Family celebrates one year home with their son
On Oct. 5, 2010, Christian and Amber Bond of Voorhees welcomed their first child into the world.
Amber delivered her son, Christian, at just 26 weeks at Virtua Hospital. Already facing complications due to his small size, the Bonds knew they’d have to rely on the power of prayer to help them with what was to come next.
Christian, who weighed just three pounds at 5 weeks old, was also born with a brain disorder, one eye, a bilateral cleft lip and hydrocephalus, more commonly known as water on the brain.
Christian was transferred two weeks after birth to DuPont Hospital in Delaware. He spent nearly six month in the neonatal intensive-care unit at DuPont.
And on March 15, 2011, the Bonds were able to finally take their son home. Tomorrow, March 15, the family is celebrating one year of Christian’s return home, and marking the occasion with a larger family celebration.
“We had no idea of an outcome. We were scared. We tried to unite as a family, but there were many unknowns about what kinds of challenges he’d have in the future,” Amber said.
But the family continues to count their blessings.
At DuPont, Christian received a brain shunt treatment to release the fluid in his brain. He also had surgery to correct his lips and to implant a prosthetic eye.
While there, he also had a tracheotomy to help him breathe more easily, and relied on a ventilator to do so.
While at home in his first year, Amber said she was thrilled to report her son no longer needs breathing support during the day — just at night while he’s sleeping.
But all along, the Bonds have stayed positive, even though many doctors warned the family of Christian’s looming medical conditions.
“We were really given the doom and gloom outcome. They wanted to prepare us for the worst. And because he was so premature and just the difficulties our child would face…” Amber said. “Since then, he’s done incredible. There really are no words. It’s a true miracle.”
At 16 months, Christian now weighs 23 pounds and is doing fine, his family says.
Many children like Christian need to be tube fed, his mother said, but not her son, who eats on his own.
Christian is also beginning to stand, even though doctors told the family he wouldn’t.
“He’s doing all these incredible things. My husband and I didn’t know what to expect, but it’s such a blessing,” Amber said. “We’re truly blessed by God.”
The Bonds say they don’t quite know what the future holds for their son.
But what they do know is the joy of marking one year at home with him in their arms.
“Marking his one year of being home, we felt we wanted to share and give other special-needs families in the area hope and faith, too,” she said.
