Jaden’s Story

You all may have read in Andy’s last blog that Jaden starts school on Friday in the Pre-K special needs class. We are all very excited and hopeful. Her teacher asked us to write a story about Jaden and our family to share with the other students’ families. I feel like I know Jaden very well so I took on this tough assignment. It was one of the most emotional pieces I have ever written but I can imagine Jaden telling us her story just like this:

My name is Jaden Richards and if I could talk, I would tell you the following story about my life so far. My mommy (whose name is Melissa) and daddy (whose name is Andy) met in England when my mommy was on a business trip. Mommy is American and Daddy is English. They fell in love and Daddy moved to America where they lived together in Annapolis. Mommy’s friends ask her where they can find the man of their dreams and she says “England.”

I was born in Annapolis, Maryland on July 17, 2003, about one month after my parents’ first wedding anniversary. I was not born premature, but Mommy was diagnosed with IUGR (Inter-Uterine Growth Restriction) near the end of her pregnancy and I was born with a low birth weight of 5lbs13oz and low muscle tone. I may have been small but I certainly had lots of hair! Since then I have always grown very slowly, a condition that my doctors called “failure to thrive” in my first year. Because of my low muscle tone I got tired easily when sucking my bottle, and in fact, when I was 5 days old I had to go back into the hospital because I was dehydrated. The doctors did many tests but they had no answers.

When I was five months old we moved to North Carolina, and around the same time my parents and doctor noticed that I was not achieving some of the text book milestones. I got several new doctors including a geneticist and a pediatric neurologist at UNC Children’s Hospital. They, too, did lots of different tests. I see them regularly and even now they cannot diagnose my challenges. My Nana (grandma) says it is because I am an angel sent from heaven and no one knows what milestones angels are supposed to meet.

Three weeks before my first birthday my baby sister Jasmine was born. And boy is the house louder now that she’s around! She is full of energy and talks all the time. I’m so glad she’s around to entertain me. I’ve even learned quite a bit watching her – like eating with a spoon and other things.

My Daddy is a stay-at-home-dad and a rugby coach, and my Mommy is a marketing executive. Some people think that is a funny situation but it works for me! I also have a half-brother named Adam who lives in England. I love it when he visits!

If you ask me to name a few of my favorite things, I would have to say ice cream, musical instruments, and books. I am a very happy girl and love attention! I am excited to begin school and make new friends. Mommy says I bring more love to the world and that when you get to know me, you’ll know what she means.

-Jaden

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