Breakthrough 17 Years In The Making

 

I’m going to come out of the gate this year with our biggest accomplishment.  That way, if I drop the ball the rest of the month, you’ll have heard the best we’ve got.  😊

Last night, we went to Burtons and Coleman ate a meal from the menu. 

That’s it, folks.  Mic drop. 

17 years in the making:  6 years with a feeding tube, and 11 years since it was removed.   17 long years of eating the exact same thing everyday.  17 long years of feeding work:  trying and failing, starting and stopping, winning and losing.  And in one miraculous year, everything changed. 

The change was fairly sudden.  He literally went from tolerating taking bites of food that he was offered (and not enjoying it, i.e. the cookie videos from last year) to devouring an entire portion of something that was offered to him at school.  We followed up at home with the same foods he tried at school and he did the same thing for us - ate it all without prompting.   Then one night, Billy and I were eating pizza.  (Hard to believe, I know.)  Coleman had already had his dinner, and came over and stood, staring at us and the pizza.  Billy and I looked at each other surprised, and I mouthed “Do you think he wants some?!”  Billy nodded, so I took a slice and said to Coleman “It's pizza. Do you want to try some?” We were stunned when he said yes, and even more stunned when he took the slice and gobbled the entire thing up in moments.  It’s been game on since then, and between school, his home team, and us, Coleman has been offered all kinds of new options.  It's been an absolute thrill to watch him learning to eat again and to find joy in so many new foods.  Bagels with cream cheese (that texture!!!! ), hamburgers, grilled cheese with sliced baby tomatoes, chicken Caesar salad wraps (with the dressing!), chicken tenders and tater tots (feels like such a teenager meal!).  It's been a really fantastic breakthrough.  Although, he still won't eat the warm chocolate chip cookie, so I'm pretty sure he's not my kid.

It's hard to put into perspective the enormity of this change.   It’s just so immense.  My sister stopped by one afternoon and as she walked in, stopped dead in her tracks. “Oh my God, is Coleman eating a bagel?!”  If you know Coleman, you know.  And while Coleman can’t verbalize for us how he feels, I can just imagine his relief, and how good it must be to taste something new.  We are so, so proud of him and excited to have so many new options for lunch, dinner and snacks.  Breakfast, unfortunately, is a no go.  He refuses to change up the morning routine.  He’s still all about the yo.  Again, if you know Coleman, you know.  😊