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Valerie December 1999
c/o Visual Electronics, Ltd 8200 E. Pacific Place, Suite 103 Denver, CO 80231 Voice: 303-639-8450 Fax: 303-369-2635 |
 By Valerie's Mother: Betsey Kirkemo Because Valerie was conceived at a time highly unlikely and during circumstances beyond my control, her mere existence is a miracle. I have come to understand her presence in our lives as inspirational and very spiritual in nature. From shortly after her birth, I just knew that there was something "not normal" with this baby and life would never be "normal" again. The extent of what we were to experience would remain unknown, but would reveal itself as her story unfolded… She arrived in this world on Monday, March 3, 1997, just 2 weeks before her due date. It was an easy labor and pretty uneventful as far as post-deliveries go. We went home and that’s when the trouble began. After 15 months of extensive medical challenges, numerous hospitalizations and a surgery behind us, we obtained a developmental evaluation. It pointed out what we had already suspected: that Valerie had significant developmental delays. The recommendation by the evaluating pediatrician suggested we enroll Valerie in physical, occupational, speech and feeding therapies to assist her in all the areas lacking. We began feeding therapy at Rose Medical Center in May 1998. Dr. Kay Toomey became our quarterback, helping us work through her challenges and our challenges as a family. In June, I took a sabbatical from my full time employment to stay home with Valerie and concentrate on her therapies. I worked part time from my home and thank God every day for Dennis Dougherty and my entire team at Visual Electronics who carried me for the four months I was out. 
She started walking at 22 months, which was our greatest Christmas present in 1998! She still has her medical challenges, including swallowing difficulties, which force us to thicken her liquids to the consistency of honey. She still receives speech, physical, occupational and feeding therapies.
In May 2000, Valerie was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome (AS). AS is typified by moderate to severe developmental disabilities, little or no speech, epilepsy, an extraordinarily cheerful disposition, a sleep disorder (they have erratic sleep patterns and can function on little sleep) and a fascination/obsession with water. Because of her numerous developmental challenges and non-verbal status, she still receives speech, physical and occupational therapies on a routine basis. Although our fond nickname for Valerie is Taz (aptly named for Warner Bros. cartoon character, Tasmanian Devil), in actuality, she is our littlest Angel.
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