Technology Enablement - Week of Apr. 19th

 "We are all now connected by the internet, like neurons in a giant brain."  ~Stephen Hawking

Cam likes to ask his parents about 'the olden days.'  Chris and Jane always assume he is referring to the early 1900's when in actuality he is talking about when his own mom and dad were younger.  One evening he was asking what his parent's schooling was like in regards to looking up research information for reports and presentations.  We started to explain the library factor, the Dewey Decimal system, microfiche and all the other archaic ways of finding detailed info.  Cam was incredulous.  His response to all of this was, 'But how did you do school without the Internet?!'  It is funny to think that even when Cam's parents were 13 years of age, the access their son has today did not even exist for the general population.

There were multiple technology projects this week.  

Chris was finishing labs for a course he had taken and Cam never faltered with his daily reminder to complete.  He also worked right along side his dad which kept things interesting when Cam assisted with multiple choice questions and puzzling through a technical setup.

A new piece of equipment called a "Dishy" from Starlink arrived on Saturday to test out for faster internet access at Oma and Opa's cottage on Lake Michigan.  Starlink is a satellite internet constellation constructed by SpaceX providing satellite Internet access.  The constellation will consist of thousands of mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), working in combination with ground transceivers.  The service is working to deploy almost 1600 satellites by 2022.  Father and son worked to configure and test.  After quite a bit of time, they had to put in a trouble ticket.  It was finally responded to with the indication that the satellite dish needed to be at its registered address- Oma and Opa's home, to even function.  Dishy testing status: Delayed.  Therefore, Cam was ready for his next project.

Jane and her best helper worked on a secret present for Mother's Day for Oma.  It took quite a bit of time, but Cam does not waiver when a project is in progress.  When his mom was having trouble accomplishing a portion, her son said to keep going.  By late afternoon on Sunday, completion was in sight.  Jane told Cam it would have never been finished had he not kept them both going.

At the end of the weekend, with many items crossed off our list, we were all feeling a bit tired.  Even our cat, Stella, seemed to channel the mood of the family.  She produced a large yawn which actually looked like a bit of a roar!

Camology Quotes:

Besides Chris, Jane also had some class training to attend to for her job.  She may have been procrastinating a bit and told Cam they could tackle it the next day.  Cam was ensuring there would be no excuses or further delays... 

"Mom, you better get a lot of rest tonight because we are doing your classes and labs tomorrow." 

A Virtual Race to a Restaurant - Week of April 12th

 "Adapt yourself to the needs of the people." ~Sunday Adelaja                                                                   "Different is the new normal." ~James Durbin 

When people say 'kids grow up so fast' or 'you blink and they are teenagers' one doesn't imagine that it's how every parent feels.  In actuality, it seems it is completely true.  As Cam grows, his needs do as well.  The days of Jane lifting him solo are long gone.  A few years ago, the physical therapists who work with Cam recommended we begin the process to obtain an electric Hoyer lift through insurance.  It took some time, but when it arrived, we were all relieved to have this invention to assist us.

The Hoyer brand has been synonymous with lifts for 70 years. Ted Hoyer, an innovative quadriplegic, invented the first patient lift in 1951, a mechanism that is still considered to be the forerunner of all modern lifts.  On Thursday, Chris had an evening board meeting and knew he wouldn't be home prior to Cam's evening routine.  Jane and her son thought it would take a bit longer to get ready so they built in an 15 extra minutes.  Maneuvering the Hoyer and figuring out details was a bit trying.  Cam was not only patient but thinking of suggestions all along the way.  Due to them both remaining calm and chuckling at some missteps, it all worked quite nicely.  It may be difficult to imagine what a Hoyer looks like, so we put a large stuffed animal in to show the sling action.

The weekend brought sunshine and milder temps.  A huge mound of mulch was delivered.  Father and son busied themselves for a good part of the weekend placing the mulch in piles over the flower beds and spreading it out.  The pile shown was three times the size when it arrived.

As the world continues adapting some in-person events, we signed up for the 25th Wheel Run 5K through Alternatives in Motion.  The "virtual" 5K did have its advantages.  We began the Wheel Run when it worked for our family which happened to be 4pm.  From our home, we ventured one street over to our former Windcrest neighborhood.  We stopped and chatted with many friends we know along the way and then began trekking through the Burton Nature Park.  

