I cherished the morning routine with my children, and I even get to bring them to work with me as an early childhood education director. Don’t get me wrong, things could get pretty hectic with three children under 7: my daughter Stevie and my sons Townes and Donovan. If there was any mischief, it was probably instigated by my sons, and Stevie loved to tattle on them (as big sisters should).
Townes and I got ready together every morning. He loved complimenting people and would tell me how beautiful I was. In return, I would tell him he was the most handsome boy, and he wore that title with such pride.
Family life was non-stop, but somehow our schedules got even busier. Weekdays consisted of work, school and whatever family time we could squeeze in. Weekends were spent playing, dancing, enjoying meals and ending the night with a movie.
We often fell asleep cuddling in the living room. Those days were simple, but very special. Now, I long for those memories because life will never be the same.
Townes began exhibiting troubling symptoms as early as October 18, 2023. He had previously experienced staring spells at around 18 months old and had an EEG, but he had another episode during speech therapy. We always felt something was not right, so we took Townes to his pediatrician and were repeatedly reassured he was healthy.
By May 2024, we flagged the concerning changes in his speech and behavior. Townes was seen in the office a week later, but nothing escalated from there. Then three months later, he fainted while on the swings.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
