Jonah Update

It's been another while since I've updated.  I apologize for that ... I know there are some of you who check in to see how our little guys are doing. 

Friends, below is a photo of Jonah that was taken before we met him ...

Here's a photo of him after his first surgery in China just a year ago ...

... here is a photo of Jonah how he looked just before he started his surgery and treatment

Here's what Jonah looked like just after his surgery.

Here's some photos from just a couple weeks ago. 

In comparing these photos to previous ones, we could see that there really was beginning to be a difference in Jonah's facial features and the location of his lower jaw. 

... AND HERE'S WHAT JONAH LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW!  He is transforming before our very eyes!

The difference is REALLY DRAMATIC now!!

Don't mind the VERY SQUAREness of his jaw from the front view.  

I have been a little anxious about it myself and I have been assured that he has a long way to go and what it looks like now is not how it will end up.

On Monday this week, we were told to stop "turning" the distractors because they wanted to be sure that the space wouldn't become too far apart to adequately allow his existing bone to regenerate and solidly fill the gap.  The plan is to keep the distractors in place for another eight weeks and then Jonah will be evaluated under anesthesia (an x-ray will be taken and manual manipulation will be done) to determine the strength of  his jaw bone and whether it has regenerated adequately.  If it is shown to be weak or still generating, they will leave the distractors on for an additional two weeks. 

While Jonah is under anesthesia, because his upper palate is very short, Dr. Denny said that he could lengthen the palate at the same time he removes the distractors.  Between now and then, they will be trying to expand the palate, to even out the upper and lower jaws, at each of our twice weekly visits. Additionally, Jonah is now wearing elastic bands on his braces that actually caused his lower jaw to move 3mm in just three days.  So, things have been happening.  Our young man has been so brave during the day and then subconsciously fights his emotional battles as he sleeps with his night terrors.

We continue to forge ahead and keep trusting that we are following along the path that God has placed us on.  We are rewarded every day by a smile, a hug, a proud twinkle in the eye for something newly learned and even a wet, slobbery kiss.