Michael is our 3rd son, and came to live with us April 16th ‘97, when he was 18 months old. He had been with the same wonderful foster family since he was 5 weeks old. His parents' alcoholism made it impossible for his natural parents to give him the care he needed as he was medically fragile.

We knew from the get-go that our son had FAS and was severe-profoundly deaf. He attends the School for the Deaf 3 full days a week in the Nursery Programme, where he is doing very well. There are only 10 children in the combined Nursery-JK class, with 2 teachers and 2 aides, so he gets lots of supervision.

School is probably his favourite place to be, while irritating his 2 older brothers is his favourite pastime!

We have just discovered that he has scoliosis and he is now in back brace (which is not popular) and also that his diagnosis of FAS was not formal, so we are currently trying to get to see the specialists on The Motherisk Program at Sick Kids in Toronto.

Mikey does not currently need medication to control his behaviour, but he does require lots of energy and vigilance. He is loving, funny, cute and has the greatest perseverance when he wants to achieve something. He has great strength of character which will get him through life's challenges, provided it doesn't drive his parents completely nuts beforehand!!

Post Script June 2003:
Y'all know I'm always trying to look for that bright spot but once in a while I have to confess, even I wonder how Mikey's going to make it. I was in the school yesterday showing off our degu babies, and the two grade 1/2 classes got to admire the animals and then draw a picture and write a few words about what they had seen. now none of them are going to manage much at this stage particularly as they are all deaf so this is a second language to most of them, but I was watching them all write things like "Maryam see degus. Maryam like degus. Babies drink milk" and Mikey barely can manage his name. I was really sad for a few moments until I started to look at the drawings. Mikey had so much more detail in his than any of the other children. The sharp rodent teeth of the adult degus, the water dripping from the water bottle, the babies hiding under their mama and the food in their food dish. When I saw that I was so angry with myself for doubting Mikey, and so proud that he has a skill the others do not. Way to go Mikey!!

Email Mama Shiona at shiona.watson@sympatico.ca in Ontario