Medical Marijuana Clinic, Pumpkin Farm and an Abundance of Shirts

  • Post category:Epilepsy
  • Reading time:4 mins read

Disclaimer: The author of the content below is not a medical professional and does not have any medical training. As such, the contents on this page, including text, graphics, images, and any other material are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Our full medical disclaimer can be found by clicking here.

 

Medical Marijuana Clinic

A blue poster features white and red text alongside a photo of cannabis plants on the right. The message highlights that the federal government holds Patent No. 6630507 related to medical compounds in marijuana, followed by the phrase “Rise Above the Hypocrisy.” A phone number, website, and the name “The Healing Clinic — Cannabis Patient Advocacy” appear at the bottom, giving the design a bold, issue‑focused look.

 

We have started the process of getting our medical marijuana cards for James now that medical marijuana is legal in the state of Illinois. We had two meetings at a local clinic—one last weekend and one yesterday—to go over James’ medical history and to go over the process of actually getting our cards. The doctor at the clinic received James’ medical records and as he was going through them with us, there was a diagnosis in there that was never mentioned to us before: Shprintzen-Goldberg Syndrome.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Shprintzen-Goldberg Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects several parts of your body. People with the syndrome often have:

    • Abnormal facial features.
    • Craniosynostosis (when the skull bones fuse too early during fetal development).
    • Skeletal abnormalities.
    • Neurological problems, such as intellectual disability or developmental delays.
    • Cardiovascular deformities.

They go on to say that the syndrome is rare and that there are fewer than 50 cases described in medical literature.

James has seen so many different doctors in his short life; I wonder which one put that in his medical records. And if it’s so rare, do we need to worry about James becoming part of some medical study so that they can further understand this syndrome? Hopefully not. This kid has enough going on already. I don’t want him to become some pin cushion, being poked and prodded for science.

We have a meeting with our neurologist on Wednesday so hopefully he will be on board and approve of James starting medical marijuana. We know it has been a bit controversial, but James has tried everything else. This seems like the next logical step. We need to get these damn seizures under control! He has suffered far too long, and Stacy and I feel so helpless.

 

A close‑up image shows a tear falling from an eye. Over the photo, a purple rectangle contains white text about the emotional difficulty of watching a loved one experience a seizure. Below it, additional text lists a Facebook page dedicated to epilepsy awareness. The overall design has a somber, supportive feel meant to highlight the impact of caregiving and advocacy.
https://www.facebook.com/EverythingpurpleforEpilepsy

 

 

Trip to the Pumpkin Farm

Stacy and James had a mommy & son day last Sunday and went to a pumpkin farm with Bounce Children’s Foundation. If you’re local to the Chicago area and have a special needs child, I encourage you to join. They host many fun trips and events throughout the year. It’s also an opportunity to meet and talk with other special needs families.

It was a bit hot, so they didn’t stay too long because James doesn’t do well in the heat, but he did get to see (and feed) some of the animals that they have at their little zoo and go on a hayride.

 

From a shaded spot, James in blue‑framed glasses is partially reclined in the foreground. In the distance, a large wooden ride or trolley shaped like a rustic bus sits on a grassy field, with people seated inside. The structure is orange‑brown with big circular wheels, rectangular windows, and lettering that appears to spell out its name. A building and trees sit farther back under clear daylight.
Wooden school bus

 

James in a stroller sits beside a large painted display featuring three Paw Patrol characters—Marshall in red, Zuma in orange, and Chase in blue—standing behind a row of big orange pumpkins. The backdrop shows green bushes and a blue sky with white clouds. The scene is set outdoors on grass near fencing and a red barn‑like building.
Paw Patrol

 

Several children and a few adults stand along a wooden fence, looking at a large orange dinosaur figure shaped like a T. rex. Pumpkins sit on the ground behind the fence, and the area is covered in light gravel under clear, sunny weather.
What is that monster mommy?

 

A giraffe leans over a fence to take a carrot from a group of people. Someone in an orange shirt holds the carrot out, while Stacy helps a James in a stroller extend an arm toward the giraffe. The giraffe’s long tongue reaches forward as it eats. A barn‑like building with white siding sits in the background, along with trees and fencing, giving the scene the lively feel of a hands‑on wildlife park feeding experience.
Feeding a giraffe

 

James in a stroller, wearing blue sunglasses and a patterned neck pillow with red edges, sits near a fenced enclosure. Inside the enclosure, two antelope‑like animals with brown coats and white stripes stand on straw‑covered ground. A wooden fence and some greenery frame the space, creating a quiet moment of watching the animals up close at an outdoor exhibit.

 

A small brown‑and‑white camel stands inside a red metal enclosure on straw‑covered ground. A person with a blue ribbon tattoo on their forearm holds a yellow container up to the animal as it eats. In front of the fence, James sits in a stroller wearing khaki shorts, white socks, and black sneakers. A wooden fence and a sign reading “FEED THE ANIMALS” sit in the background, giving the scene the feel of a close‑up, interactive farm experience.

