Kamoras Story Part 2 and where is DAD

Kamora’s Story Part 2

Kamora is not out of the woods yet.  Actually she never will be out of the woods.  She will have a lifetime of struggles but for now it’s a time to heal from a major tragedy.  First I will discuss her diagnosis.

• ·         Cerebral Palsy
• ·         Spastic Quadriplegic
• ·         Epilepsy
• ·         Cortical Visual Impairment

It took several weeks for Kamora’s broken bones to heal.  As stated in Part 1 her right arm never fully healed properly.  Due to the severity of Kamora’s head injury she functions at a 3-4 month old infant.  She does not have complete head control.  She is wheelchair bound.  She cannot sit on her own or stand on her own without 100% support.  She is fed primarily thru a feeding tube in her stomach only taking baby food or pudding by mouth for pleasure not for nutrition.  She cannot have liquids or solids by mouth.  Kamora needs 100% support in all activities through life.  Bathing, feeding, moving, dressing.  She can’t even roll over on her own when laying down.  Kamora has undergone a number of surgeries in her 8 years here on earth.  (Please see post on surgeries and procedures)  Kamora spent the first several months in a medical foster care home because Human Services did not think that I could meet the needs of both Kamora and Jacob.  But I proved them wrong and Kamora was home by her first birthday.  The past 8 years have been a struggle with multiple doctor appointments and surgeries on top of Jacob’s emotional struggles and problems at school but somehow I manage.  I have a good support group.  I have a handful of super close friends that I trust with my life.  And a larger group of good friends.  And a whole lot of acquaintances.  I do get respite care for Kamora.  So that makes it a little easier to get things done and do things with my kiddos.  Kamora has a compromised immune system so I am very careful not to take her out in extreme weather.  She doesn’t have the ability to regulate body temperature well so I have to keep her warm and cool her off when she gets hot. 

Going back 8 years Kamora’s father took a plea bargain for the child abuse and is currently serving time in prison for the abuse which led to her disability.  Sadly, he has behaved himself in prison and he will be getting out this year.  Probably sometime between May and July.  We have already moved once and would like to move once more.  This house we are raising money for will remain unknown to the public for this reason.  There was a no contact order placed on the father with both Kamora and Kolisa her sibling until they reach the age of 18.  However, the father continued to write letters and send cards up til 2 years ago when I reported it to parole board and then it stopped.  It is really heartbreaking that someone can come so close to killing their child and walk out of prison in 8 ½ year’s time and live a somewhat normal life.  Kamors’s life will never be normal.  My life as her caregiver will never be normal.  And her siblings and extended family will never have a completely normal life as they watch my family struggle with her lifetime needs as well as the emotional needs and support that Jacob needs surrounding his PTSD.  I have attended every parole hearing in person or by phone and I have fought to keep hime locked up.  This is not something a mother should have to fight for after her child was a victim of such a horrific violent offense.  But this is the sad truth of our judicial system.  And this is the value that we have put on life.  Every year I have had to relive the event by writing letters to the parole board and by speaking to them at these parole hearing to keep him in there.  I have done all I can legally.  Now all I can do is move on and do the most I can do to provide the best way possible for the best life for my kids.  

The pictures below were taken the day we took her off life support but after all the tubes came out and she was clenaed up and we realized she was a survivor.