Ruby Boyer
(wearing "the dress")

November 15, 2005

It is so hard to keep current with the Ruby website. I will say however, that she is doing well now. She turned 8 months old November 10th. She is eating and growing very well. We are continuing physical therapy and occupational therapy 4 days per week. We are working on teaching Ruby to crawl. She is learning to sit as well. Ruby was having seizures, and we got them diagnosed and treated within 7 days. I am so happy with the University of Michigan. Her doctors, Dr. Leber, & Dr. Hoban, are incredible. They respond so quickly and just move forward, and follow up. She went for her 3rd EEG and was diagnosed as having Infantile Spasm Seizures. Her doctors put her on daily injections of ACTH, a hormone, and an antibiotic, and reflux medication. I give her the injections in her leg each day. She spent 10 days on .5 ml, after a follow visit we are starting to wean her off the medicine. She is not showing any signs of seizures now. She has responded very well to the treatment, thank you God. We are also patching her eye, alternating patching daily for 2 hours. She has that lazy eye due to her CP. We are so hopeful with Ruby. She is doing wonderful! I am sure we will have many little hurdles to jump, but with a positive foot forward, we are prepared to help Ruby through each obstacle we encounter.

August 9, 2005

With a heavy heart I will share with you the diagnosis of my daughter, Ruby. There is so much we will be learning and discovering. Already we have been on an emotional journey and I am hopeful that the worst of this ride is over. It has been confirmed that Ruby has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. She suffered trauma to her brain while inside my womb. Whether or not this trauma occurred during the second trimester, or during delivery is still undetermined. ( I suspect it happened the last few weeks of my pregnancy ) but who am I to assume. I always believe that nature takes it course and that our fate is determined the moment that we are conceived. In believing this way, I have always chosen to lead my life in a positive way. Enjoying the things that I have, and passing the same attitude on to my children. I try not to obsess about things, but rather let life take its turns. I do believe that Ruby has come to me through God. I don’t know how many of you know this story, but I will tell it now.

I was in Tennessee at my Uncle Mike & Aunt Brenda’s house in June. She and I decided we would crochet. We went to Wal-Mart and bought yarn and hooks. She was determined to make some booties, and I didn’t have a clue what to make. So I made a chain. The chain, I closed and it was a circle, which seemed to look like a skirt which eventually became a dress. I did not have a pattern, I did not have a clue what my next direction would be. It was finished, I then made the booties, a hat and a sweater. I was obsessed. It was adorable! Everyone kept asking, “What are you going to do with it?” I would say, I don’t know. Well upon finishing it, maybe a day or 2 later, I found out that I was pregnant. As my mom said, the spirit was guiding your hands, you are having a girl.

Everything about Ruby is spiritual. So many of you saw her at her baptism. We do not know what to expect for her future, but I will use this website to update all who are interested. Please keep us in your prayers and positive thoughts.

Ruby in Her Flower Costume for Halloween

Ruby's at the Pumpkin Patch

Ruby's Friend Candy Doll

Ruby at Motts Childrens Hospital
Ruby was in great spirits while at the hospital. We spent three days there for seizure observation.

Ruby Wearing Her Eyepatch
Ruby has a disorder called Strabismus. We are patching alternating eyes. Hopefully this will correct it, if not, there is surgery.

Ruby at Physical Therapy
Hamstring streches.

Ruby with Great Nana .

Ruby's Hearing Test
This photo was Ruby getting a hearing test. The test turned out great, her hearing (neurologically speaking) is great.

Just another photo of Ruby with her new brace

Ruby's Hand Brace
This photo is Ruby's new thumb brace. She will also have one for her right hand. This brace is to keep her thumb extended out, as she has a tendancy to clench her fists and stick her thumb through her index and middle finger.

EEG at U of M
Since that first EEG was inconclusive, we demanded another, this time at U of M. She met with the neurologist there who gave us a very grim outlook on Ruby. We don't believe him though! This EEG showed us that Ruby is not experiencing seizures but rather "seizure-like" activity.

Ruby at Therapy
As soon as we knew Ruby was having trouble - she started physical therapy for Torticollis. The PT we are using has training with CP and babies. It is going very well. She also works her hyper tone left arm.

Ruby's First EEG
This is Ruby when she got her first EEG. We needed to have this test to see if she was having seizures or not. This test was inconclusive - they said we should watch her another couple months.

The space below is for asking questions and posting comments.

email me privately
lisa@freshhotshirts.com