Laryngoplasty and ansa cervicalis to recurrent laryngeal nerve reinnervation ansa-RLN

So we had our ENT consult for Serena.
As most of you know Serena has a paralyzed left vocal cord as a result of the nerve being damaged during her PDA ligation (an unfortunate complication.)
Not only does this effect Serena's voice, it also causes her to continue to aspirate, even on thickened liquids.
Because of the continued aspiration, made aware by a second barium swallow recently, we have decided to treat Serena's paralyzed cord.
A quick camera scope today showed no movement in the left cord, and it is "bowed" at a 30 degree angle. This makes her unable to close her cords to protect her airway like those without vocal paralysis do. Therefore, when she drinks, her cords can not come together and she aspirates. Continued aspiration can have ill health effects, as well as quality of life concerns as she gets older and goes to school. We thicken her milk now, but what about in school? With friends? Out for drinks when she's of age? We can't thicken her drinks forever, and it's time for treatment.

We are blessed to live in Massachusetts, a state with excellent hospitals. Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary is where we go. Our ENT is a leading researcher in the country with respect with pediatric voice and airway.
This treatment is being done at her age because of aspiration issues, and although it will most likely improve her voice (the procedures are done to improve voice without aspiration) we are opting for it now because of the aspiration problems.
As of now, there is no treatment to get a vocal cord to *move* once it is paralyzed by nerve damage. There are some cases of the cord spontaneously gaining mobility, but this is not likely for Serena, because it's almost definite that her paralysis is due to nerve damage at the time of her PDA ligation. At 20 months old, with a cord still paralyzed, the chances of it spontaneously moving again are nearly zero.

So for now, we are opting to do two procedures at once to help bring Serena's left vocal cord more to a 5 degree angle (almost closed) to protect her airway and prevent aspiration.
The first I'll describe is a temporary fix which needs to be done because the long term fix takes several months to "work." Here is a brief description: Injection augmentation laryngoplasty is done while the patient is fully asleep in the operating room. The procedure involves injecting a material deep to the vocal cords using special instrumentation. Our ENT uses a susbstance called Radiesse. The body absorbs much of the substance within a year of the procedure, which is why it is a temporary fix. It can be repeated, but since there is another option, we are going with that so that Serena doesn't have to repeatedly have the material injected.
The "fix" to keep her vocal cord at more of a 5 degree angle as opposed to the current 30, is called Laryngeal Reinnervation; specifically, ansa cervicalis to recurrent laryngeal nerve reinnervation.
In this procedure a nerve in the neck called the ansa cervicalis nerve is hooked up to the laryngeal nerve (the nerve that makes the vocal cord move). This re-innervation has had tremendous results for voice improvement and improvement in aspiration due to vocal cord paralysis. It does take some time for the "re-innervation" to take place, which is why we will do the injection as a temporary fix until the reinnervation works, which hopefully it will.

If her voice is a quality of life concern as she gets older there are additional steps we can take to try and improve it which will not be precluded by this reinnervation procedure.

The surgery is set for June 23rd. She will likely spend one night in the hospital for observation and will then be all set. We will have a follow-up modified barrium swallow set for 2 weeks after her surgery.

Please share this information with any other children with paralyzed vocal cords who have aspiration issues. It may even be an option to improve voice if it effects the child's quality of life. I have several studies sent to me by our ENT. It is a relatively new procedure and has not been done on many children; however I believe our ENT said he has done 3 of these surgeries so far.

Below are some pictures prior to this cold of Serena and Edwin with my Aunt Janet who is visiting.
Enjoy.

