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Randolph 6-year-old continues recovery from rare illness
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Posted: Wednesday, January 26, 2011 12:34 pm
Randolph 6-year-old continues recovery from rare illness By Neil Paley, Contributing Writer Recorder Community Newspapers 0 comments
RANDOLPH TWP. - The miracle is almost complete.
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Aidan Saigh, the 6-year-old first grader at the Shongum School, has been back in Suzanne Kessler's class since Nov. 15. And as the days go forward, there's ever less evidence of the Guillian-Barré syndrome that almost took his life on the first day of school, last Sept. 7.
Kim Luthy, Aidan's mother, was just overwhelmed at the support she received from friends and even perfect strangers at a benefit held last Nov. 13 at the Elks Club in the Lake Mohawk section of Sparta, where over 225 people opened their hearts to help out paying the expenses involved in Aidan's hospitalization. ''There were people who showed up who never knew about Aidan,'' said a grateful Luthy.
''He was just happy all these people were reaching out,'' Luthy continued. ''
“A year of tremendous challenges are no match for the power of gratitude. You plan your life a certain way and then life has a way of changing that plan. You focus on your priorities, which for me is my family and providing a life that includes security, love and growth. Sometimes a series of events puts a clog in that plan and you have a choice. A choice to buckle and retreat or to forge ahead and conquer life with passion and gratitude.''
Luthy marveled at the collection of people from different walks of life that became a celebration of Aidan's young life. ''There were bus drivers, a woman at the dog pound,'' she enumerated. ''It became this incredible outreach and concern. People donated their time. From strangers to people that coach in T-ball. Good things happen to good people. We're so grateful.''
Luthy saw acts of graciousness and devotion that she never imagined.''We had plans for doing a silent auction,'' she said, ''We had items donated by different celebrities, business owners and hotels. There was such love and generosity. Aidan was the guest of honor. We didn't know what was going to happen. It was a fabulous, fabulous night. It went from 6 o'clock at night to 2:30 in the morning.''
But it really goes to the kind of person Kim is and the devoted mother she is.
''What I try to teach my kids (her other two children are Taylor and Zack) is when you go through life, you give out one thing and it comes back 10-fold,'' she said. ''Resolutions typically are temporary, but gratitude is permanent.''
Luthy reports that Aidan is currently about 90 percent recovered from the deadly virus and is on the road to walking normally and being able to do anything any 6-year-old takes for granted. It's almost as if Aidan had to start from the beginning and relearn how to use his body.
''He learned how to crawl on Oct. 3 and learned how to walk on Oct. 11,'' Kim said. ''He was talking, but it took him a while to crawl and sit up.
''We had a chart we kept on how he improved from the first day. By the time he left Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick (on Nov. 10), he was running with a walker.''
And Luthy knew it was time when Aidan said he wanted to go home and that he missed his friends and family. ''He went home with a walker,'' Kim continued. ''It was more of an issue of his stamina.''
What remains an issue with Aidan is that the nerves in his feet still have to regenerate, which is the way recovery in the human body works. When Aidan returned to school with a walker, he quickly discarded it. Aidan just wanted to be like his classmates. ''The issue that remains is his feet,'' Kim said, offering that he's still getting therapy.
''It's hard to convince a 6-year-old that he's lucky to be alive,'' Luthy said. ''It has not been without tears or frustration. He wants to be back to normal. He's pushing himself to get to where he was before.''
His doctors, Kim says, are amazed that Aidan was well above the curve in his recovery.
But still, there must be caution, as Aidan still has asthma and allergies and must be extremely cautious in some other areas. ''He can never get a flu shot again,'' Luthy explained, noting that the egg in the vaccination could cause an allegeric reaction. ''We're vigilant and we're concerned. There's a slight chance that it (the syndrome) could reoccur, we have to avoid flu shots. But we don't live in a bubble and you can only do the best you can.''
While Aidan was still a patient at Children's Specialized Hospital, he had many special people wishing him well, including Suzanne Kessler, who brought him some homework assignments. ''She showed up at the hospital a couple of times,'' Luthy said. ''She only had him one day. She's been truly an advocate for Aidan's education. I'm really very pleased with her.''
Over a month after being released from the hospital, Aidan wanted to give something back, so he went back to the hospital to visit the many friends he'd made in his stay there.
''I really felt grateful, because not everyone there gets better,'' Kim said.
After Aidan returned home, Kim noticed that the experience had resulted in maturity beyond his years. "I said to somebody, he's changed,'' she said. ''When something like that happens in your life, you change. I'm hoping the real Aidan shows himself soon. I want to hear him laugh.''
But that young caring 6-year-old may have reappeared quicker than Kim expected. It may have been when a group gave Kim and her family what you might call a faith-based gift instead of holding a holiday party. The gift was a result of that group taking up a collection.
''That's the first time I saw Aidan happy and jovial,'' she said.
''Things like this keep reaffirming our faith in humanity. Destiny is a combination of hard work and luck. If you surround yourself with positive people, how can you fail?''
Kim Luthy offered a special thank you to all that have offered support to Aidan and his family.
''We know all too well that your health is by far the most important factor in all of your plans because without it you are immobilized to implement all that is ahead of you. When Aidan's health turned for the worse in the course of an overnight we forged ahead. We became engulfed in the now and like you've heard took one day at a time. In the course of those days, we would juggle the immediate testing, assessment of the problem and steps to get us to the next day. All along having to maintain our other children's needs, which included the basic care, schooling, supervision, homework and emotional support.”
''All of this would not have been manageable let alone possible without the support of our family, friends and community. You think as you're plugging along in life to do the simple things you learned in Kindergarten such as treat others the way you want to be treated, say please and thank you (as often as you can) and give to others less fortunate at the time whatever their circumstances. You do these because it's what's right.”
''We never imagined the response we would have received when this happened to us would be so tremendous. You know you are loved by those closest to you and you know people greet you with kindness, but you just don't know until something like Aidan's illness to what extent and to what distance you've touched others enough for them to want to help you. Well, if you're 'fortunate' enough to ever have the opportunity, you'll be feeling the gratitude we feel today.”

