Medical News, School, and Thanksgiving

Are we in December? The calendar says that we are, but it hasn’t felt much like it around here. It almost seems that we’re stuck in fall. We had a bit of snow in the morning of the 5th, but the weather warmed up enough that it melted by noon. December 8th and 9th the temps were in the 50s during the day, which is not normal for this time of year. This past Tuesday we dipped into the teens, but for the most part the temperatures seem to have been warmer than normal. I’m not complaining because I hate the cold. I just hope that we’re not in for some rude awakening later this month or in January.

 

Medical News

This may or may not be medical news depending on how you look at it, but James made it onto Peptamen’s Instagram page:

 

A family sits outdoors on a blanket during autumn, surrounded by fallen leaves. Jeff and Stacy sit close together with James positioned between them; James appears to have medical needs and is supported in a seated posture. Jeff wears a plaid shirt, and Stacy wears an orange sweater. A small dog is partly visible near the bottom right corner. On the right side of the image, a bright graphic panel features the text “meet James” along with a short quote about how a feeding tube became an essential and positive part of his care. The overall layout resembles a promotional or awareness post, with the caption below describing the family’s experience and linking to more of James’s story.
James is on Peptamen’s Instagram page

 

Peptamen is a formula made by Nestle Health Science. Since James is unable to eat by mouth, this formula provides him with all the nutrition he needs. As Stacy puts it, “it’s his lifeline.” Yes, there are other formulas out there, but we haven’t found one as complete as this. He’s been using Peptamen for years and we have no complaints and have no reason to switch to something else.

In other medical news, it looks like we are moving forward with oral surgery to make space in James’ mouth for his tongue to lay flat in the bottom of his mouth. If you haven’t seen this picture before, see how his tongue sits in his mouth at an angle?

 

A close‑up photo shows the inside of James' mouth being examined. Gloved hands pull the lips open to show how his tongue doesn't have room to lay flat on the bottom of his mouth.
James’ tongue sits at an angle because of the way his lower jaw formed

 

The two doctors that will be doing the surgery had some ideas of what needed to be done when we first met them a couple of months ago. They wanted us to come back down and have some more detailed scans done of his mouth so they can see if they can get a better picture of what is going on underneath the gums.

 

James sits in a wheelchair outdoors in front of a large beige medical building with “UI Health | UIC” displayed prominently near the top. He wears glasses and is wrapped in a bright yellow sweatshirt. The building has multiple windows and a modern design, and the scene appears to be in a hospital parking area. The overall moment suggests someone arriving for or leaving a medical appointment.
Going to see the oral surgeons at UIC

 

My geeky side came out a little bit while they were doing the scans. I wish we had taken more pictures. The technology is really cool. The first machine they used was a bit awkward. It required James to sit in a chair while Stacy held him upright because he is unable to sit up on his own. Stacy had to crouch down low while holding him up so that she wouldn’t be struck by the top part of the machine that rotated around James’ head to take a full 3D image of his skull. I didn’t think to take a picture, but the machine looked like this:

 

A person sits in a dental imaging chair with their chin positioned on a support inside a large cone‑beam CT scanner. The circular scanning unit surrounds their head. A technician stands beside the machine, adjusting controls or preparing the scan. The room has a clean, clinical look, with the equipment taking up most of the frame. The scene shows a standard setup for capturing detailed 3D images of the jaw or skull.
Image source: https://henryschein.com.au/equipment/imaging/cone-beam/i-cat-flx-qq

 

It’s a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) system, which is a variation of traditional computer tomography CT systems.

It took us longer to get him situated in the machine than it took for the machine to do the scan. We ended up having to do it twice. Once the first scan was completed, Stacy put him back in his wheelchair while the tech reviewed the image produced by the scan. She wasn’t completely happy with it and wanted to take another scan which meant getting James back into the machine. Fortunately, the second scan turned out good.

 

A computer monitor displays a 3D medical rendering of James' skull. The image shows the skull from the front, with detailed bone structure including the eye sockets, nasal cavity, jaw, and teeth. The teeth appear irregular and misaligned in both the upper and lower arches. The scan is rendered in warm tones—browns and yellows—against a blue software interface background, suggesting specialized imaging used for dental or surgical evaluation.
Still image of CBCT scan

 

That is just a still image of the scan. On the computer, they are able to rotate it so they can get a better view from different angles.

After the tech was happy with the scan the second time around, she walked us down to another room that was more like a dentist’s office. Here another tech used this special “wand” to get a 3D image of Jame’s teeth and jaw. It was really cool to watch it on the screen. I didn’t think to take video of it, but I did snap a few pictures.

