Out come the wires

Matt showed his courage again yesterday when the wires were removed from his thumbs. It was a simple procedure that took place in the doctor's office. Matt didn't get anaesthetic, only oral pain-killers. Matt sat on the bed and the surgeon used a pair of pliers (literally) to pull out the wires. He cried a lot at the time, but within ten minutes he was fine. Resilient!

The holes have closed up and this evening Matt had his first bath in 3 and a half weeks. Matt still needs to wear his splints for another 3 weeks.

Look at these loooong things that were in his little hands!

Bandages removed - 3rd December 2007

After Matt's bandages were removed, tiny splints were made for his fingers. We were so impressed with the Occupational Therapist's ability to create these delicate, but sturdy, thumb supports.

Boxing gloves?

Matthew is initially confused by the big bandages on his hands.

However it didn't take him long to adapt and to find ways to still pick-up and play with his favourite toys.

Matthew's Surgery

Matthew was born with angled thumbs and undescended testes, both typical of his syndrome. On the 26th November he underwent surgery to have these two issues corrected.

The orthopaedic surgeon, working under a microscope, cut into the bones in the thumbs and straightened them. He put wires down the middle of the thumb bones to fix them in place.

The urologist found Matt's testes in his groin area and brought them down into his scrotum.

Amazing craftsmanship!!!


Waiting for surgery, unaware that his life is about to change!












Here is the brave warrior after he emerged from theatre...

Celebrating one year of Physio!!

Matt’s first visit from his physiotherapist, Pamela K Hansford, was on the 24th November 2006 when she came to our home. Since that time he has had regular sessions at her at practice. She has helped him make great progress. This post is to celebrate one year of physiotherapy – of stabilizing, stretching, and strengthening.

February 2007

March 2007

June 2007

November 2007

For a cellphone I will do anything...even try to crawl!

Sleeping baby

When I check on Matt as he sleeps I am filled with a sense of wonder. He is lying there -serenely, peacefully, contently. His face is captivated by restfulness. His breathing calms me as does the soft trickle of a mountain stream.

There is something heavenly about a sleeping baby. Something that is not of this earth. Am I sensing God’s presence? Is it that He is watching over this child so intently that anyone who comes into the room can feel His shepherding Spirit? The Shepherd that leads one beside quiet waters and restores one’s soul.

Sometimes I stand there soaking in the rest and when I finally close the door behind me I feel like I have been away on a long, rejuvenating holiday.

Matthews 1st Birthday - 26th September 2007

The box is always more fun than the actual present.

Opening presents in Nature's Valley

Matt's birthday cap

Matt's birthday swim in Nature's Valley Lagoon

Matt's birthday celebration in Kirstenbosch Gardens

Cuddle time with his uncle, Kennet

Play time with Mormor (Danish for Grandmother)

Fun piggy back rides

Happy to be one years old!

On his Father's shoulders

I was spending time with some friends who have children the same age as Matt. I love to see how they grow and discover the world. Yet there is a tiny part of me that wishes Matt could do the same things that they can. I was trying to describe this feeling to Lloyd – “It’s like Matt is running a race at his school. All the parents are sitting in the stands watching the end of the race. The children come running in, a tight finish, everyone holds their breath to see who wins. But someone is missing; one child hasn’t finished the race. And then there comes little Matt – running determinedly, but slowly. Everyone watches as he crosses the finish line way after all the other children.” Lloyd was quick to point out that Matt isn’t running in that race - in fact there is no competition between him and other children. I knew this with my head, but my heart needed something more in order to remove the ache of seeing one’s child come last.

A few days later I was praying with a friend of mine, and God gave me a very clear picture. The same scene – the race at the school, parents on the stands, children crossing the finish line, where is our little boy? And then Matt rounds the corner – this time not alone – but riding on the shoulders of Jesus. Matthew’s face is bright with joy. Jesus’ eyes shining with laughter. Neither very concerned about the race at all. I felt God saying “Jax, I have Matt just where I want him, He’s with me and that’s all that counts”

Again God’s peace removed the ache.

Every time I see little Matt enjoying the ride on his father’s shoulders it reminds me that he is also riding his Father’s shoulders.

Love

The Bible says that if we have not LOVE then we are nothing

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13: 1-7

nothing
nothing
We are nothing without love

It does not say if we learn to crawl long after most children crawl we are nothing
It does not say if we struggle to learn how to speak we are nothing
It does not say if we grow up dependent on others we are nothing

No it says if we have not LOVE then we are nothing

This is helping us to free ourselves from worrying about Matt's development.
Rather, our goal is to let Matthew know he is LOVED
And to help him unlock the deep well of LOVE that God has placed in his heart...

For then he will have LOVE and he will be something

Matt discovers flowers

Uncle Neeb is 42 - 18th June 2007

Lloyd has an older brother called Lance, his nickname is "Neeb". Matt thinks its quite funny that his Uncle Neeb is now 42 years old.

Matt’s dedication: Our dedication

With God’s help and grace we dedicate ourselves:

To love Matthew.

To help him be all that God has made him to be, not what we think he should be or what others say he should be.

To delight in the things he can do, rather than despair in the things he cannot do.

To share our relationship with God with him.

To let him know that he is precious and that his life has purpose.

To learn from him.

To use our experiences from him to help others.

To hold him close, but never too tightly, knowing that God has got Him in his hands.

Matt’s dedication: Poem from Stanzi

MATTHEW JOHN TOOKE

Matthew.
I have seen your river
bright and full and sparkling with fish,
green and gleaming things.

I have waded waded into
the water deeply,
clumsily hoping to catch words
to show this picture, this love, this dream.

Matthew.
A man – a man – once made many fish from two
leaving over so much
the basket-carriers didn’t know
what to do.

This man kneads the bread of life,
feeding need until more is left
over than all we ask or imagine;
Cups that flow over
And over
And over

This man, this GOD I know,
His words changed into a stream
and the stream flows with life.
Can you hear Him calling
the fishermen to fish until
they become the stream?
Calling soft-handed masters to wash
Their servants’ dusty feet,
and hoarders to cast
their bread upon the waters?

MATTHEW.
THIS is what I pray for you:

Wide, wild water
freshly living and filled
with lively grace,
silver fish that miraculously
multiply.

Matthew J.Tooke may
your life be filled with
pools of greenness like your eyes
the blue of water,
grey pregnant skies;
may your life be flooded
with these things I love for you –
may yours be the river
of revelations twenty-two
and yours the water
of psalm twenty-three.

Little precious boy much loved
may you truly, splashingly
LIVE
and may your swimming, soaring soul
always and in truth
be free.

Matt's Dedication: Quotes

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

-Corrie ten Boom

Jesus chose to be around small children a number of times in his ministry, often over the objections of his disciples. Sometimes he seems to have done this in order to hold children up as examples of the childlike qualities that enable God's Realm. But maybe, sometimes, he just wanted to hold them.

- Susan Ross