joey

Joey is my son. He was going on 2 when he was diagnosed with NF1; he was not walking or talking yet. Joey started receiving speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy at a young age. He even started preschool early so that therapy could begin as soon as possible. His family was told that he had a low IQ even at that age. He went through a period of time where he was having seizures. He has a tumor on his optic nerve and last year he needed brain surgery to remove a tumor. He has also had to have 2 hand surgeries to remove tumors in his hand and this last surgery the doctors had to fuse his thumb joint. He is developmentally behind others of his age and needs to reminded of things often, but he has worked hard to get where he is and I am very proud to call him my son.