About Riley . . .

Riley was born February 21^st, 2008 and from the beginning she has been a very medically complex child. After a normal pregnancy it came as a total shock that Riley was born with extreme complications and had to be resuscitated in the delivery room. After two years of extensive testing Riley remains a mystery and is still undiagnosed. Due to severe hypotonia (weak muscle tone) Riley is unable to protect her airway on her own. She has a trachostomy tube and requires 24 hour monitoring by a trained adult or nurse to provide air way clearance and respiratory support. She is on ventilator at night for extra respiratory assistance and receives all of her nutrition through a feeding pump into her small intestine. When she was two months old her doctors said that she would maybe live another 8 months or so and that her condition would continue to worsen, well she is two now and has continually proven the doctors wrong by making absolutely incredible progress. While initially she was so weak that she could barely wiggle a few fingers, she can now roll over, hold her head up, and she is very close to being able to sit up unassisted. Although she is unable to speak she is very bright and knows several signs and gestures (she always lets us know what she wants!). She is a precious little girl and tolerates a full schedule of therapies, rigorous respiratory treatments, frequent medical procedures, and a parade of doctors & specialist with a wonderful disposition and sweet attitude.  She loves books, tea parties & costume jewelry, and most of all playing with her big brother, Ayden. She is a miracle everyday and a huge blessing to our family!