is our day-2-day happenings, the journey that is our life.
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Thank you for taking the time to visit our Blog!
The Sears Family
Email: SearsFam@shaw.ca
Twitter: DanaSearsFam