 

An alpaca with long, light-colored, shaggy fur stands inside a red metal enclosure on straw‑covered ground. Behind it, other animals rest on the straw. A sign on the left reads “Alpaca” and includes a small map of South America along with basic species information. The enclosure sits inside a large covered structure with a metal frame and translucent roof panels, giving the scene the feel of an indoor educational animal exhibit.
Alpaca

 

James, wearing blue sunglasses, rests near a red metal enclosure where several small piglets with black‑and‑white spots stand on straw‑covered ground. One piglet eats from a metal bowl while the others mill around. The red bars and gate give the scene the familiar look of a farm or petting‑zoo setup, with the viewer positioned close to the animals.
Three little pigs

 

Two dark‑brown antelope‑like animals with lighter underbellies and short curved horns stand inside a red metal enclosure with wooden walls and straw‑covered ground. In the foreground, James, wearing blue glasses, rests while looking toward the animals through the fence. The scene has the quiet, contained feel of a zoo or wildlife exhibit viewed up close.
Why are they fighting mommy?

 

James sits in a stroller wearing blue sunglasses and a patterned cushion with cartoon bones. He's positioned beside a red metal fence enclosing a small straw‑covered pen with goats inside. A brown goat stands close to the fence, a black goat lingers nearby, and a white goat rests farther back. The scene has the easy, curious feel of a petting‑zoo stop on a bright day.
He (or she) was nibbling on James’ shoe

 

An ostrich stands inside a wire‑fenced enclosure on straw‑covered ground, its long neck and gray feathers clearly visible. In the foreground, Jame, wearing blue glasses, looks toward the bird. Green branches rest near the fence, and the space appears to be a covered animal exhibit with wooden walls and a roof overhead.
Ostrich

 

A zebra stands inside a red metal enclosure on straw‑covered ground, its striped body close to the fence. A yellow plastic shovel hangs from one of the bars. In the foreground, James, wearing blue glasses looks toward the animal. Wooden walls frame the space, giving the scene the feel of a small indoor or covered exhibit.
Zebra

 

A goat stands inside a red metal enclosure on straw‑covered ground. A sign on the fence reads “PLEASE SPOON FEED THE ANIMALS.” In the foreground, James wearing blue sunglasses looks toward the goat. The scene has the familiar, gentle feel of a petting‑zoo setup focused on safe, close‑up animal encounters.
Goat saying hi to James

 

James sits in a stroller wearing blue sunglasses and a white shirt with text that includes “Pediatric Stroke Warrior.” A brown patterned neck pillow with a red section rests around his neck, and a purple foam tube sits near the shoulder. A small white portable fan is positioned close to his face for cooling. Medical tubing is visible near the torso, creating a clear, compassionate snapshot of adaptive comfort and support.
Using a battery-powered fan to try and keep cool

 

The view looks out from a hay‑filled trailer with red metal railings, where parts of a stroller and a backpack sit in the foreground. The trailer moves through open fields of crops, with a line of trees meeting the horizon under a partly cloudy sky.
Hayride

 

 

Shirts

Okay, totally changing topics here, but I have an honest question. How many shirts does one kid really need? I mean seriously think about this. Do you have a number in mind? There are at most 31 days in a month, so would 30 be enough shirts, one for every day of the month? Stacy recently bought James 60 new larger sized hangers to replace the smaller kids’ hangers…and she still ran out of hangers! He has close to 80 shirts! He could go almost 3 months without wearing the same shirt twice.

Stacy swears that she goes through his shirts every so often and gets rid of the ones he has outgrown or just doesn’t wear any more. Doesn’t 80 shirts seem like a lot of shirts? I will admit, though, that he does have some nice outfits.

 

James lies on a cushioned surface covered with a colorful vehicle‑patterned sheet. He wears a green polo shirt, tan shorts, and white socks, with his head resting on a pillow and their mouth slightly open. A dark pillow and another dark item with orange lettering sit nearby on the carpeted floor.
Polo shirt and khaki shorts

 

And of course, we see shirts like this one and say that James needs that shirt:

 

James lies down wearing a purple shirt printed with two handprints—one light purple and one white—with the words “I am” inside them. Beneath the handprints, the shirt reads “a pediatric stroke survivor.” Behind James is a patterned sheet decorated with cartoon animals and vehicles, creating a soft, supportive backdrop for the awareness message.
I am a pediatric stroke survivor shirt

 

And this one.

 

James lies in his cushioned reclining chair covered with a patterned sheed, with a dark T‑shirt laying over him, featuring a character holding a baseball bat. The shirt displays the bold text “YOU’RE KILLING ME SMALLS,” creating a clear reference to a classic movie quote from "The Sandlot".
You’re killing me smalls!

 

We use that line so frequently in this house, we just had to buy the shirt. Whenever James is acting up: “You’re killing me smalls!” We mean it in the most loving way, though.