Photo Story

More Happiness

by Katie Selden

Gavin Vander Wall, 3, of Byron Center, was born with Down syndrome and severe heart defects. Gavin spent most of his first year in and out of hospitals for five heart surgeries. In April of 2007, Gavin suffered a stroke that left him unable to talk, walk, and hold his head up on his own. His mother, Alicia Vander Wall, 38, has kept a blog as a both way of giving Gavin a voice in the world and to show her readers the joy, even through the struggles, that a boy with Down syndrome brings.





Gavin Vander Wall, 3, of Byron Center, sits in a special chair, similar to a car seat, to keep his head up on April 10, 2010. Alicia Vander Wall, 38, calls Gavin the “greatest gift ever given to me!” in April 23, 2010 blog entry.

Gavin and Alicia Vander Wall play while his mom goes through his daily treatments on Saturday, April 10, 2010 . Gavin has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease, or COPD, which causes his lungs to make extra mucus. Alicia Vander Wall uses this suction cup to break up the mucus that collects in his lungs to make it easier for him to breathe.

Nolan Vander Wall, 10, and Jacob Vander Wall, 14, play with Gavin on April 24, 2010. On June 18, 2009, Alicia Vander Wall wrote, “I love that our older boys love Gavin! It makes me so happy to see them WANT to be with him and WANT to play with him! They truly enjoy having him as their brother, even though he can't do a whole lot or get up and play with them.”





Alicia Vander Wall, 38, and Gavin Vander Wall, 3, of Byron Center, watch son and brother Caleb Vander Wall, 7, of Byron Center, play one of his first little league games of the season at Cutler Park on April 17, 2010. Despite the gloomy sky and chilly wind, Gavin grins as he and his mom cheer on Caleb.

Alicia Vander Wall, 38, of Byron Center, helps Gavin Vander Wall, 3, of Byron Center, keep his head up while he is stretched into a standing position on April 10, 2010. This device, called a Squiggles Stander, holds Gavin in a standing position so that his hip and leg bones receive the proper pressure they need in order to grow strong.







(From left to right) Nolan Vander Wall, 10, Joel Vander Wall, 38, Gavin Vander Wall, 3, Alicia Vander Wall, 38, Caleb Vander Wall, 7, and Jacob Vander Wall, 14, of Byron Center, pose for a family picture inside their home on April 24, 2010. Both the joys and the struggles of raising Gavin have brought them closer as a family.







Alicia Vander Wall, 38, and Gavin Vander Wall, 3, of Byron Center, share a moment together on April 10, 2010. Despite Gavin’s numerous medical obstacles, Alicia writes on February 25, 2010, “Gavin has brought me more happiness than anything else on earth possibly could! I can't even express the joy that he brings me each and every day! Joy that comes just by looking at him and seeing the good that radiates from him! God knew that I needed this special boy in my life!”



Alicia Vander Wall's blog, Gavin's Voice, is found here:
http://gavins-voice.blogspot.com/