Darin Sargent is an amazing friend of the family and I have to say that he is what inspires Haylee each and every day. I wanted to share this video with you of Darin on the NEWS!!
Way to go Darin…. You rock!
How other children react to a little hand
December 9, 2009 By 2 Comments
Amniotic Band Syndrome effects everyone a little different. Not every child will have a little hand. Not every child will have nubbs. Not every child will even have their hands effected. Some will have their feet effected. Some will loose their whole or half arm or leg. But, no matter how they are effect there will be something that makes them look different.
The average adult will look, wonder what is wrong or how they got that way but never ask. But not those sweet young children. They will walk right up, touch it, feel it and ask why don’t you have fingers? What Happen?
We ran into the most precious thing this last Sunday. We were at church and during service the minister called all the children up for Children’s sermon. All the children went up and sat down. Haylee sat down on the steps and a young boy, probably about 2 maybe three, came and sat down next to Haylee.
At first he did not notice her hand. Which actually happens alot. But then after a couple minutes Haylee moved her hands around and he noticed. Be began to hold her hand. Touch her fingers and just softly play with her hand.
Haylee is a very patient person and a very kind and compationate person. He let the little boy look touch and feel her little hand. The whole time he was doing this Haylee did not frown or get upset. Instead she sat up there with the biggest smile you had ever seen.
It brought tears to my eyes to see not only this young courious boy up there checking things out but to also see Haylee up there not being upset but rather letting the boy explore and figure things out.
I signed to Haylee good job. I wanted her to know right then and there just how proud I was of her and what an awesome job she was doing.
We don’t mind if you ask us what happen. Actually we prefer it over staring. We want to tell everyone about ABS and how it has not only effected us but how it has blessed our lives and made us the people we are today.
Haylee Meets Cadence
November 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Two weeks ago on a Saturday was a very special day for us. Haylee got to meet a young girl that has also been affected by Amniotic Band Syndrome. Cadence’s Mom brought her down to meet with us. We were supposed to have a Lincoln ABS meet up but Cadence’s family was the only family to RSVP. But we liked it that way. It was a nice time to get to know Cadence and her mom and brother. Amniotic band syndrome effects people in different ways. Sometimes people have very noticeable effects to ABS while others you can hardly tell.
Cadence’s effects were somewhat the same but different at the same time. A few things the girls learned about each other was one that Cadence has had surgery and Haylee has not. Cadence has partial fingers or full fingers and Haylee does not. Cadence is very very shy and Haylee is not.
The girls (and Cadence’s brother) played together very well once they got past the shy part. Jim helped open them up by giving tractor rides. Although Cadence was not quite ready to do that yet. It was still wonderful to see them together and interacting. I also want to Thank Darin Sargent for spending us the book her wrote called, “Thank You Mr. Jenkins”, We were able to give Cadence a signed copy from Darin.
But at the end of the day both girls are true gifts from God that only a select few get blessed with.
10 Things I learned from My Daughter
September 30, 2009 By 5 Comments
When Haylee was born I struggled with so many questions. How will I raise my daughter who was born with no figures? What exactly is Amniotic Band Syndrome? How did the Amniotic Band? Does anyone else in the world have children like this? And on and on and on. But you know what those questions don’t matter. None of them. All that matters is Haylee. I have learned more from Haylee then I have ever learned in all 27 years of my life before Haylee came into it. I just wanted to share with you 10 things I learned from Haylee. Although 10 is not many they are very important lessons I have learned.
- Miracles Happen Everyday ~ Everyday I stand in total amazement that God could hand me such a precious gift. A gift I was told I could never have. After my oldest daughter was born I was told I could not have any more kids. And then God provided my sweet, special, Haylee
- You can put toothpaste on your toothbrush with only one hand ~ Yes this may make you laugh but next time you go to put toothpaste on your toothpaste try it with one hand
- Amniotic Band Syndrome is not a handicap ~ having only five fingers does not slow her down and it is just normal to her. So we all need to look at it as normal. Not a handicap but a blessing.
- Can’t is not longer in our dictionary ~ There is nothing Haylee can’t do. And I mean Nothing. She may do things slower but she still does them.. And she does them with only one hand instead of two.
- We Are Many ~ There are more people out in the world effected by Amniotic Band Syndrome then you would ever imagine. And once we meet each other we become instant family with a close common bond.