 

James reclines in his wheelchair while a masked dental professional works beside him. In front of them, a computer monitor displays a detailed 3D digital model of teeth and gums, with colored surfaces and measurement boxes indicating analysis or planning for dental treatment. Cables and dental equipment surround the workstation, creating a modern clinical setup that highlights the use of digital imaging technology during the exam.
Dental tech using a special “wand” to scan James’ teeth

 

A close‑up shows a gloved hand holding a small cylindrical object wrapped in reflective material, possibly part of a dental or imaging workflow. In the background, a computer monitor displays a 3D anatomical model in red and orange tones with a rectangular selection box on the screen. Below the monitor sits a white computer mouse with two black cylindrical components resting in its charging dock. The scene appears to be a workspace involving medical imaging or digital modeling equipment.
Dental tech using a special “wand” to scan James’ teeth

 

A computer monitor displays a 3D digital model of an upper jaw, showing teeth and gums in a detailed scan view. The interface includes a “Scan” button and other controls typical of dental imaging software. In front of the screen sits a desk with a dental scanning device featuring two upright cylindrical sensors with indicator lights, along with a computer mouse. The setup suggests a workspace used for creating digital impressions or planning dental treatment.
Image of James teeth after the scan was completed

 

A computer monitor displays a 3D digital model of a lower jaw, showing teeth and gums in realistic colors with detailed contours. The software interface includes tool icons along the top and a “Scan” button at the bottom. The jaw model is centered on the screen, with the teeth rendered in natural shades and the gums in muted pink tones. The scene suggests dental imaging or treatment planning using advanced scanning technology.
Image of James teeth after the scan was completed

 

It was a good appointment, and the docs think they have all they need to plan how they’re going to approach the surgery and to create whatever mold they may need. Unless something changes, or insurance declines the surgery, it looks like it will be happening sometime in February. They say it should be an outpatient procedure, but knowing James, we’re expecting at least one night in the hospital. Hopefully it won’t be a prolonged hospital stay because I will be driving back and forth every day and I hate driving in and out of the city. This was traffic on the highway coming out of the city at 3:00 in the afternoon after the appointment:

 

The photo is taken from inside a vehicle during rainy weather, looking out through a wet windshield at heavy highway traffic. Cars are stopped or creeping forward in multiple lanes. The dashboard is visible in the foreground, showing illuminated gauges and a digital display reading “W 46°F,” “Vehicle Speed 5 MPH,” and “89697 mi RUN.” The gear indicator highlights “D” for drive. A small sticky note on the left gauge reads “PARK ON RT.” The overall scene conveys slow movement, cold weather, and congestion on a rainy night.
Leaving the city after the oral surgery appointment

 

 

School

In another week, James will be done with his first semester of high school. We’ve been very pleased thus far. We know he’s not going to excel academically, go onto college and become a contributing member of society. We came to terms with that a long time ago. For James, school is more than academics. It’s being around other kids with mental and physical handicaps so that he doesn’t feel like he’s alone with his struggles. It’s getting the therapies he needs to be the best version of himself that he can be. And I hope that by being around “normal” kids that those kids learn at a young age to be respectful and compassionate towards others with disabilities. I also hope that they learn not to take things for granted.

James won’t be able to do a lot of things without the help of others, but that doesn’t mean he should sit on the sidelines as life passes him by, does it? We want him to have as many experiences as he can. When Stacy told me about a month ago that James was going to go swimming at school, I was a little apprehensive. It’s been a long time since James had been in a pool, and that was when he was a lot smaller, lighter, easier to handle, and he was in Stacy’s care. He’s grown a lot since then, is not as easy to handle (especially since the spinal fusion doesn’t allow his spine to flex), and he was going to be with someone relatively new to him.

He’s gone swimming a couple of times now and I’ll probably always be worried about it, but I need to trust that they wouldn’t attempt to get him in the water if they didn’t feel comfortable with it. One of my big fears was that they were going to drop him while trying to get him into the pool. In the past when we’ve taken James swimming, we had to carry him into the pool. I was relieved to find out that the school has a chair lift to get him into the pool. Here’s a video of them using the lift:

 

 

That video was taken the second time they went swimming when they put a floatation device around his neck. Here are some pictures of the first time he went swimming at school when they didn’t use that floatation device:

 

James sits in his wheelchair beside an indoor swimming pool. He wears swim goggles, a blue shirt, and brightly patterned swim trunks. A cushioned neck pillow with a colorful cover rests around his neck, and the wheelchair includes supportive attachments and positioning aids. The pool water is clear, with tiled walls and wooden benches lining the space. The scene reflects an accessible environment designed for recreational or therapeutic swimming.
Ready to go swimming

 

Three people are in an indoor swimming pool. James is wearing swim goggles and a swim shirt and is being supported in the water by an adult behind him, who holds his upper body. A second adult in front helps by holding and guiding the James' legs. Lane dividers stretch across the pool, and a green pool noodle floats nearby. The scene reflects an assisted or therapeutic swim session with coordinated support from both helpers.
First time in the pool

 

It may be a little bit hard to notice, but he has a bag around his left foot. He uses a pulse ox to monitor his heart rate and the oxygen saturation levels in his blood and the probe for the pulse ox is wrapped around one of his toes. Because it is electrical, the probe can’t get wet, so they put a bag around his foot to keep it dry.

