Joshua is One Year Old

Joshua had a very eventful weekend. His grandmother came to visit him, his sister Julia had a dance recital performing in 9 dances. Joshua did not make it to the dance recital though he attended her dance recital in Lakeland Florida. We are a traveling hospital, having to take all his equipment with us when we travel (e.g., ventilator, suction machine, oxygen tank, feeding machine, etc...). We currently do not have a large enough vehicle to travel with Joshua around Gainesville. On Sunday Joshua oxygen saturation desat to 67, but bounced back after he was suctioned and given oxygen. His heart rate has been dropping below 70 beats a minute which has become a cause for concern, because the heart muscle is normally the last thing to go. We have received many prophecies from many believers that Joshua will walk and not have to rely on the breathing machine. We are strong believers of faith and do not believe Gods words return void to him. September 30, 2008 the PICU Doctor's took us into a room and informed us that babies who come in with SMA diagnosis once placed on life support they are unable to survive without ventilation help. The Doctors told us that we had to make some quality of life decisions about Joshua. They informed us that some parents have signed a do not resuscitate order. The Doctor’s informed us that we would have to Trach Joshua and that he did not have long to live. After research we found the best respiratory care for Joshua that Doctor’s at Shands and Arnold Palmer Children Hospital refused to follow. But today I can say God is a great God because this day Joshua Joel Fletcher will celebrate his first birthday something we were told would never happen by Doctors. I would like to thank all the people around the world that has said a prayer for Joshua because this is proof that God hears and answers prayer. The battle for life never ends, Tuesday Joshua was diagnose with an ear infection, but that will not stop us from giving God Praise because Joshua’s SMA journey one that many Doctors said would end early is a celebration of Life, many babies with SMA type 1 do not live to see their first birthday. God Bless and Thank you all, your prayers have kept us and last but not least; this day June 10, 2009 is a very special day, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHUA.