Brendan Warren Hi'ileiali'i

2010-04-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

It's been four months since Wesley's birth!!! Life is good, Ali'i has grown to love and accept his little brother not to mention he refuses to leave the house without him!

UPDATE: Ali'i had orthopaedic surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles on March 9 and he is recovering very well. It's been a rough two weeks since the cast has come off but we are making progress every day!!!

On March 12, 2010 Ali'i celebrated TWO years of SEIZURE FREEDOM and he is maintained on three medications for seizure control. We will start a full weening process this June.

God is amazing!

Wesley three months:)

2010-03-27T10:38:00.001-07:00

Our life with a thriving three month old!! Wesley is meeting his milestones ahead of schedule. Thank you God for our precious gift.

Alii's Surgery - Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

2010-03-12T12:57:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 Ali'i had Orthopedic surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles by Dr. Kay. The outpatient procedure took 40 mins and we were home before noon. Ali'i came home in a cool blue cast and is adjusting well.

CHEERS!

Hello Wesley!

2010-03-03T22:43:00.000-08:00

Our Boys!

2010-03-03T22:05:00.001-08:00

Life has been very good to us! Alii already mastered his skills at being a BIG brother, he plays musical toys for Wesley and gives him kisses. Ali'i turned 15 yrs old on February 20 and Wesley is 10 weeks old. Praise God for the wonderful family he has given us.

Ali'i welcomes baby Wesley

2009-12-30T15:21:00.000-08:00

Ali'i welcomes baby brother Wesley Andrew Kamealohamakamae born at Cedars Sinai Medical Center on December 22, 2009 weighing 7 pounds 11 ounces and 21 inches long.

Growing fast and strong!

2009-04-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

It has been 14 months since the hemispherectomy surgery and still NO seizures:). Ali'i is 14 years old and getting BIG, he grew a few inches in the last six months and it's a matter of time before he is as tall as me:(. Ali'i is meeting more milestones ahead of schedule and making a successful recovery. God is amazing!

Thank you to Dr.Danielpour and Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

June 2008 - Ali'i sixth grade graduation

2009-03-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

In June 2008, Ali'i graduates from Highlands Elementary School in Saugus. He sat through the graduation with no problem...this is the same kid who wouldn't sit for more than 10 seconds in a room or anywhere else for that matter. As you can see from the looks on his face he is one happy little boy (four months post-hemi surgery).

God is amazing!

Alii at The Autism Walk 2008

2008-04-28T22:21:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, April 26, 2008, Alii paricipated at the Autism Walk. On a warm day in Pasadena we joined many families and friends at the 5k race. Alii enjoyed watching all the balloons and streamers blowing in the wind, he liked the music and enjoyed watching the firetrucks. 2 months post hemi surgery!

Eight weeks seizure free:)

2008-04-28T21:38:00.000-07:00

Eight weeks seizure free, hooray!Alii continues to meet more milestones and make a speedy recovery.
A big thank you to Dr.Danielpour, Dr.Niesen, Dr.Kay and Dr.Glenn and Kris Irani.

Back to the hospital

2008-04-02T19:01:00.000-07:00

On Sunday,March 28, 2008, Alii was hospitalized at Cedars Sinai Medical Center for high fever and infection. All tests were negative for hydrocephalus and meningitis, he was treated for urinary tract infection and discharged three days later. Thank you to all friends and family. A special thank you to Tabitha and Ashton Simpson.

Celebrating a milestone

2008-04-02T17:55:00.000-07:00

On March 27, 2008 was Alii's one month anniversary since the surgery and so far no seizures :)In just a few short weeks we are seeing remarkable improvement. Alii gained his weight back plus more, he ate pancakes for the first time and he is eating a variety of foods. Alii started active physical and occupational therapy.

We look forward to meeting more milestones. We thank you for your prayers and messages.

Going home

2008-03-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, March 8 after being in the hospital for 12 days Alii and I finally come home! It was graduation day and the hardest part was over:)

Thank you to our friends at Cedars Sinai Medical Center:Jessica, Cameron, Gwen,Valerie, PT's Vanessa and Tina and all the doctors and residents who took care of us during our stay.

Thank you Cedars Sinai Medical Center

2008-03-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

My Alii

2008-03-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

Thank you family and friends

2008-03-14T15:59:00.001-07:00

A thank you to all of our friends and family who came to visit us in the hospital. Thank you to co-workers, friends and family for your phone calls, messages, e-mails and cards, we really appreciate it.

Not pictured:Uncle Jim Webb,Uncle Tim and Aunty Charlene Frisina, Dylana Fabrao, Susan Knowles, Lisa and Julia Baker,Pastors Renato and Margarita Vasquez.

A special thank you to:Sylvia Chlebek, Diana Higa, Michelle Lewis, Tabitha Simpson and Debra Bahr.

Out of surgery

2008-03-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

Moments after the operation Ali'i is taken to the PICU......it was the longest day of our life. Alii's head was wrapped in a white bandage and he had tubes coming out every where a picture we will never forget. He not only survived the longest operation but he pulled through it like a champ. A heartfelt thank you and praise to: Dr.Moise Danielpour and his team at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles,CA.