- Sometimes You Just Don’t Want to Talk About it ~ There are times when someone asks Haylee what happened. And there are times when she just does not want to talk about it. She has told the story so many times that she just has nothing more to say. Don’t push them to say it or make them tell someone. Just tell their story and go on, but don’t make a big deal out of it.
- A little bit goes a long way ~ You don’t have to have much to make a lot. There are days when Haylee and I can take nothing and make the whole world revolve around us. Haylee does not let only have five fingers slow her down at all. She can play, imagine and have fun like anyone else.
- The Outside does not matter, it is what is on the inside that Matters ~ Haylee does not care what people think of her little hand. She does not care if you are in a wheelchair, have no hands or legs, she does not care what you look like, she will approach you and talk to you no matter what your looks are. All she cares about is how nice you are, how you treat her and how you treat her family and friends.
- Love ~ I just can’t explain the love that Haylee has taught me to feel. It is a love that is so special so unique so amazing that ………… I don’t even know how to explain it.
- IT WILL ALL TURN OUT JUST FINE!!!!!!!!!!!
Nubbin’s
September 1, 2009 By 2 Comments
Haylee has Nubs. Nubs are just one form of ABS. Nubs happen when the growth of fingers is stopped at an early stage of development. Some children have small nubs like Haylee and other children have longer nubs.
The People We Meet
March 24, 2009 By 1 Comment
Have you ever ran into someone that you wonder, Why did I meet them? How are they going to effect my life? I have to say that everyone that has come into our lives have effected us one way or another. Some of them stay in our lives for a little bit while others travel the long journey with us. To many times we meet someone just once but think of them often. Then there are the online people that you only communicate with via, comments, emails, and maybe phone but they even become an important part of your life.
I have to say that Haylee and I have meet our fair share of people. We have crossed paths with many different people both online and offline but one person we came acrossed has made a huge impact on Haylee’s life in just a short amount of time. And for Haylee to really open up her heart to this person is just amazing.
Once night Haylee and I were out wondering the internet together like we often do. Haylee is always looking for more people normal like her. (little inside secret we may share with you someday). We came acrossed a site called The Adventures of the i-Limb. Haylee made me stop right away and she started reading. She said, “Look Mom, God Made that Man Special just like me.” I smiled and said yes he did. We spent the rest of the night watching his video’s reading about this man and learning about his adventures with his new bionic arm. Then Haylee asked me to leave a comment on one of his blog post. I did and the friendship begain. Darin Sargent was born normal like Haylee (again with the normal).
Haylee and Darin have made fast friends and it is so amazing to see the friendship take off. Darin is doing such amazing things in his life and is a very positive man. Today Darin gave Haylee a shout out on his website and Haylee was jumping up and down as she listened to it.
You will want to keep a close eye on this site because I see videos in Haylee’s near future. She says she wants to show everyone what she can do with just one hand.
Abby Jo’s Story
August 19, 2008 By 2 Comments
Abby Jo
We were thrilled to find out we were pregnant again. It would be our third child. We already had two boys and really wanted a girl. Our ultrasound was normal and indicated it would be the girl we wanted so bad!
It was a very easy pregnancy and delivery. Our doctor simply said “She is missing some digits.” My mind swirled with what else was wrong. Our first born had a cleft palate, so I asumed something else was going on. Ya know I never cried the whole time I was in the hospital. . I know I was scared. I remember being so thankful that it was only her hand. I knew even then that we were blessed.
It took awhile before I was comfortable talking about it with just anyone,but evenually became easier. Abby Jo grew and hit all milestones on time.As we watched in amazement. We fell in love each day over and over with her .God has given her such a wonderful personality!
I mean, I am so proud she’s mine. I wouldn’t change anything.She simply lights up the room. My main concern from the beginning was her self esteem. I would hate for her to change or not fully love herself. I try not to focus on the negative, but parents have to think about the hard stuff.Abby recently said she wanted two big hands . It was the first time she had really said much about it.It was weird, I had thought about this moment for three years, I just said “Well, I want a little hand.” Afterward, of course I second guess myself, I believe God gave me the words she needed.
Abby Jo is four and doing great. We showed her Haylee’s pictures and she excited that Haylee had a little hand too!
Amanda Roberts
Keenan Wanted to Join The Fun
July 23, 2008 By 1 Comment
Keenan Is LHBH new found friend and we are so happy to have him here on the site with us. You can read more about Keenan at Below Elbow.
