The spinal tap revealed that Cale's injury was an old one. One doctor later explained it by saying that he had experienced a stroke "long before you knew him". He told me that it was the best time to have a stroke if you had to have one - if he had it any later in life - he would probably have died instantly. The doctor explained that his condition wasn't continuing to worsen except that we needed to control the seizures. He was put on steroid shots that were meant to coat the brain and stop or control the seizures. We had to learn to adminster the shots before we could take him home. He cried at first when we gave him a shot but soon he just grinned and laughed about it. We went home to begin living the rest of our lives. We explained to Miranda and Brandy that Cale was having seizures and he would be getting shots daily. We had a "papoose"
board to strap him down so that we could give him a shot. We strapped his head, arms and legs down while he smiled and gurgled and then we gave him the injection. It was a pitiful sight. My sweet mom would come by every morning on her way to work to help me and she cried each time. It was nearly Christmas and she would bring him one of his Christmas gifts each day to
"make him feel better".

The steroids made him gain up to 30 pounds. He was bloated and grew dark hair everywhere. He grew chest hair and hair down his back. He panted when he breathed. I couldn't find any clothes to fit him. My mom and my cousin Ann made him custom made gowns and overalls. Ann even cross-stiched his name on the overalls. I thought he looked like a minature Elvis (older Elvis - not younger). For the most part he was a jolly soul. We had been told that while he was on the mega doses of steroids that we needed to keep him home and away from other people because his immune system would be low. I opted to take him to Sunday worship service because I needed to be in church with him and trusted God to take care of him there. For four months, my mom and dad would pick up the girls for Bible class and I would bring Cale at the worship service. We came in late and left before everyone else was dismissed. In all that time, during the Winter flu months, he never even got a cold. We did therapy with him and tried to stimulate his brain. The seizures continued - they never let up, never got better. I remember praying to God that He would just let him grow up to know how much I loved him. That he would understand that if nothing else. I had seen one of my husband's friend's little girl who was severly disabled. She didn't seem to even know her mom and dad were there. I couldn't imagine how to live through that. I knew he would smile at me but I was afraid that as time went on he wouldn't be able to communicate like that. The doctors just said "we can't predict the future - we'll just have to wait and see".

It is the craziest thing but I remember being devastated that Danny wouldn't get the boy that he wanted to play football. From the time we found out that we were having a boy, Danny would talk about how he would one day watch his boy play High school football and he would be really good. Danny hadn't been allowed to play football in high school so he was excited to live it through his son. Danny is a wonderful man and he assured me that it didn't matter to him anymore, but I felt that he was going to miss out on this. In all the years to come Danny would say, "Cale is everything a son could be. I am so proud of that boy." I truly believe that who Cale is - is exactly the son Danny wanted and needed. He didn't miss out at all. He, like me was blessed.