Quick post on why we've been MIA...*Updated***

Here it is quick and dirty:

Orthopedics: Agrees with PT, no need for braces, see again in 6 months at appointment with a PT and AFO specialist to reevaluate. Wasn't much help, didn't want to offer a dx although felt it could be CP, but since hypotonia is not as common it might take until 2.
Same day: woke up with runny nose Wednesday.
Attempted to go to Maine to visit my sister and meet up with my Dad, step mom, and 5 year old brother. Needed nebs every 4 hours, needed Tylenol and much more O2.
Sunday morning come home after a terrible trip. I'm sick now too, fever, stuffy/runny nose, junky cough. Kids much worse.
Start E on Pregnisone Sunday.
Bring kids to ER Monday for respiratory distress.
Spend a few hours in pedi ER.
Chest x-rays.
Edwin has pneumonia AGAIN.
Start both kids on Pregnisone and antibiotics for pneumonia (Serena's chest x ray was ok but start on antibiotics to be on the safe side.)
Edwin eaten barely anything in a week.
Serena not eating much.
Coughing, puking, desats, extreme increase on need for O2, meds, nebs, buggers.
Ugh stress.

Good news: Edwin definitely says Mama when sick and needs me...how cute.
Serena says and does peek a boo with hands over her eyes. Also very cute.
Serena walks everywhere inside and outside with or without shoes. Can get up into standing without pulling to stand on an object. Still sometimes "W" sits, but can now get herself from crawling to sitting on her bum. FINALLY!
E is weak because sick, but hopefully will continue practicing with push toy soon. Asking about reverse walker Thursday with PT, because back yard is finished as a play area and E won't crawl on grass and isn't too fond of the grass carpeting we have laid out in the backyard; I'd like him to be able to use his walker outside on the grass carpeting. We'll work on the aversion to grass and sand this summer.

So send healing thoughts are way. We were up to needing almost no O2, to needing a hell of a lot. Only good thing, we're not losing nursing anytime soon, so I'm not as worried about child care while I'm at work.


**Edited***
Almost forgot, Edwin crawls almost exclusively on hands and knees EVEN today when sick and weak from not eating and losing all his precious weight! VERY exciting!
I haven't actually tried E on the grass carpet (more like the outdoor felt-like stuff you put on concrete.) My mom surprised me and set it all up and with this sickness he hasn't tried. I thought it was the stuff that's kind of prickly and I know E won't crawl on it, so maybe he will be ok with the felt-like carpet thing outside. I'll still ask about the walker with PT on Thursday so he can be upright while outside and practice walking.
Serena is feeling terrible. Can I just tell you I hate CLD!!!! I hate that my kids take such a huge hit with respiratory illnesses. The thought of preschool terrifies me. I sure hope this is the last of our serious respiratory illnesses for a LONG time.
I have to video tape Serena. She talks up a storm and walks/tries to run all over the place. She's such a big girl!!

6-0!!!!

Sunday, May 18, 2008
Rodriguez notches TKO in first main event

BOXING

By Bud Barth TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
hbarth@telegram.com


BOSTON— His fight delayed almost two hours because of shoddy ring ropes that had to be repaired twice during the night, Worcester middleweight Edwin Rodriguez still managed to shine while fighting in the first main event of his pro career.

The 23-year-old Rodriguez, unable to attack the well-protected head of 25-year-old Anthony Cannon of Saginaw, Mich., found the range with some crippling body shots, especially in the third and fourth rounds, eventually forcing Cannon’s corner men to step in and stop the scheduled six-rounder at 1:07 of the fourth round before about 400 fans last night at Freeport Hall in Dorchester.

The TKO raised Rodriguez’s professional record to 6-0-0 with five knockouts, while Cannon — a last-minute substitute opponent — fell to 4-9-0.


Cannon’s strategy was simple — back into a corner and protect his head and stomach with his gloves and arms, occasionally exploding out of that possum posture to throw a left hook, which connected several times to the head of Rodriguez.

“He caught me a couple of times, but I was never hurt,” Rodriguez said. “I always kept my composure. I knew his game plan. He was just trying to catch me with a good shot.”

Rodriguez won the first three rounds handily, punctuating the end of the third with a right-hand shot to the kidney area just before the bell as Cannon was backed into his own corner. Cannon buried his head in his gloves in obvious pain.

