My Good Luck Charm.

Submitted by MikeB1GMike on November 29th, 2022 at 1:58 PM

Meet Trace. Trace was born on August 31, 2021. The day he was born was a whirlwind. My wife and I were ecstatic to meet our second child and were glad the morning of the 31st we were finally going to get to do that. You see, a few weeks prior we learned Trace was having some complications, we were told that hydrocephalus was the diagnosis and we needed to see a specialist at OSU hospital. After meeting with the specialist, she confirmed our fears and we prepped for all the scariness that his diagnosis would bring. Around midnight on August 30th my wife went into labor. We drove the 1h 45min to Ohio State’s hospital and our boy Trace was born approximately 2 hours after our arrival. From that point our lives would never be the same.

Upon his birth I noticed his right cheek was a little bigger and the doctor said it could possibly be a facial fracture from birth and that they would look at that while working to relieve the pressure caused by hydrocephalus. We would soon learn this wasn’t the case. Luckily one of OSU’s top Neurosurgeons was on site and was able to read his MRIs immediately. When he came into the room with me and Trace (Mom was still in recovery) he informed me that while he had hydrocephalus, he had a much worse diagnosis known as Hemimegalencephaly (HME) on the right side of his brain (rHME). His cheek enlargement was from the source of the problem which was a gene mutation in his PIK3CA gene.

At this point you are probably wondering what Trace has to do with Michigan football. You see, we were in the hospital for the next 5 weeks as Dr.’s worked to calm the issues that come with the above diagnosis which are frequent uncontrollable seizures. I sat at his bedside in the NICU as Michigan beat Western Michigan, Washington, Northern Illinois, Rutgers and Wisconsin. Each passing week it became something I looked forward to, me and the little guy above watching the game together. Of course, he didn’t know what was going on, but we were undefeated watching games together, so I kept it up. We brought him home and we watched Michigan down Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Northwestern. On Oct. 30.. We unfortunately had to skip watching the game... Sorry everyone but I’m certain this is why we lost. Trace was having a particular bad time that day and we recognized he had developed Infantile Spasms which are crippling towards development, so we were off to Columbus for an overnight stay where it was confirmed that Trace was having Infantile spasms. We brought him home with more medications. None the less we watched Michigan down Indian, Penn State, and Maryland. It was finally the week of THE Game. Family gathered at our home everyone dressed in Scarlett and Gray (Except Trace and I) and we watched as 42-27 happened. Everyone was upset except for Trace and I. At that moment I confirmed Trace was the reason for the winning. Him and I watched as Iowa was downed 42-3.

After that game we had a long trip to Washington DC as Trace would undergo a series of surgeries from December 6th through January 2nd. These surgeries were to stroke out the right side of his brain which was causing his re-occurring unstoppable spasms and seizures.  On December 16th, 2021, Trace had his last seizure or spasm as his second of three surgeries were successful his 3rd surgery happened on December 22nd and it was deemed successful and we were on to recovery, the original plan was to get out of the hospital on December 30th, but due to some Dr.’s concerns about eating and recovering he had to stay. Unfortunately, we would be unable to watch the Georgia Michigan game together… We lost… This again re-affirmed that me and Trace had to be together for games.

Fast forward to this year. Trace is coming up on ONE year seizure free and is starting to thrive. We haven’t missed a game and Michigan is sitting at 12-0. Both my children are healthy and happy. Michigan is winning, My OSU family is salty. LIFE. IS. GOOD.

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Comments

smotheringD

November 29th, 2022 at 2:27 PM ^

All the best to Trace and Dad going forward!

Here's to many more victories and B1G Championships, starting this weekend!

EDIT:  I didn't know where else to put this so I guess I'll put it here, under the "touchy / feely" category:  When perusing Ryan Day's Wiki page, the personal section where someone added he was born on 3rd base, I noticed that his father committed suicide when Ryan was 9 years old.

