The Journey So Far

21/05/2004	Ethan was born at Warrington General Hospital weighing 6lbs 11oz. He was immediately diagoned with Cystic Hygroma and taken straight into the neo-natel intensive care unit.
24/05/2004	After difficulty breathing during the night Ethan was put on a ventilator and transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at Alder Hay Children’s hospital. Later that day he was taken to theatre where he was given a tracheostomy to help him breathe.
02/06/2004	During a routine tracheostomy tube change on the neo-natal unit, Ethan's airway collapsed and he went into respiratory and cardiac arrest. He was resuscitated and transferred back to the ICU but had suffered a punctured lung and required oxygen for a few days afterwards.
23/08/2004	Ethan was flown down to Great Ormond Street to undergo an operation to remove a large portion of the cysts round his jaw line and neck.The operation took about 7 hours.
15/09/2004	Ethan finally came home from hospital, he was still fed through an NG (Nasal Gastric) tube. The Speech Therapists at Alder Hey were concerned that Ethan would struggle to manage a bottle and there was talk of him having a Gastrostomy.
24/09/2004	Up until now Ethan has been fed by NG tube but he pulls it out and we decide to try to feed him orally. He takes to it in no time an the tube never gets put back in.
08/05/2005	After a couple of months physiotherapy Ethan finally starts crawling
21/05/2005	Ethan's 1^st birthday
04/06/2005	Not content with crawling he starts walking
12/10/2005	Ethan is now fluent in Makaton (Baby Signs) and knows about 100 signs, especailly cake and every animal you can think of.
15/12/2005	Ethan's sister Matilda Ellen (Tilly) is born.
21/05/2005	Ethan's 2^nd Birthday
14/02/2007	Whilst at Aldery Hey, where Ethan was having some laser surgery on his tongue, we were told about Dr Waner coming over frrom New York and we are invited to a consultation in May
21/05/2007	Ethan's 3^rd Birthday
25/05/2007	We finally meet Dr Waner, he tells us what he can do for Ethan and we begin plans to take him over to Berlin to see him in July.
22/07/2007	Ethan, flies to Berlin from Liverpool John Lennon Airport with his mum and dad.
23/07/2007	We meet with the doctors in Germany and have a consultation with Dr Waner.
24/07/2007	Ethan undergoes surgery on his mouth, tongue, throat, eye and chin. It takes about 3 hours but even before he is back to the ward he is asking for chocolate.
28/07/2007	After a very quick recovery he is discharged from the Benjamin Franklin Hopspital in Berlin
29/07/2007	Ethan flies back to the UK to a welcome home party.
16/11/2007	Ethan undergoes tonuge reduction surgery at Alder Hey hospital. He recovers very quickly and is home the next day.
04/05/2008	Ethan flies to New York
08/05/2008	Dr Waner removes more cysts from under Ethans right ear. They used a technique called nerve mapping to ensure there was no damage to Ethan's facial nerve. They also remove some cysts from his tongue by laser.
09/05/2008	Ethan is out of bed and playing on the ward.
10/05/2008	After a two night stay Ethan leaves hospital. He still has the drain in which we tape to his back so he can walk around easily.
15/05/2008	Ethan's stitches are removed. The drain will stay in for a few more weeks to help reduce the swelling.
17/05/2008	We all fly back home. Ethan is really good on the flight and even manages to get a little sleep.
21/05/2008	Ethan's 4th Birthday. The drain is still in so we have a family bbq witha couple of his close friends.
28/05/2008	Ethan's drain fell out in the night. When Kev went in to see him it was under his pillow...Ethan said he thought it was a snake so he put it under there!! We take him to Alder Hey to have it checked over and they are happy to leave the drain out.
13/06/2008	Ethan has steriod injections to the opperation site at Alder Hey. The steriods help reduce the formation of scare tissue.
04/09/2008	Ethan starts "big school". He has a full time carer looking after him. He loves school!
26/09/2008	Ethan has more laser surgery to his tongue at Alder Hey.
24/10/2008	Ethan has a consultation with Dr Waner at Alder Hey to discuss the next step.
22/12/2008	Ethan has MRI and Ultrasound for up and coming opperation.
09/01/2009	Consultaion for opperation.
10/01/2009	Ethan has cysts, scar tissue and fluid removed from above his right eye.
11/01/2009	Back home with a drain in.
19/01/2009	Ethan returns to school with the drain still in place.
13/02/2009	Steroids are injected and remaining stitches are removed. Recovery is going really well.