Rodriguez didn’t waste any time in the fourth round, going to the same spot and landing a wicked right to the body that brought a grimace to Cannon’s face while he again was backed into his own corner. His handlers immediately stepped in and signaled to referee Charlie Dwyer to stop it.

“I thought I had him hurt in the first round, and I tried to take him out,” Rodriguez said, “but I realized I had six rounds, so I went to work and took my time, and that’s what I did. I knew I was going to be able to break him down and that he wasn’t going to be able to go six rounds with me.”

Rodriguez said he thought Cannon’s handlers made the right move by stopping the fight “because I was going to end up hurting him.”

Asked about what’s next, Rodriguez talked about making his Worcester debut on June 27 at the Lincoln Street Armory. An opponent has not been chosen, but Rodriguez boasted: “I’m ready for anybody … and I mean anybody.”

The card started more than an hour late, and then there were the ring rope problems, which caused a pair of 30-minute delays. Rodriguez’s fight didn’t begin until almost 10:40 p.m.

Cannon was a substituted opponent chosen Friday night after Rodriguez’s original foe, 28-year-old Luis Hodge (5-6-1, 3) of Sarasota, Fla., flunked his pre-fight physical because of an irregular EKG.

Not willing to put on the card without Rodriguez, who was the main attraction, promoters replaced Hodge with Cannon, who had been scheduled to fight Derek Hinkey (4-1-0, 1). That left Hinkey, a middleweight from Reno, Nev., without an opponent, so he was the odd-man out and didn’t fight.

Cannon didn’t have quite the credentials of Hodge, whose last seven opponents had a combined record of 69-10-1, with five of them undefeated.

Cannon’s previous six opponents had a combined record of 37-3-1. They included Aaron Pryor Jr. (10-0-0, 7) and Andy Lee (15-1-0, 12).

URGENT!!!! *Edited*

I'm sorry I have ZERO time, but I had to come here and create this post.
Last night while watching tv I saw one of those "Sunny side of truth" commercials, the tobacco ones that expose the tobacco company in a pretty convincing way.
Anyway, it was on how in 1971 when it was pointed out that smoking causes low birthweight infants, one tobaccos exec reportedly said "it's ok some women like smaller babies." Anyway, good message, that was a stupid comment ok. Well, no. They went on to show sickly cartoon babies jumping out of isolettes and singing a song calling them, sickly, wrinkly, and hamster-like without fur (too much in a rush to quote sorry.) But you can view the video for yourself here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypn3xpvA1eQ

I urge you all to go to www.thetruth.com after you watch the video on youtube (the one on their website cuts out all the demeaning words about low birthweight infants) and go to contact us and send an email. I sent one already and plan to send more and to contact the March of Dimes and get them involved.

So if you have a chance, check out the terrible ad and send your thoughts to sunny side of truth.

I'll update more later!


So I did some snooping, and I found the phone number of the representative of the The American Legacy Foundation, the foundation responsible for the "truth" campaign. She was very nice, and very understanding...I was as well which I'm sure helped. I explained to her that I wholeheartedly understood and agreed with the message 'truth' is getting out, and understood the importance of "shock value" with respect to targeting young people. I told her I agreed that the idea that an exec at the tobacco company would think that the product he worked to promote was acceptable to pregnant women because "some women prefer smaller babies" was ridiculous and should be exposed.
My issue lies solely with the way in which these small, sick babies were portrayed. Specifically, the wording that was used to describe them. Including: "limp", "scrawny", "scary", "like a gerbil but not as hairy", "little, puckered, innie, weanie, shriveled, tiny babies." I told her I thought it dehumanized small, sick infants, and felt there would have been a way to get the point across without using this terminology to describe the low birthweight infant. I told her as a parent of two extremely sick, low birthweight infants, and an aunt to an ELBW infant who passed, I could not help but be insulted by likening the smallest and sickest to gerbils without hair.
I have Patricia's email address and she encouraged me to email her my thoughts so she would have them in written form to pass on to the advertisers. This ad will only be airing until the end of June, but I think and she agreed, that it is important to explain why some of us are insulted by the terminology used to describe ill babies.
I think it is important that we remember what the ad is about...to show how ludicrous it is that an exec would think everything was well and good with smoking mothers because some mothers want smaller babies. This ad is not like the older March of Dimes ads in the "campaign of blame" where they would show a set of footprints of a preemie and a full termer and the print would read "which one's mother smoked?" This is not about smoking mothers, or any blame for prematurity, which I am happy about. But I am not happy about the wording used to describe low birthweight, sick infants. This is where the problem lies.

