The July Stroke Hero is an outstanding example of a SURVIVOR who has overcome enormous odds only ask to be considered "normal"....

Ashton Morris was born in 2002 and was not an intrinsically sick fetus.  However, some unknown event traumatized his birth and he aspirated (breathed into his lungs) a sticky substance called meconium. 

There his life began and thus almost ended.  Ashton only remained at St. Elizabeth’s long enough to have Last Rites administered and be baptized, before being  quickly routed to Children’s Hospital of Boston to receive nitrous oxide.  Once he was stabilized days later, an MRI revealed a left infarct, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or stroke.

Ashton was touch and go for some time in the NICU, but through the heroic actions of these two hospitals, Ashton came home a month later without the assistance of oxygen or a feeding tube as had been projected.

His parents had so much trouble finding any information about babies and stroke—in fact most people they told were surprised to even learn that possibility existed.

At 4 months, he was diagnosed with spastic hemiplegia, and began physical and occupational therapies.  He has also seen a cadre of professionals, including orthopedists, cardiologists, neurologists, and undergone several botox surgeries to improve his tone or gait.

Ashton’s Mom and Dad found a common bond with other parents locally through the Middlesex County Early Intervention Program, and there they learned about similar developmental delays caused by all types of disorders, but mostly of the brain.

Ashton’s recovery has been both typical and extraordinary.  Through therapeutic advances and determination, he continues to grow cognitively and meets his physical challenges with the unrelenting spirit that only a child can give.

By  14 months he could only scoot on his belly, but at 17 months, (a full 19 months earlier than projected), he took his first steps!

At age 7, he reads  and spells at a 3rd-4th grade level, has conquered tying his shoes with one functioning hand,  enjoys swimming, dancing, word find puzzles, torturing his big sister daily, and wants to learn to use his Heelys.

Ashton actively participates with Minds that Matter- The Morris Foundation for Pediatric Neurology, an organization founded by his parents to help other parents of newly diagnosed children with neurological compromise.  At age 5, he told his friends he couldn’t use his right hand that much because he had a ‘boo boo in his brain.’  Now at 7, he can better explain that he had a stroke at birth and can articulate his needs and preferences to others.

However, Ashton has never been labeled at home as handicapped, and this might be part of the reason he performs.  (His parents don’t cut him any slack)!  There are few things he will shy away from, so many everyday activities such as bike riding and even flip-flop wearing have been incorporated into his physical therapy in his quest to do things more normally.

 

At this young age, Ashton is as accomplished as many kids twice his age, simply having to overcome and endure more. Buat as far as he's concerned, he's just a normal kid, which is what his parents have always wanted for him!

The board members of Brendon's Smile felt that Ashton's amazing progress and postitive attitude made him the obvious choice for our July 2009 Hero of the Month!

Ashton, there are many words that we thought of in describing you, but "normal" wasn't one of them...We hope you will accept our word "HERO" instead...

 

 

The Morris Foundation for Pediatric Neurology