When Nicole was born, she had thick black hair and sideburns, I was so surprised because her sister had been born totally bald.  I noticed her thumbs were kind of wide.  Nicole was diagnosed with RTS at age 1 year old in 1995.  For months I knew something was wrong.  We frequently were rushing to the Doctor for ear infections and feeding problems and I remember being very concerned that she was not progressing reaching the usual milestones.  By four months she was crying so much the Doctor kept calling it colic.  Finally, I switched Insurance and within a month they found out she had reflux.  After being on 3 medicines a day for months, finally she was either cured or outgrew it.  She is still battling constipation.  At about a year she had tubes put in her ears as ear infections were happening about every 6 weeks.  The tubes eliminated her ear infections.  She has since been struggling with upper respiratory infections, such as chronic sinus infections.  Soon she will have her tonsils and/or adnoids out.  We pray this will eliminate her constant infections.

     “As a single mom I have struggled with why this happened to Nicole....  I have grown so much as a person because of Nicole, I need not ask why anymore.  I know that Nicole is truly a blessing and I am very fortunate to be her mom.”

Her wonderful personality

Nicole is a happy child.  She is very social and loves people.  At around 3 years old she would hug anyone who came over to the house or anyone she met.  She doesn’t know stranger danger.  Her speech has really taken off in the last two years, at one time we thought she may never speak, she would moan all the time, not because she was hurt, because she wanted so badly to communicate.  Then all of a sudden she began saying one word at a time.  Her teacher and I were so thrilled at the end of the year we totalled up all the new words which amounted to about 60.  I knew I would remember this day forever as I was so relieved and encouraged.  Nicole is very loving, if she sees someone who is sad she becomes very concerned.  I remember one day she saw me cry and went into the bathroom ripped a tiny piece of tissue off and came and blotted the corner of my eye.  Which of course made me cry a little more, because I was so touched.  Nicole is so sweet although her sister may disagree at times.  Nicole is now saying “Hit me... kicka me.”  She does this when mad at her sister.  If her sister Stephanie (10) gets frustrated with Nicole messing up her things, Nicole will say, Sissy hit me or kicka me.”  She is much more clever than we give her credit for.

Age 4-1/2 months