So please share your thoughts. I told her I was part of a large online support group of preemie mom bloggers, some of whom were also upset about the ad. I told her we fundraise for the March of Dimes and do our part to educate others on prematurity and advocate for our children, many of whom have medical and special needs. I assured her that we could tell any tobacco exec or any ignorant mother the realities of having ill, low birthweight infants. But also are children have value and should not be compared to hairless gerbils.
So please comment some feedback so I may include it in an email. I was told this was the first phone call they have received regarding this ad and she was very appreciative that I approached her in a calm way because they have had some nasty callers in the past regarding other ads. So I'd ask if you want to call or email that you do so in a polite way (I know you will) because she is a very nice woman and truly their message is an important one. The number is available online so I don't feel guilty posting it here: Patricia McLaughlin 202-454-5560. Her email was not published but given to me by her so I feel a little wrong publishing it here, but if you have anything to add please add it and I'll include it in my email and cite your name, or feel free to give her a call.

Thanks for your feedback/opinion of the language in the ad.

Pictures of their Dora kitchen and video of them riding their bike!

I can climb onto the couch!

Beautiful brown eyed girl!


Chef Edwin here

But *I* want to be the chef!!!

Cooking dinner for Mommy and Daddy!

Playing

Relaxing :) (Edwin was laying and Serena came over and layed on him!)

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

After I stopped videotaping she said "hi" about 6 times! lol

An update on E after PT today

Well I didn't get a chance to take pictures on Mother's Day. We were out and about and of course i forgot my camera. It was a great day though, and my mom printed out every single blog post and compiled it in a book for me! It was a great present! :)

I wanted to give an update on Edwin. Since I updated last he has really taken to crawling on hands and knees, something he previously would not do consistently. This is an amazing accomplishment for him because it means that his hands are open and pressed against the floor. This is important for both fine and gross motor skills, the strengthening of his arms and to create the arch in his palm. So PT came today, and witnessed his correct crawling. She felt this stage of development is vital for him, and wants to encourage the on the floor all fours crawling. This means she wants to wait about a month and allow him to explore on the floor in crawling until we introduce a walker. (There isn't one available now anyway.) He is still getting the opportunity to be upright because he pulls to stand and can now walk with his push toy, and he actually isn't resting his chest when doing so. His crawling and push toy walking are not "fluid" movements, as they are new to him, and therefore she suggested that we give him a little more time to perfect these skills before we give him the walker. Because I am extremely pleased to see him crawling, and see a lot of improvement with sitting up (allbeit "w" sitting and sitting on his bum when we place him there), I am going to listen to PT and give him more time to do things on his own without the walker, and reevaluate in about 4 weeks. He sees the orthopedist in 2 weeks, so I will have a second opinion then, and see about braces and perhaps introduce the walker sooner based on her eveluation. As of now PT believes that his turned out feet are appropriate for this stage of development...prewalking/walking with push toy. He does favor standing up with his right leg, so we have to stand behind him and shift his weight to his right side so that he pushes to stand with his left. We will also encourage his crawling, (making him crawl to us, or to get toys across the room)which is working his arms and encouraging opened hands palm-to-floor. We will continue to put him in sitting to work his trunk, and he is more than welcome to sit up in "w" for now while he explores for short times, and if he appears to want to sit to play, we will put him to sit on his bottom. I feel ok with this plan of action, especially until we see the ortho on the 28th.
PT still feels very uncomfortable with a CP dx, and feels we should give Edwin until he is 2 to see if his "dystonia" resolves, and that's 2 adjusted age, which means we're looking at January 2009. I will ask what ortho thinks of this and perhaps request another appointment with neurology. But as many who have been there know, a dx really only helps with insurance and the school system. Thankfully my insurance is fine and covers everything we need without a dx and school is a ways off, so I don't feel as compelled to get a dx unless we do decide to go with a walker or other adaptive equipment and need it for insurance purposes. As of now, until we see ortho, E can walk with his push toy if he wants to be upright and mobile. He also likes to knee walk while pushing his bike or his grocery cart, which is also good trunk exercise.