Upon entrance, we saw two pug dogs with a young family and a kiddo in a wagon.  Jane struck up a conversation about their pups and then mentioned how cute their daughter was.  The nice dad immediately said it was his son!  After apologies and friendly exchanges, we all continued on our way.  A couple of minutes later, Cam stopped driving, turned to his mom and said "Aren't you embarrassed?!  You thought it was a girl but it was a boy!"  And then, uncontrollable laughter ensued between Cam and his parents.  Every couple of minutes or so, Cam would stop driving and begin laughing all over again just thinking about it!  At 2.8 miles into our journey, we stopped to enjoy dinner at a local favorite, JT's Pizza.  It was the first time Cam had been inside a restaurant in over a year!  The remainder of our journey home enabled us to feel just a tad bit healthier as we all enjoyed a little exercise for a great cause after dining on pizza and cheesy breadsticks.😋

Camology Quotes:

Jane didn't admit to her son that she was a bit nervous about using the Hoyer solo until they had completed the evening routine and he was tucked into bed.  At a critical moment during their finagling, Cam calmly and with an encouraging tone said the words Jane needed to hear most... 

"I have faith in you, Mom."

A Break for Spring - Week of Apr. 5th

“Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"... "It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...” ~Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

The official full week of spring break arrived for Cam.  Many of his classmates were on trips with their families.  

Fortunately for us, Ms. Amanda was also on break from her kindergarten class and remaining in Grand Rapids.  She was housesitting nearby and ready to hang out with Cam.

Their daily routine included walks through our nearby nature park.  The strolls were over a mile round trip and our weather was unseasonably mild for the entire week.  Taking care of Roxie and Lola, the dogs Ms. Amanda was caring for, was definitely one of Cam's most enjoyable excursions.

On their regular outings, the duo would frequently meet other dogs like the Bernese Mountain one pictured.

Back at home, Cam and Amanda made Energy Treats with oatmeal, honey, peanut butter, chocolate chips and vanilla.  They were most delicious!

Our 7th grader wanted to keep his tutoring time in place with Ms. Ann after we told him it was completely his choice.  Even though Chris and Jane still had to attend to their jobs, they both found a few spare hours to hang out with Cam over his spring break and we all enjoyed family workouts in our home gym.

On Saturday, we headed north to check in on Oma and Opa and help out with a few chores.  Lake Michigan is actually down a foot of water so the beach looks pretty expansive right now.  Of course, a few days of high winds and big waves means the lakeshore can change rapidly.  Cam and Jane helped Oma with indoor tasks while Chris measured the steps down to the beach for an upcoming project to build an apparatus that will take our 7th grader to the sand.

We had a visit with Liam and family on Sunday to wish Liam's dad, Mr. Matt, a happy 40th birthday!  Cam and his buddy played outside and we all enjoyed hot dogs and delicious chocolate cake which Cam declared should be in place for his own bday celebration in August.

Another declaration took place as it appears that Sir Cam is being officially knighted by Sir Liam.

Camology Quotes:

Cam had to write a short paragraph about his spring break.  This was his typed entry.

"I spent spring break at my house.  I went for lots of walks because it was sunny and warm.  I worked out with my parents.  I had a fun spring break with my parents."

Taking Care of My Oma - Week of Mar. 29th

“Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you’re just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric.” ~Pam Brown 

“A grandmother once said that children are the investments and grandchildren the dividends.” ~Selma Berg

When Cameron was little and speech was still a bit out of reach, he called Jane's mom Oma.  After all of these years, the name has stuck even though he can clearly say Grandma now.  As a youngster, Oma was very protective of Cam and now that role has reversed.

This week, we welcomed Cam's grandparents for six days.  Jane's mom was scheduled for a parathyroidectomy very early Monday morning in Grand Rapids.  Cam's final instruction to his mom: "Take care of my Oma."  

Upon arrival home from surgery day before dinner, his grandma was in good spirits and Cam requested a full report.  After understanding the medication and recovery routine, he made it his job to remind and check in as often as he could.

