Apr 5: Off Topic: Film 'Encanto'

Weslee and I love watching movies, although our tastes don't always align. A few years ago, he introduced me to reaction vids on YouTube, where we see people watch and react to movies (or TV shows, musical performances, etc). 

I have watched a lot since then, probably more than him, usually in the middle of the night while listening for seizures.

So I have seen lots of reactions to the movie ENCANTO (one of the best animated movies I have experienced). Reactions are all positive, and quite a few reactors end up spilling a tear or two.

SPOILER ALERT

One aspect I don't get. Mirabel (the main character who looks to be a teen) doesn't receive a magical gift during her door ceremony. Why? That is the question every reactor asks. But the answer, given towards the end, is often overlooked. THAT is what I don't get.

The answer(s):

• It wasn't her time to get a her gift when she was a young child.
• Bruno's vision had to happen first. Notice how Mirabel in Bruno's vision matched her current appearance / age.
• Bruno hints at it, when he rejoins his family: "You are the real gift, kid."
• Mirabel's gift: to be the next generation of Matron / Keeper of the family magic. That is why installing and turning the doorknob of the reconstructed house was an indication of HER gift... not just a door to a room, but a door to the entire magical house and village. She is set to take Abuela's place because Abuela (Grandmother) can't live forever.

Just my opinion. You?

NOTE: I think I will keep interjecting posts about art, videos and other topics in this forum. I am not just a mom of an adult child with autism, OCD, intractable epilepsy, partial blindness, and etc.

Had to cancel our Disney+ subscription because of rising prices on almost everything. It is a real bummer because we can't watch Marvel movies, etc., or rewatch Encanto!

Anyhoo, for the last 3 afternoons, Weslee has had seizure clusters. Trying to slip a rescue seizure med in between seizures takes practice, of which I have plenty. The rescue nose spray is easier.

Have a great day.

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Please help with Weslee's medical expenses. Click here.  Thank you.

Quiet Time

It is rare that Weslee and I can just sit (or lay down) and just talk.

Last night was nice. 

No seizure talk. No brain surgery talk. No yelling, crying, frustration.

Here is a pic of my Fuzzy Wuzzy. (I'll take him for a hair cut next week.  Hopefully.)

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Please help with Weslee's medical expenses. Click here.  Thank you.

C.C. Appt Changed

I had to call the Cleveland Clinic this week to push Weslee's appointment back a bit. Haven't even raised a dime of what we need.

Hoping to get in to a craft fair and/or flea market in the next few weeks or so. Making lots of junk journal starters and kits, bookmarks, wall art, shot glass pots, etc, plus I have copies of books I have published.

Hope hope hope!

Help Weslee Get His Life Back: 

paypal.me/VIKKIWESLEELAWRENCE

Exhausted

Weslee gets so tired during the day from constant seizures that he often needs a nap. Voluntarily.  I snapped this pic just a bit ago. He put himself to bed early, right after evening meds.

This sweetie is losing hope. He is being bombarded with tiny seizures all day. We think they are simple partial seizures but he can't really describe them.

Weslee is getting very sad about the possibility of never feeling any better, and about being stuck in a safe place for the rest of time. 

I hate that. This. All of it.  I want my sweet, happy, loves-life kid back.

Appointment with Epilepsy Specialist

(Link Repaired)

My son, Weslee, is 27 years old, going on 12. We have autism, OCD, and uncontrolled epilepsy to thank for that.

If you follow me on any social media, you may know that Weslee's seizures haven't gotten any better, despite brain surgeries, medications, therapies, diets and the latest, a VNS device implanted. He has a lot of break-through seizures of different varieties, and all with no forewarning.

It's gotten to where he has a "safe place": his bed.  He feels (as do I) that if he is already in bed when he has a seizure, he won't fall down the stairs (again), or back into a door and put a hole in a wall (again) or hit the edge of the bathtub on his way down (again again and again).

Weslee in Emerg Dept after a seizure knocked him against the bathtub and floor. Nose broken. 

Weslee's local epilepsy doctor and team (he's had 3 or 4) have run out of suggestions, so they have recommended him to the Cleveland Clinic. He has an appointment there next month, but we need help getting there.

• My car won't make it there (no brakes, engine messed up). I will need to rent, get mine fixed (estimated to be over $5,000) or get a "new" vehicle (see below ps).
• Gas for vehicle.
• Hotel for first few nights for us both, then just for me if I can't stay in his room.
• Meals for us both, until he is admitted to a room, then just my meals.
• Hot spot because we will need a secure internet service, and I don't trust hospitals.
• Other incidentals, like getting him a new movie to watch, or anything else I need to get to keep him busy during his EMU (epilepsy monitoring unit) stay. 

So what do you say. Can you help us?

Help Weslee Get His Life Back: 

paypal.me/VIKKIWESLEELAWRENCE

Thanks.

p.s. Weslee and I are losing faith and find it hard to believe that we can't even mitigate some of his seizures. He is tired of all the medications. Of keeping an eye on the clock to take them at the right time. Of being afraid to walk down the stairs if I'm not around. Of falling and hitting his head or breaking his nose...again.  

He wants to get in a van and just start driving. To meet people he has talked to online. To take a "safe place" with him ... in the form of a special-built camper van.  Believe me... this is WAY down the line as we have to get through the Cleveland Clinic tests and so forth first. 

Too Many Seizures

Weslee was admitted to a hospital just last week but he got worse.  Just take a look at my calendar where I tried to keep track of his seizures:

Multiple seizures at home:

Off to the ER/ED/Hospital:

Just looking at the vid with no context, it appears Weslee is listening to a vid on his phone and laughing about it.

Now look at his eyes and his mouth movements.

Hospital E.R.

Weslee started throwing up (which he rarely does) and having a huge cluster of seizures. I became extremely concerned so I somehow got him down the stairs and out the door.

He was there for quite a while, as they had troubles getting the seizures under control too. 

Part of the problem was that one of his seizure meds wasnt registering in his blood. Turns out, he MUST take the brand version and never again generic.