I will try and take some pictures tonight of them playing with their kitchen and tool bench. They are getting so big and acting like toddlers more each day! I will also try and get some video of Edwin all four crawling and Serena walking all over the house!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!
I'll edit this post with pictures from today later on tonight! Have a great day, you all deserve it!!!!

A little Serena

(It's easier to get pics of E, S is always so busy, and I'm too busy running after her sometimes!)


We've been focusing a lot on Edwin lately,(who has since decided he can walk with his push toy (not with terrific finesse, but can do it), will sit up to play (on his own it will be "w" sitting but oh well he's upright playing without standing), and crawling on all fours more and more. Getting ready to show PT we're ready to try the walker are we Mr. E?
But with so much focus on E, I feel like Serena is being left out, and trust me, if she was writing this it would be ALL about her.
Serena has an unbelievably dominant personality. She is sooo tough, and a little violent. So there IS a boxing gene!!! But in all seriousness, you get in her way, or she doesn't get hers, there will be hitting.
She had no problem taking toys away from her full term 19 month old cousin. While Ashley cried and whined for the toys back, Serena sat there with a smug look, and kept right on playing...Ashley was no match for Serena in pulling, and she won "tug of war with the toys" every time. She also batted Ashley a couple of times before I could stop her when Ashley tried to take the toy she was playing with away. Poor E has mostly learned his lesson and quickly retreats and finds something else to do should Serena become interested in what he has, or should he dare to try and take her toy. It was kind of comical, here were the two girls cat fighting, and Edwin was off in the other corner of the room minding his own business.

Serena is also walking now...officially, everywhere. It is so cute to see her. I am very proud of her walking, and encourage her to walk as opposed to crawl or knee walk, things she still does from time to time.
She also talks a lot. She "talks" in her own language (which I believe in Asian in origin) with differing tone like a conversation. She also says real words, and mimics words I tell her to say, which don't always result in repetition on her own, but she will catch on when we repeat and repeat. She knows the meaning of the words "hi" and "bye bye", her favorites. If you're getting on your shoes, or grab keys, she says "bye bye" and heads for the door. If the baby doll is around she will get a bottle a feed it without me telling her to now. (I know this is about S but E also knows to feed the baby on command.)
We just bought them a play kitchen today, and she thinks it's the greatest. She puts things in and out, and even though we just got it today, within seconds she had her shovel in the pail (which were being stored in her oven) and was stirring her cooking creation. I have never taught her that or played that with her before. It was pretty cool!
So she is growing up super fast and really amazes me more each day. She is precocious, daring, observant, and sometimes bratty. She is A LOT like me!!! (minus the daring part...that's ALL Daddy.)
She's starting other toddler behavior like throwing her food on the floor when she is done, throwing herself on the floor when she is upset, looking over sneakily when she is about to do something she knows she shouldn't be. How can you not laugh at that face?!
Oh, and she has learned to climb on the couch. yikes!

Pretend play in full effect!

Who needs bottles when we could be vacuuming?

I can too!

And in true Serena fashion, we will skip the walking and get right to "speed walking" so we can get to the vacuum Edwin is playing with quicker. Notice how E quickly retreats! lol!