Since Cam officially began his spring break on Thursday, he had two full days at home with his grandparents.  Oma and her grandson looked through and read Jane's grandmother's biography.  It was written more than 15 years ago in collaboration with Cam's mom, grandma and great-grandmother.  Cam laughed at some of the old pictures and stories.

A trip to Brody's Be Café made for a tasty afternoon treat.  Both Cam and Oma tried the new mint shake which they both declared delicious!  Opa and Jane enjoyed their coffees and the relaxing atmosphere was a welcome change for everyone.

Grandson and grandma took some time to look through a Prankopedia book and with Jane's help they played a funny joke on Chris.  An almost empty potato chip bag was filled with whipped cream.  Cam convinced his dad to try a chip and he ended up with a handful of the dessert topping instead.

As we helped Oma and Opa pack up to head home on the weekend, Cam reminded her of her medicine and things to remember.  

At any point over the last 13 years, if you were to happen upon Cam and his grandma together, most likely they would be laughing or smiling at each other, or deep in conversation.  It's so good to know someone is looking out for you and for Cam and his Oma, it seems that taking care of each other is an inherent part of their bond and always has been.

Camology Quotes:

This week we were on a quest for a certain brand of frozen apples.  They were nowhere to be found.  In the news, the large barge was stuck in the Suez Canal blocking international goods traffic for many days.  Cam asked his mom about the apples again.

Cam, I've looked at our local stores and Oma has checked her stores too.  We cannot find them anywhere.

"Mom, do you think they are stuck on the barge in the canal?"

Planning a Party - Week of Mar. 22nd

"Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now."  ~Alan Lakein 

The author Peter Graham said this about becoming immersed in a good book: "We become the hero or heroine.  We are the ones who thwart evil.  We laugh as we socialize with characters we have never met but feel they are as close as our family.  We cry when we lose a good friend."

At school, Cam's class has been reading "Because of Winn-Dixie" and the teacher is weaving lessons and assignments as an outcome.  In the book, the main star is Opal.  Near the end of the story, she plans a party.  The class assignment was to design their own party with all of the particulars.  The following is Cam's proposal.

• Time/Place: Cam's house at 2:30pm
• 5 people you will invite: Mom, Dad, Brody, Mrs. Wells, Oliver
• Activities at Party: We will play Uno and play Yahtzee and we will watch The Greatest Showman and go on a walk.
• Other Items Needed: Toys, Games
• Food: Drink and dessert, fruit, chicken tenders, cupcakes, fries, water.

On the weekend, we headed over to Brody's Be Café to help dismantle the outdoor igloos and place them in hibernation for the spring and summer.

Brody's mom, Jenny, and owner of the café was very happy to see Cam.  He was ready to assist so a wagon was affixed to the back and loaded up so he could take trips to the dumpster across the parking lot.  Jenny told Cam that he would absolutely be hired when he turns 16!  In the meantime, volunteers are always welcome.

Every weekday morning, Cam heads out quite early (6:40a) with Chris to make the trek down our long driveway to meet the school bus.  We believe Cam is "larger than life" but this snapshot truly depicts that in his enormous shadow!

GVSU Public Radio (click here)  Jane was interviewed about Cam on local public radio to discuss MI-UCP.

Camology Quotes:

We know that it must seem at times that Cam is always a happy, go lucky kiddo.  Like every individual, he has his moments. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to be honest and forthright.  For an in-school assignment this week, the kids were asked to write about what makes them sad.  This was Cam's typed entry.

When I feel Sad

Cam- 3/26/21

I get sad when I throw a fit.  I also get sad when I yell at my parents.  My parents don't like when I yell.  I get sad when my parents are made at me.  I get sad sometimes.

Spring has Sprung - Week of Mar. 15th

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn."  ~Hal Borland 

Spring cleaning is a physical purge of items but can also refer to refreshing your mind and attitude.  

With our area of Michigan experiencing some unseasonably warm weather, it was the perfect week to tackle both aspects.

First up was the outdoor area.  Cam and his dad gathered up all of the driveway markers set up for winter snow plowing as guides.  These are intended to keep Chris on the driveway instead of the lawn during snow removal time.  As a family, we all agreed we would not experience another storm of the white stuff this spring...fingers crossed.  It was such a nice, pleasant day making sunglasses a pre-requisite for hanging out.

