Brooke Rhiannon DeMar
Brooke "the bug" DeMar suffered a vascular injury in utero and as a result was born with significant brain damage. She has what is known as hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and an overall atrophy of white matter. These brain structure abnormalities have resulted in a neurologically based visual impairment called Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), a seizure disorder, poor trunk tone, and developmental delays. Despite these hurdles, Brooke is a happy, healthy baby girl. She is beginning to explore and interact with her surroundings. She loves swinging, going for walks, and loud kisses. She makes strides every day and never ceases to amaze us with her ability to surpass the obstacles life has placed before her. To learn more visit Brooke at her caringbridge page at www.caringbridge.org/visit/babybrookie
Ian James Diedrich
Ian or "Baby Dude" as his sister lovingly refers to him, was born with a rare chromosome abnormality. His diagnosis is so rare, the doctors are unable to predict what the future will hold. He will have global developmental delays, but to what extent is unknown. Thus far, his main challenges have been low muscle tone and significant feeding difficulties. As part of his disorder, Ian also has what is known as agenesis of the corpus callosum or "ACC". This means he is missing a band of fibers in the middle of his brain that help connect the two hemispheres. Developmental delays and learning disabilities are often associated with disorders of the corpus callosum. Despite his challenges, Ian is a smiley, charming baby boy who loves social interaction. His motivation and pleasant demeanor encourage all who know him. To learn more about Ian, please visit his caringbridge page at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ianjames.