Making progress...*Edited*n with update from today 5/7

Hey all...
So since I last posted I've made a few phone calls. Thanks to Melissa, Riley and Ross' mom, I feel pretty confident that E is a lot like Riley, and that DAFOs and a walker would be something to pursue. So we see pedi tomorrow, will ask for a referral to the orthopedist, (have the names of 2 great ones in our area) and will likely either get a dx from our pedi or from the orthopedist. I hope to get Edwin fitted with DAFOs as soon as possible and am waiting to hear back from PT regarding the walker.
I will keep you all informed.
In the meantime enjoy pics from tonight!
They are getting sooo BIG!!!








EDIT: I made the appointment with pedi to see about him being seen by ortho...I thought she might get us in quicker. But since I knew the appointment would be useless other than a quick referral (remember months ago her dxing E with CP just for more therapy?) I called the ortho myself to see when they were scheduling. I got one for June 4th, which isn't bad, so I decided to cancell the appoint with pedi, since there was nothing I felt she could offer in terms of a true dx. I also felt it useless since I have got in touch with the developmental pedi from NICU follow-up and the developmentalist and they both said the ortho we'll be seeing is great and would have the capability of dxing him if they felt there was a dx to be made. She will evaluate him to see if she thinks he should get AFOs.
However, I also spoke to PT this am and she feels that we are jumping the gun. She feels that E is making so much progress on his own that putting him in AFOs may limit what he can do on his own. She said the turning out of his feet is normal and the first part of standing, and as he gains strength in his trunk this can correct itself...if we jump to AFOs we won't know what he could have done on his own. So now I'm confused, but have the appointment with ortho for her opinion.
As for the walker, PT felt it is also too soon. She felt he stills needs to strengthen his trunk, with ab exercises and crawling on all fours on the floor. She is so impressed with his progress every other week when she comes, that she feels we should give him more time before we go to adaptive devices. While I hear what she is saying, I'd like to see how he does with the reverse walker, since he'll be forced to stand up straight and use those ab muscles. She said she would bring it next time.

She was also quick to tell me that she had thought of AFOs and a walker for Edwin but thought we weren't at that point yet. I think she felt a little insulted that I brought these things up, since although he may had thought of them never mentioned either to me. I think she thinks I'm that annoying mother that reads too much online and tries to come up with ideas, when it's not my specialty. Fair enough, but I'm just trying to do what's best for my children, and if that makes me annoying then oh well.
So we'll try the walker next week to see what he does. If I had to bet I'd say she'll give him the session, he won't have time to get used to it, and she'll say "see told you he wasn't ready." We'll see though. And then we'll see the orthopedist on June 4th and get her impression of his tone and his ankles.
So at least I feel like I'm exploring ideas and giving Edwin the best chance possible to become mobile like his sister, who every day gets more and more confident with her walking. I just don't want my poor guy left out standing up against the couch as his sis takes off if he truly does have the capability to be up "walking" around with her. So I'll of course keep you all up to date.

Video of Edwin highlighting his tone

It's a little lengthy, but I wanted to show as much as I could so you can see what I am talking about when I describe his tone.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Feeling a little better

(Read previous post first to understand this one)
I didn't sleep well last night ans woke up super early which is now resulting in a pounding headache. But I'm feeling better because I realize that it's not "too late" and am very thankful for all moms who blog because now I know what to ask for/ what can help Edwin.
I wanted to clarify that he CAN sit up, and recently began sitting without his hands propped. What happens is, he, like I'm sure most hypotonic kids, avoids using his trunk if possible, therefore, since he can get from sitting to crawling, when you put him in sitting he gets right out and plays on his belly. So I can't just put him in the bathtub in sitting because he'll hit his head in an effort to get out of the sitting position. Sometimes he does just fall over because it's really hard work for him to sit up on his bum. He is now resorting to sitting on his heels, which if not corrected, will lilkely expand to him solely "w" sitting.
This is a major reason I believe a reverse walker would be great for him. He wants to be up and walking around/standing, and using the reverse walker would force him to use these muscles he's been trying to avoid using. I am going to post video about his hypotonia so you can see first hand, but to an experienced eye I think you can notice it in pictures (a lot of leaning when standing) and in the videos I have posted in the past. Additionally, he's ankles really need support...they are weak and he stands like he's in a ballet class in "first position." I know giving him DAFOs and using the reverse walker will do wonders for him as he has already accomplished so much 'on his own.'
It was good to talk to my mom and Edwin about this because they made me feel better. There is nothing we can do about PT not addressing this in these past months, but at least I found this out and now we know where to go. Of course my mind races immediately to the families who don't have the resources or the knowledge of blogs and wonder how they navigate through things like this. Thank goodness for blogging!
I am going to take video today of Edwin so you can visualize what I am talking about. And please, I know my blog is private but if you find others who sound similar to EJ pass on my email to them. Thank you!!!