On the inside, a long-awaited adjustable bed arrived for Cam.  He was evaluated in December and through the process of insurance approval and amendments, it was a three-month journey.  We weren't notified in enough time to move out his current bed, so the new bed remained in our living room for a day.  Stella, our cat, seemed to assume her endorsement was required.  She proceeded to jump up and sniff away.

Sometimes, Cam has a hard time accepting what is provided to him.  He asked if someone else could use the adjustable bed more.  We explained to him that his doctors felt that the bed would help him have more comfortable rest.  Fortunately, Cam was also ready to give away the piece he had been sleeping on.  The trundle bed he slept in for the last 8+years was a welcome donation to his buddy Liam and brother David.  

At NHMS, Cam took part in an organized game of kickball in the school gym.  With his powered wheelchair, or powerchair as we call it, he is able to drive while in standing mode.  While some may view driving combined with playing as an unfair advantage, this smiling kid is overjoyed to be a part of it all!

Camology Quotes:

We have said that Cam has an internal clock.  He seems to instinctively know when it's time for meals and activities.  Sometimes though, even inherent timing takes a break.

Cam, it's time to start getting ready for bed.

"You've got to be kidding me!"

All About Cam - Week of Mar. 8th

At some point in the last 13 years, Chris and Jane took on new names.  In addition to work roles and community projects, the most important titles they now have are "Cam's mom" and "Cam's dad" which is how they are known when being introduced to people they have never met but who have come in contact with their son.  Cam's parents humbly and proudly accept these titles.

An online publication reached out to Jane for a phone interview due to the feature video and story of Cam on the MI-UCP website.  The story below is written by Maryalene LaPonsie.  We think she did a great job of capturing our family story.  Click here to read the story online

Area Family Featured as MI-UCP Success Story 

posted 03/11/2021 Maryalene LaPonsie -  Unsung Heroes

As a 7th grader in the Forest Hills Public School District, Cameron Weatherford gets to experience life in a unique way. Like many of his classmates, he’s enrolled in choir and robotics and has spent time in the pool for swimming lessons. He’s a fan of the beach, loves to laugh and enjoys dressing up for Halloween as much as the next kid. However, Cam, as he’s known to friends, has cerebral palsy, and that means he is taking a somewhat different road through life – a road he travels with his power wheelchair. Living with a disability can be challenging, but Cam and his parents, Chris and Jane, have encountered many people and organizations who help lighten the load by providing support and resources. MI-UCP, formerly United Cerebral Palsy of Detroit & Michigan, is one of those organizations. Offering a portal of resources to families on issues such as guardianship, insurance and finances, MI-UCP has helped in the Weatherford family learn and adapt to life with cerebral palsy. Recently, the family was named a MI-UCP Success Story, and Cam is now featured on the organization’s website. 

Disorder Affects Ability to Move 

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common motor disabilities in childhood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s a disorder that makes movement difficult. Some people, with minor cases of cerebral palsy, may have an awkward gait but otherwise not have any outward sign of a disability. Others may never walk independently and need a wheelchair for mobility. Cerebral palsy can also be accompanied by other conditions such as seizures, an intellectual disability or problems with vision, hearing or speech. The cause of cerebral palsy is usually not known, but Jane Weatherford stresses it’s not a disease you can catch. In Cam’s case, he was born premature at 30 weeks via an emergency c-section. That may have caused the cerebral palsy, but there is no way to know for sure. “We tend to lean on the positive side of life,” Jane explains. Rather than dwell on the how and why, the family focuses on the here and now. She says disability or not, “You love your child unconditionally.”

Community Support: To Give and To Receive 

Over the years, the Weatherford family has been given the opportunity to meet amazing people and make a difference in the lives of others. “Mary Free Bed became a vital part of our existence,” Jane notes. The family encountered fabulous therapists there who have helped address Cam’s motor control issues. To give back, Jane has coordinated a Halloween Heroes event at the hospital for the past five years. While the event couldn’t occur last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it typically involves volunteers making up to 30 costumes for those in wheelchairs. Children choose whatever costume they would like, and the sky is the limit. Then, everyone celebrates the holiday with a special parade to show off their costumes. Jane says, “That has been the most rewarding project I have ever worked on in my life.” Meanwhile, Alternatives in Motion was a much-needed ally while the family worked to get insurance coverage for Cam’s power wheelchair. “The insurance game is ridiculous,” according to Jane. “It was a one-year journey to get a power wheelchair.” For now, Cam enjoys spending time with his good friend Brody Cole, who is the namesake for Brody’s Be Café in Ada. He has also connected with the therapy program at Grand Valley State University where he earns a paycheck for his work with students there. However, the future holds unknown challenges, particularly since Cam is an only child. “We were very concerned about what it will be like when he gets older,” Jane says. That’s where MI-UCP was able to help. The organization offers a comprehensive portal of information as well as services such as benefits counseling, grants for assistive technology and a representative payee program. 

