Cherishing every moment.

A glimpse into our world: Dean Douglas is a twin with a long story already just 10 years into life, birthday 11/2/2013. Dean and his brother, Luke are identical twins so I am a "freak of natural since identical are not genetic, ha! They are "military brats" but have been lucky due to medical situation that they have only ever called Colorado Springs their home. Moving states we would loose all our specialists, medicaid, etc. Colorado has treated us pretty well. When I found I was pregnant with mono-di twins I prayed to have boys and luck would be it that's what I have! Tears of joys were the response to all the excitement every step of the pregnancy. Unexpectedly at 23 weeks I could not keep these two in anymore. Luke has his story but is more of the typical problem child as a 7 year old than the medical so I will just say Dean's since it's for him. After 96 hours Dean ended up getting brain bleed which is very uncommon that far after birth of a preemie (it's typically before 72 hours) but as we have learned Dean and God have their own plan for him and don't "follow" the rules. He was maxed out on everything as we were told that it was in his hands now. I started to talk about funeral arrangements if we needed to create them (we were going to spread his ashes likely illegally but I didn't care up at Pikes Peak since that is the closest I could get to Heaven), we called our families and said " if you want to meet Dean this might be your only chance as we aren't sure he will make it for much longer, he is fighting hard." Doctors in a meeting with all the family (my husbands siblings, I am an only child) told us he would be a vegetable, all that scary stuff they do since they want to make sure we grasp just exactly what might occur even when no one in fact one but if we could be ok with that then we would be ok with any kiddo that he became. I ended up getting mad when they mentioned "letting the dying process continue" and family were asking some ridiculous questions. I stepped up and said "Dean is my child. If he and God chose to keep fighting and win these battles that he and his brother are facing then I will not stop fighting along side he/them. In the end of the day, week, months, and time in the NICU it will just be myself, Matt, and the twins living each day out with the challenges this life will throw our way. You will go home to your life, go back to your normal, and our life will not truly affect yours so I understand you wanting to know everything but it's not your choice to make and it will not effect your life in the end." The bleeds stopped the following day and all the medications they maxed slowly went down. Dean and luke had many other battles through his and his brothers NICU stay 156/154 days respectively. We had 24/7 nursing care for 2 years after that and it wasn't until Aug of 2016 we decided we could do this crazy life on our own. Dean's list of medical includes: hydrocephalus, level 4 (left) and level 3 grade brain bleeds (no longer active as they stopped a day after they began at 4 days old), VP shunt, subgalial shunt, epilepsy, Optical Nerve Atropy (ONA; he was legally blind but 2% can get vision back as the little bit of the nerve still intact gets stronger, another sign Dean defies all his odds lined up against him!), nystagmus, PDA ligation (two weeks old heart surgery both boys), Left paralyzed vocal cord (from the PDA ligations like brother, too... again 20% risk and they both got it), Chronic Lung disease (for both), Gtube dependent (can not safely eat by mouth), esophageal strictures (this with the vocal cord make the eating by mouth close to impossible BUT something that dissolves like an Oreo he can do if he wants, most of the time he just like to taste things then to be safe spits out), GERD, Nissan fundoplication (excuse drainage with this vocal cord he can chock on his silva if really bad and if he refluxes he could aspirate (has had pneumonia in the past),hernia (fixed with surgery) and the big DIAPLEGIA SPASTIC CEREBRAL PALSY. Dean has had over 49 surgeries in his short time on this earth but he is a resilient little man, fighting, and defying all those odds stacked against him. Living in Colorado and his parents (myself and Matt) being from the country in Iowa/Missouri, getting outside in nature is extremely important to us. Colorado Springs has some amazing outdoor experiences to offer and we love to get the twins out on hikes when the weather is "warm." We have reached our limits on all ways to carry Dean (his dad was had shoulder surgery and aches from military life and his mom, had a posting accident at 17 leaving her with herniated discs, spinal plus muscle degeneration, and osteroporosis) and pushing him in a stroller in one of our favorite places, fox run park, isn't possible with all the amazing trees. We also were taking trips twice year prior to the pandemic (Disney, beach, etc) and started back up in fall of 2022. Just as many in this unique life we live, know to be able to take our loved one in certain situations is much more ideal, easier, and less stress with the proper equipment. One of the twins home nurses became a life long friend of ours, Auntie Kelsey. She relocated to Seattle. We visited them after that LOOOONNNGG drive a few years back using a stroller and backpack carrier to go hiking but now when we go in the next year or two we will not be able to do so without a bike. With my husband. Dean’s dad in the military he goes away for months at a time meaning when he is here we filled all our time with as much fun as we can and for us that means the financially easy option of going out on those hikes, getting a membership to the Cheyenne Mountain zoo (it's on the side of the mountain and it's a HIKE in itself. if you haven't been get out here when it's safe and go! You won't be disappointed!)... Dean's quality of life and his experiences will grow exponentially. Cognitively Dean has his struggles some things he grasps beyond his years and others he is still just a kinder, he is with the help of his family and para’s at school learning and growing right along side his partner in life, twin brother Luke. They are each others best friends. I am so blessed they have each other to relate, understand, and support on their journey. Dean is all about inclusivity, not only for himself with his peers but for them as well. He makes sure no one is left out. His emotional intelligence has and is very high, such a kind soul. Loved by everyone who knows him, best hugger ever to ease your heart and put a smile on your face. Mr. Sunshine. It would kill me to say to him "no, we can't do that hun because your chair can't. With this bike we have a back up to all those accessibility issues. The life he could live would be limitless! We humbly ask for support/aid in providing this fantastic piece of equipment to open up many more doors in our little family’s world!