So for all interested here is the article from today's paper re Daddy's win.

Sunday, May 4, 2008
Rodriguez gets quick knockout

BOXING

By Bud Barth TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
hbarth@telegram.com


Worcester middleweight Edwin Rodriguez continued his inexorable march toward a major title fight, knocking down Michael Birthmark of Billings, Mont., just 70 seconds after the opening bell, bloodying his nose and cutting him over the right eye before stopping the 24-year-old novice at 2:46 of the first round last night at Coeur d’Alene Casino in Worley, Idaho.

It was the fourth knockout in five fights for Rodriguez (5-0-0), who celebrates his 23rd birthday tomorrow. For Birthmark (1-3), a former Montana state champion in Tough Man Competition who took up boxing only last November, it was the first time he had been stopped.

“He was fast, faster than I’ve ever met in the ring,” Birthmark said by phone after the TKO. “He didn’t have that much power, but the snap in his punches, that did enough damage. It was the speed and the angle of his punches that really bothered me.”


Rodriguez knocked Birthmark down with a pair of left hooks to the body at 1:10. Then he trapped his opponent in the corner and unleashed a barrage that culminated in a “standard five-punch combination” and a decisive uppercut that caused the referee to step in, according to Rodriguez’s manager, Larry Army Jr.

“There was blood coming out his nose, a cut over the right eye,” Army said. “During the combination, (Birthmark) was (caught) in the corner for about 30 seconds. A straight right busted the nose, and an overhand right cut him over the eye.

“It was a dominating performance against a kid who’s never been knocked out.”

Rodriguez, who returns to Worcester today and fights again in two weeks when he faces his first six-round bout at Freeport Hall in Dorchester, was pleased with his showing.

“He was a strong kid, actually, but I caught him early with a couple of body shots,” Rodriguez said. “I went to the body early and finished it up to the head.

“I’m 5-0 with four knockouts, and it could have been five and five, but I can’t go back in time. I’ve just got to learn from past experiences.”

It was Rodriguez’s first fight using Reyes gloves, which are lighter and considered puncher’s gloves. He had used Everlast before that.

“It couldn’t have gone better,” said Rodriguez, who weighed 165 for the bout to Birthmark’s 167-1/2. “I’m really happy with my performance. It’s just another step toward me becoming a world champion.”

Army said Rodriguez’s opponent for his May 17 bout in Dorchester will be named on Tuesday. It will also be Rodriguez’s first six-round fight; his first five were scheduled four-rounders, although Rodriguez went into the fourth round only twice.

“Oh, he’s ready for the six rounds,” Army said.

“I’m telling you, he’s one helluva fighter,” Birthmark added. “He whipped my (butt). But I would like a rematch somewhere down the road.”

_________________________________________________________________________________
My commentary: you don't think he has power, yet he knocked you down 90 seconds into the fight with shots to the body, cut you above the eye, gave you a bloodly nose, and stopped you all in the first round? He's got power sweetie.


Next fight poster...come out and show your support!