Here are a couple of pics from the second time he went swimming. Notice that he doesn’t have a bag around this foot. They decided to take the pulse ox probe off for swimming and put it back on when he was done.

 

An indoor swimming pool area shows James seated in a mechanical pool‑lift chair at the pool’s edge. He wears a bright yellow flotation vest, swim goggles, and colorful striped swim trunks, with a blue strap securing him to the chair. An adult beside him, dressed in a white shirt and dark shorts, appears to be assisting with the lift. In the background, another person stands near the pool holding a phone. The pool has blue water, red and yellow tiled walls, and a pink pool noodle floating near the edge. The scene reflects an accessible setup designed to help someone safely enter the water.
Ready to get into the pool

 

Two people are in a swimming pool. James wears swim goggles, a blue swim shirt, and multicolored swim trunks, and is supported by a bright yellow flotation vest secured with black straps. Another adult in a dark swimsuit holds and stabilizes him in the water. The pool is clear, with a red pool noodle floating nearby. The scene reflects an assisted or therapeutic swim session with close physical support.
Second time in the pool

 

A couple of weeks ago they went on another one of their field trips to a local store. This time they went to Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shop. When Stacy told me that James went there for a fieldtrip, I jokingly asked if he bought me a boat for Christmas. I don’t even know why I asked that. I don’t fish, and I don’t ever see us going boating as a family. It’s just the first thing that I think of when I hear Bass Pro Shop: the boats. The answer to my question was obviously no, James did not buy daddy a boat for Christmas.

 

James sits in a wheelchair inside a clothing store, wearing large brown‑tinted sunglasses, a brightly colored shirt with pink, yellow, green, and blue patterns, and a festive neck support decorated with candy canes and dog illustrations. Behind him are racks of clothing, including red‑and‑black plaid shirts, jeans, and other apparel. A sign in the background reads “SALE” and “Duke Cannon,” marking a promotional section of the store.
How do these glasses look on him?

 

Two people pose together in front of a large indoor wildlife display. James sits in his wheelchair wheelchair, and the other kneels beside them with a smile. Behind them, a tall taxidermy polar bear stands upright on a rocky ledge, surrounded by additional mounted animals and artificial trees. Wooden railings frame the exhibit, and the high ceiling with exposed beams adds to the museum‑like setting. The scene captures a cheerful moment in a nature‑themed attraction.
There’s a bear in the store

 

Two people sit side by side in a holiday display. One is dressed as Santa Claus in a red suit with white trim, a black belt with a gold buckle, and glasses. Next to Santa, James sits in a wheelchair wearing a colorful floral‑patterned shirt and jeans. Behind them are decorated Christmas trees lit with multicolored lights, along with a reindeer figure that adds to the festive scene. The setting feels cheerful and seasonal, capturing a posed moment during a Christmas event.
Picture with Santa

 

 

Thanksgiving

A close up view shows James wearing a white shirt with a fabric applique of a turkey on the front. The turkey has a brown‑orange body and several patterned feathers in autumn colors, including orange, yellow, and brown with leaf and stripe motifs. Over the shirt, he wears an open plaid flannel in shades of orange, brown, and cream. The outfit has a festive, fall‑themed look.
Snazzy shirt that Stacy made for Thanksgiving

 

Thanksgiving was uneventful. We spent it with Stacy’s side of the family like we normally do. I tried to be good this year and not go overboard with food, but I just couldn’t help myself. It was all so good. When it came time for dessert, we had a choice of either apple pie or pumpkin pie. I couldn’t decide so I had both. A friend once told me that this is why we workout. So that we can enjoy food and not feel guilty about it. She was exactly right. Even though I felt like I overate, the scale barely moved.

Like they have for the past couple of years, Nestle Health Science sent another beautiful flower arrangement:

 

A Thanksgiving floral arrangement sits on a kitchen counter. It features orange and red flowers—roses, carnations, and mixed greenery—with small yellow accent blooms. Two tall orange taper candles rise from the center. A small card on a stick is tucked into the bouquet, reading: “Hope you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving! Nestle Health Science.” In the background, a white oven has a towel hanging on the handle that says, “Sometimes I open my mouth and my mother comes out.” Wooden cabinets and assorted kitchen items surround the scene, giving it a cozy, lived‑in feel.
Thank you Nestle for the beautiful flower arrangement