Joseph is growing up!

with auntie Clare and cousin Olivia on the river Seine boat trip this Summer



with Mummy



..having fun at lunch-time, sitting in his special seat




Feeling proud of my special orthopedic seat!



Dear Friends,
We have been very busy since we last posted news about Joseph.

His therapy involves regular visits to the physiotherapist, speech therapist, hearing specialist and neurologist as well as days out at the park and visiting friends!

He turned one on August 18 and he is now bursting out of his age one clothes and fitting more comfortably in 18-month clothing! His growth is the first in a series of miracles.

After being diagnosed as profoundly deaf in May, the diagnosis has now been reduced to "moderate deafness", which means that he can hear, even without his little hearing aids, and also that he can chatter, which he does a lot. At church if we are holding him standing up on our lap he sometimes waves his arms and "preaches" to join in with the congregation!

He is very lively and aware of people and we were advised to take him to a playgroup a few hours a week, which has so far been a success. He laughs a lot, especially when his big brother, Gabriel does funny things, and the two brothers enjoy each other's company, which is wonderful to see.

We are very pleased that he is starting to control his body better, and is nearly rolling over from his back to his front. Babies born full-term often manage this at the age of 5 months, so Joseph' s timetable is clearly different (he is 13 months), but the physiotherapist is delighted with his progress and even admires his strong will and capacity to do the exercises without complaining. (We know, of course, that Joseph has been sustained and strengthened by a loving God since he was in an incubator, between life and death). He can be held (briefly) standing up, which he loves, and one of our big prayers is that God allows him to walk!

All in all, we are excited and so proud to watch Joseph grow. He is such a strong-willed, fun-loving little boy that there is no doubt in my mind that God is intervening in his life, and in his body, and doing him good. We know that God does good, and is good, and we thank him all the time for having saved Joseph's life and for every step forward he is taking, every day.

We pray for all those who have prayed and are praying for Joseph, that God will bless you for your support. Please continue to pray, that Joseph manages to control his body and legs, and also opens his little fists more and more freely (when he is excited, he clenches his fists and stiffens his legs, but he can relax them at other times).

Thank you again for your support and prayers.
God bless
Michelle for the Fleck family.