SOOO upset right now

I am so upset right now, and it's late and no one is awake and I have to vent.
While reading one of the blogs I regularly read I was linked to another blog. I just sent this mom a comment on her blog asking her to contact me because her son's development is strikingly similar to Edwin's. She hasn't responded since it's so late and I shouldn't even be awake, so I don't want to give too much detail even though the blog is public. I want to wait for her permission. But her description of her son is sooo similar to Edwin with respect to the low trunk tone, the belly crawling, pulling to stand and cruising but resting his trunk/chest, etc etc. He has been given an official dx of mild hypotonic CP, what I believe Edwin has, and his PT has introduced a reverse walker and he has had DAFOs for months (he is about EJ's age.)
I am so angry with our therapists. I have taken Edwin to a developmental eval with his pedi, to a neurologist, to NICU follow-up, weekly EI/OT/PT all with evals, and NO ONE has suggested any equipment to help him. I have asked and asked about a CP dx and no one wants to give it.

This means when I tried to join a CP support group months ago I was denied because my son didn't have an official dx even though I explained in detail my concerns about his tone and wanted some support. Well I'm sorry, he doesn't have a dx but my son doesn't even sit up for more than a few seconds and he is 19 months old! He CLEARLY is hypotonic and it effects his play and exploration. I could have met this mom or others months ago and knew specifically what to ask for...DAFOs and a reverse walker. (I'm sorry but I am really hurt I was denied this support based on hesitation by specific doctors.)

WHY am *I* searching for these things. Why isn't he getting the therapy/care he needs. I am doing my part and I'm a parent with ZERO experience in hypotonia! Why do kids younger than EJ have reverse walkers and yet no one has ever offered it for him? Why haven't they tried DAFOs when he's ankles are clearly weak and not straight when standing??? Why do I feel like I am running an uphill battle, and instead of listening, everyone tells me is he's making progress and doing well.
Of course he is...no thanks to any of you "professionals!" He is learning all this by himself and in the meantime learning to do it without using his trunk muscles because you're not giving him the equipment he needs to force him to do this! He leans on his push toy to "walk" now, further limiting the use of his trunk. Why should I know this? Why aren't you pointing this out to me?!?
I'm sorry, but I am so upset right now. I feel like my son has been jipped and hasn't got the care he needs. I feel guilty because I can't afford private therapy and have been dependent on what insurance covers, although have gone out of my way to set up appointments with neuro and a special developmental appoint with our pedi. PT is suppose to be "the best" and yet why haven't we tried anything with him other than some basic stuff on our living room floor?
I wish it were Monday now because I am calling EVERYONE I can to get things in order. I want Edwin to have the very best chance to live to his potential and they are limiting that. I want him evaluated for DAFOs and I want a reverse walker in here asap. He WANTS to walk around and instead of saying "it's going to be awhile before he can walk" why don't you give him a piece of equipment that will help him do it NOW??? I want intensive PT and I want it yesterday. I'm not going to be as nice anymore, this is bs. I want a dx so I can join that CP support group and figure out from CP parents what other things I should do for him.

What makes me even more angry is Edwin tries so hard! He should have been given more attention by these professionals and should have been given chances to prove himself with appropriate help from medical equipment. I wish I had known sooner. I hadn't found any children who mirrored Edwin's low tone until tonight by chance. I wish I had been able to utilize the CP support group earlier because clearly he is hypotonic and it's not "going away" like transient dystonia does. It gets better, but it's there and it impacts his ability to even sit up.

Why is there such disparity between professionals in diagnosing kids and why is there such marked differences in therapy services?!?!
As you can tell I'm really angry...but I feel better now that I vented. By the way I'm up because I had to wait to hear from Daddy...he won his 5th professional fight by first round knock out...yay Daddy! I didn't want to upset him and tell him about how I feel Edwin has not been getting what he needs via the PT and specialists, but thankfully I have my blog to "let it out."
I just want what's best for my children, and I am so upset that no one has been listening to my concerns about Edwin and that I have to search for kids similar to him on my own because I knew there was more PT should have been doing.
I'll keep you all updated on how things go.

In good news, Serena is walking now...not just a few steps here and there but really walking. And she learned the word "dog" today since my aunt is visiting and brought her dog Jackson. Oh yeah, and she has been saying "hi" and waving for a week or so. That's as upbeat as I can get right now. Tune in tomorrow/Monday.