Alii's big day

2008-03-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, Feburary 27, 2008 Ali'i had a functional hemispherectomy at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Arriving at 6:30 a.m. checked into the South Tower.
By 8:38 a.m. - Ali'i is wheeled away into surgery.

Alii's new haircut

2008-02-20T19:33:00.000-08:00

On Alii's 13th birthday he get's a new haircut to prepare for his big day. We spent the morning at a pre-op teaching appointment in the Neurosurgeons office, then went to the lab to get his blood typed to prepare for the upcoming blood drive:) Nurse Cindy explained details of our BIG day and what to expect during our stay.

A special thank you to my dearest friend Tabitha Simpson.

New Surgery Date

2008-02-14T17:38:00.000-08:00

MySpace Countdowns

The surgery has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Februrary 27. The pre-op MRI is scheduled for Tuesday,Feb 26.

Keep us in your prayers.

Alii's goes to Disneyland

2008-01-29T13:03:00.001-08:00

In December we took a family trip to Disneyland. Ali'i had such a wonderful time. We will never forget the smiles, giggles and laughs on his face. As you can see we had a blast!!!

Thank you to our family and friends for your love and support.

Ali'i goes bowling

2007-08-18T15:18:00.001-07:00

Our team players Ali'i with Andrew and Jacque, go team!

Today Ali'i started bowling with the Special Olympics and had a great time.

July 18 - 20, 2007 - Cedars Sinai Medical Center

2007-07-21T15:04:00.001-07:00

On July 18, 2007 - We spent 3 days in the hospital for a second telemetry study. During our stay Ali'i was playful and in good spirits. In our little private room he was all over the place, he enjoyed looking out of his window watched all the people walking around in the plaza and saw many buses and cars on the street level another words he was in heaven. Our second night Ali'i had many seizures caught on video and the information was precise. Dr. Eliashiv discussed the 24 hour results and showed the seizures are shifting from left hemisphere to mid brain. More discussion on Ali'i's case will be at the conference in Aug-September.

Keep us in your prayers.

A Mother's Story

2007-05-29T15:35:00.000-07:00

Meet our son Alii(Aleee-ee) he was born on February 20, 1995, at 6:23p.m. at Tarzana Regional Medical Center. On this day I was one of the happiest mom's in the hospital to give birth to such a handsome precious baby boy. Alii is 50% Honduran with a Filipino, Hawaiian, Irish and English mix.....that makes him 100% perfect in our eyes! I could not ask for anything more I am one happy Mama!

At six months old Alii was diagnosed with Cerebral palsy and seizure disorders. Over the years Doctors prescribed numerous medications to control seizures but they failed. Medication was an exhausting process we tried them all at this point seizures controlled his life. For years we would wake up to the sounds of moaning, painful cries and thumps on the floor because we would find Alii in a seizure. For years I was cynical and skeptic, I gave up on medicine and lost faith in the Doctors treating him. It wasn't until Dr.Robert Kay(Orthopedist at Childrens Hospital L.A.) recommended Dr. Charles Niesen at Cedars Sinai. Meeting Dr.Niesen was a gift, a Doctor who had the skill and knowledge of Pediatric Neurology and did not give us the run around bull shit! I was very impressed. Long story short, in December 2006 Ali'i was hospitalized at Cedars Sinai Medical Center for intractable epilepsy. During our stay Dr.Niesen ordered numerous image studies and a three-day video EEG. We met a team of Neurologists who studied Alii for 15 days and monitored his seizure activity. The results of the CAT SCAN, MRI, PET SCAN and EEG show a possible candidate for brain surgery a technique called hemispherectomy. A drastic operation that would remove one hemisphere of his brain.

Thank you, Debra Bahr (Ashlee's mom) and Tabitha Simpson (Ashton's mom)! Thank you for sharing your story, with God's grace and his wisdom he is embracing us.

To: My family, Mom, Troy, Gina, Lavee,Steve,David, Lisa, Albert,Lori,Dylana and Lorna - thank you for your gifts, kind messages, phone calls and e-mails.

To :Dr.Robert Kay, Dr's. Glenn and Kristine Irani,Dr. Charles Neisen, Dr.Dawn Eliashiv, Patti Valenzuela, Susan Knowles and Highlands Elementary school, Masha Katz, Savina Kollmorgen and all the ladies at Brightstar Physical Therapy....thank you for your brilliance and providing excellent healthcare for Alii, you are the greatest!!!!

A special thank you: Sylvia Chlebek (Jeremy's mom),Cathy Webb (Jaque's mom) Diana Higa (Corey's mom), Kim Krogh (Silace's mom), Marion Martin (Ray's mom) , Grandma Sheryl Graham (Niki's Grandma), Lisa Baker (Allie's mom)Jennifer Redmond, Michelle Clough, Michelle Downing, Stephanie Spina, Gina Ongie, Jenny Peacock, Isaac Barrera , Cecilia Engstrom, Michelle Lewis and Frances Molacek.