A Poem for Elliot

Winner of the Grading Girl contest...

Unwrap Me
by Stefanie Dell’Aringa

Scout’s honor, this is my life:
I feel like an Egyptian mummy
being wrapped in slow motion from the feet up
My insides are like pottery breaking
As the python cloth squeezes
Unwrap me, please, and let me be a boy again
Because my ankles are tired
And I don’t like the word “prosthetic”
If Star Wars was real, I’d light saber myself
Out of this mess
Hurry, and find me a cure
Until then, I’ll go outside
I’ll blow hot, angry air into my trumpet
I’ll eat cake. Sweet!
I’ll decide I can wait
And then I’ll go to bed and dream
Of a ladder made of Legos
That reaches straight to heaven
and it doesn’t hurt to climb it

Taco, Dribble & Dr. G

Elliot (and sister Rachel) adopted a tiger striped kitten and named him Taco. Once again, we've lucked out in securing a really special animal. Taco is laid-back, loves affection and has the personality of a dog!

A few weeks after Taco arrived, Elliot rescued a turtle that had washed up into the yard during the floods here in Atlanta. This stinky little creature has been relegated to live in the garage! It can't play, it's not soft & fuzzy, and it stays under water most of the time... but Elliot thinks it's the greatest thing ever. So - for now - we have another pet.... named "Dribble".

On the health front, we've received good and bad news this month... We'll start with the good. Elliot went to see Dr. Goldstein (neurologist) for the first time on October 1st and was told that he no longer needed to wear his night braces. Note: Dr. Goldstein has become a fast favorite of Master Elliot's! Unfortunately, the trip to Dr. Bruce's office (ortho surgeon) didn't go as well. Elliot will have the first of two surgeries on his feet in December 09. Dr. Bruce will stretch and move tendons. When he recovers from the first surgery, he'll have the second foot done.

Research is being done to find a cure for CMT2. If you'd like to help speed things up, please make a donation at www.hnf-cure.org.