Acceptance and Inclusion for Everyone 

Raising a child with a disability can be challenging for parents, and Jane says nothing is more welcome than a smile and hello from others. It can be an isolating experience to be out and about and feel as though people avoid you because they don’t know what to say or do. She encourages people to take the time to greet children with disabilities in the same way they would reach out to any other child they encounter in the store, at the playground or elsewhere. Even if the child doesn’t respond to your greeting, the adult with them with undoubtedly appreciate the gesture. “Guaranteed: you’ll be making that parent’s day,” Jane says. Kindness won’t erase the difficulties associated with a disability, but don’t underestimate its positive impact. Visit the MI-UCP website to read more about Cam’s story and see photos of the family in action. MI-UCP has also put together the following video highlighting the Weatherford family. 

Camology Quotes:

We often refer to Cam as our personal project manager.  If you tell him something needs to be done, let's just say he will not let you forget about it.  When he asked about our tax return, we told him we had plenty of time to get to it.  Every evening this week, the same conversation ensued.

"Mom, we need to do taxes.  When are we going to do taxes?"  "Let's do taxes now."

We will get them done.  I think your dad is doing something else right now.

"But we must do our taxes.  There is a deadline."

Yes but that is not for another month.

*Weekend update:  Cam wins.  Taxes were completed and submitted online Saturday afternoon.  We made certain Cam was a witness.

The Patient with Patience - Week of Mar. 1st

Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting. ~Joyce Meyer 

A.A. Milne, the author of Winnie the Pooh is credited with the quote, “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”  

Being patient seems to be a resounding lesson we are all struggling with on a daily basis.  Of course, there are times when it's easier to wait than others.

Nearly every week, Cam and Jane drive to the Center for Physical Rehabilitation where Cam has physical therapy.  This Thursday was no different as they entered the building.  Patrick, Cam's physical therapist, is a very popular PT and sometimes he is finishing with a client or answering questions for someone else.  Jane and her son are usually greeted by Carrigan who told Cam that he is the nicest person she sees every week.  Near the end of Cam's session, Jane was called over because Patrick had an unexpected surprise for Cam.  He told him that he was so impressed by his willingness to wait that he decided to make Cam his very own award: "For Cam, the most patient Patient!"  Upon arrival home, the blue ribbon accolade was placed in a pivotal spot next to baseball medals.

On Saturday, we ventured over to Brody's Be Café.  Even though Cam and Brody see each other every day at school, it seems extra awesome to unexpectedly run into each other on the weekend.

The boys ate lunch together and chatted about random things.

We tasted a delicious mint shake which was a new concoction the café was trialing.  We highly recommend any item at Brody's Be, but Cam and Jane are pretty partial to a minty flavor.

The remainder on the weekend centered around a project Chris is working on for our home gym.  As always, Cam is the appointed safety supervisor and ever present helper, ensuring his dad stays on task and remains out of harm's way.

We are seeing signs of spring already in the first week of March... the birds singing quite loudly in the morning and the wildlife congregating in our backyard.  It is a reminder that seasons do change if we can all just find a little patience.

Camology Quotes:

Jane and Chris take turns reading a different book with Cam at bedtime.  Jane and Cam are currently reading Henry Huggins.  Anytime Cam hears a phrase or word he isn't familiar with, he immediately asks.  In the book, Henry was talking to another boy and using a somewhat "old-fashioned" phrase.

"Mom, what does none of your beeswax mean?"

It means "none of your business" or "pay attention to your own things"

"Is that figurative language?"

Cam, where did you learn about figurative language?

*laughing* My teacher Mrs. Wells of course!