It is hard to imagine the level of trauma that would impart to a 9-year-old boy and his two younger brothers.

The rivalry is great again.  It's nice to have a nemesis, someone to direct all our competitive sentiments against.  The ones who are standing in the way of all of our goals.  It's easy to dismiss our foes as subhuman, mere objects in our way on our path to glory.

But I look at Ryan Day now in a different light.  I have to admit that I have a lot of respect for a man who overcame all that, becoming the man of the house at 9 and an enormously successful D1 OC and Head Football Coach.  His mother Lisa did a great job.

I've never been able to find it within myself to root for Ohio State ever, in anything.

Now I might.  Except for one day of the year obviously. :D

Joined: 09/15/2010

MGoPoints: 7624

Squader

November 30th, 2022 at 7:17 PM ^

Yep. Found out about this some weeks ago and it's tough for me to defend Harbaugh's comment knowing that. I'm sure he meant it in the spirit of the football programs (i.e. "inheriting" from Urban) and the rivalry, not as a comment on Day's life, but it hits different once you know Day's backstory and I don't blame any OSU fan who thinks it was low.

Joined: 08/16/2015

MGoPoints: 1461

MH20

November 29th, 2022 at 3:49 PM ^

Man, this diary hit me like a ton of bricks.

My son is six weeks older than Trace but thankfully has endured none of the many, many medical hardships you described. I love my little dude more than words could ever describe and I cannot imagine how many scary days and nights you and your wife have had. Your guy looks like one happy little fella and it sounds like he's got great parents.

I've joked that my son knows nothing but dominance over OSU, which of course is the same for Trace. What a couple of lucky dudes to live in a world where Michigan is king.

Thanks for posting this. I wish nothing but the absolute best for Trace and your family. Enjoy watching the Big Ten Championship game this weekend.

Go Blue!!

Joined: 10/30/2008

MGoPoints: 40634

Savoy88

November 29th, 2022 at 11:30 PM ^

Fuck hydrocephalus, hemimegalencephably, and infantile spasms. I'm incredibly happy that your 2 children are now healthy and happy. If you, your children, or your wife need help, please just ask the board (in addition to others, obviously).  Mgoblog may not be the best and above all place for technical advice, but over the 10+ years I have lurked here they have proven themselves valuable in compassion, highly educated advice, etc. And if some jackasses come at you with the "why aren't you googling this" shit...Numerous mgobloggers have provided compassion, as well as knowledgeable and educated advice.

I'm sorry about what you and your family have had to have gone through, but I sincerely hope you and yours benefit from happiness and health and safety. Please keep trying for those things no matter what anyone suggests you do or don't deserve.

Joined: 11/02/2022

MGoPoints: 2738

Booted Blue in PA

November 30th, 2022 at 8:40 AM ^

Damn man......  there's a lot of pollen for this time of year, or maybe I got some dust in my eye doing that kitchen demo last night.....

 

God bless you and Trace....  I'm adding a new name to my prayer list.

Go Trace!

Go Blue!

Joined: 12/18/2018

MGoPoints: 60408

Flying Dutchman

November 30th, 2022 at 10:02 AM ^

What a beautiful boy.  Great story.  He is your good luck charm.  
 

In 2013, my youngest spent 310 days in the NICU (born January 2013).  That Final Four hoops team was a very special ride.  I honestly believed they were doing all that for me and my son.  They lost the Final, but whatever, it didn’t matter at that point.  My little guy has been my good luck charm ever since.  He’s almost 10 years old and has a litany of special needs, but he is one of the best things to ever happen in my life, and he can say a pretty good “Go Blue”. 

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 11462

CLord

November 30th, 2022 at 1:24 PM ^

Good health to Trace, you and your family.  My first born arrived June 13 this year, and since inception is also 2-0 against OSU.  Good luck charms abound!  Go Blue.

Joined: 09/11/2011

MGoPoints: -6341