Food for the Journey

Incredible dishes created with loving hands ministering to others are the best! We have been able to enjoy wonderful meals sent our way during our transition. Mealtime for most is a natural occurrence and perhaps a gift that we take too lightly at times, until we are introduced to someone who struggles to eat. Special needs folks from infants to elderly often struggle with this basic skill and the medical community has found many ways to help in adapting to make this possible. Our precious angel struggles to have the strength to wake up to eat. Feeding her will usually take a little more than an hour for completion. The process begins with carrying her limp body to a brightly lit location, changing her diaper and then beginning a full body massage to stir her into wakefulness. However, this technique doesn't pull her out of her slumber and we move to the next step. I pour my pumped milk into a Haverman Feeder and literally feed her while she sleeps. The Haverman Feeder is specially designed for special needs infants, especially for cleft lip and down syndrome cases. The flow of milk starts with compression of the mouth rather than sucking the nipple. Infants with very little to no muscle tone in their mouths are able to simply move their jaw up and down to compress the milk. I usually aid in moving her jaw for her so the milk comes. Using this feeder, she eats incredibly well a full 2.5 oz or more. We are also experiencing some special bonding times the last couple of days....she has been able to nurse successfully and thoroughly during her wakeful times. When she is wide awake, she is able to latch on and we rejoice in that victory! Our prayer is that she will eventually gain the strength needed to wake up to respond more readily to feeding. Yet another reminder of how good life truly is....eat a great meal with your family, thank God for each member and tell them how blessed you are to have them!