Resolutions are temporary.. Gratitude is permanent

A year of tremendous challenges is no match for the power of gratitude. You plan your life a certain way and then life has a way of changing that plan. You focus on your priorities which for me is my family and providing a life that includes security, love and growth. Sometimes a series of events put a clog in that plan and you have a choice. A choice to buckle and retreat or to forge ahead and conquer life with passion and gratitude.

We know all too well that your health is by far the most important factor in all of your plans because without it you are immobilized to implement all that is ahead of you. When Aidan's health turned for the worse in the course of an overnight we forged ahead. We became engulfed in the now and like you've heard took one day at a time. In the course of those days we would juggle the immediate testing, assessment of the problem and steps to get us to the next day. All along having to maintain our other children’s needs which included the basic care, schooling, supervision, homework and emotional support.

All of this would not have been manageable let alone possible without the support of our family, friends and community. You think as you're plugging along in life to do the simple things you learned in kindergarten such as treat others the way you want to be treated, say please and thank you ( as often as you can) and give to others less fortunate at the time what ever their circumstances. You do these because it's what's right. We never imagined the response we would have received when this happened to us would be so tremendous. You know you are loved by those closest to you and you know people greet you with kindness but you just don't know until something like Aidan's illness to what extent and to what distance you've touched others enough for them to want to help you. Well if you're "fortunate" enough to ever have the opportunity you've be feeling the gratitude we feel today!

The immediate and full force of support was presented in many forms. Bodies of loved ones and friends starting showing up at the hospital. Food was arriving in droves. Cards, texts, emails, phone calls were never ending! Aidan's condition was critical for many days and the information was changing rapidly. My sister Carolyn started a blog which was the life line for many to stay abreast of the changes. It allowed us to filter the information and manage the bedside time. It was so appreciated by us and others that on numerous occasions people commented how informative and grateful they were to be able to know what was going on. So - thank you Carolyn!!!

My family held vigil and supported us by helping to care for our son Zack. They brought clothing to us, meals, basic necessities and even visited with Aidan while we spent time tending to Zack's care in and out of school. Thank you to everyone!! I had family come for a far to deliver blankets to snuggle, diet coke and chocolate to eat and drink and gifts for the kids as not to leave them out or make them feel forgotten as we focused on Aidan. Thank you to all of you! Thank you for the love, support and most importantly your time!

Our offices sent food, visited with true interest in situation and took up collections of money and gifts for the family! Their outreach was fabulous and extremely appreciated. They say in times of need you find out who your true friends are and boy we are blessed!! Thank you to all of you!

The community responded in droves as well. We received gift baskets from previous years Kindergarten classes, current school affiliations, T ball teams, current and prior teachers and classmates, the Randolph bus drivers, the High School support staff and Grounds crew, neighbors, camping friends, STRANGERS, and many many more! It was and is a blessing to have such support. The Morris County Chamber responded with an outreach of support that was never ending. To know you are loved, appreciated, well thought of - call it what you like- it's simply unbelievable that a community can come together and support one of their own! Thank you!

My cousin Jenny in the initial days of Aidan's hospitalization said she wanted to hold a benefit. That she was a member of an Elks Club in Sparta and this is what their focus is- children and their families in times of need. I said sure that’s fine but honestly I couldn't think about anything other than the here and now so I didn't put much thought into her suggestion. Well, she did and soon it was evolving- a date was set and people's generosity continued to flow. We received calls saying they would donate the food, the music, the photography, auction items, their time and their love! It was truly overwhelming at times. Just ask Jenny and my sister Carolyn who bear the brunt of the planning and organization. But it happened and on Nov 13th at the Sparta Elks Club much to our surprise we had over 225 shows up in support of Aidan and our family. We thought we'd have a good crowd but that was truly much more than we all expected. It was a fabulous night. The love in the room was infectious and you could help feel good about just being a part of the evening. Thank you to everyone who helped donated and participated! Thank you to the Elks Club and to Jenny Milway!!

So you see- as the New Year has arrived I wouldn't be wrong in saying in some ways I am glad 2010 is over. But if it were not for those experiences we wouldn't have the immense gratitude that we feel for what's ahead, for those in our lives, for our health and future!  Resolutions are usually temporary but gratitude for us is permanent. Thinking daily about what you have to be grateful for offers strength to forge on- to handle the things life throws at you. We are truly grateful! Thank you!!