Count Your Blessings: A Journey of Strength, Gratitude, and Hope

Tiny Tales from Alyce’s Weekly Wonders: 40 Days

Guess what, everyone? I’ve been hanging out in hotel hospital for a whopping 40 days and nights! It’s been a loooong adventure, let me tell you. But this last week…let me tell you!

So, here’s the scoop: the doctors have been working hard on helping me with some tricky stuff, like managing secretions and breathing. They even let me try to feed by mouth again during a swallow study. Now, I have to be honest – it didn’t go as planned. Turns out, when I try to eat by mouth, the liquid goes into my airway instead of where it’s supposed to go. Oopsie!

My Occupational Therapist seemed a bit disappointed, but you know what? My amazing parents are full of faith. They believe that one day I’ll be munching on all sorts of delicious food, just like everyone else. 🍔🍎

Speaking of 40 days, let me tell you, it feels like forever! I can’t wait to be home, snoozing in my own comfy bed and taking naps with my two furry bodyguards, Boujee and Dapper. They’re like my protectors – it’s pawsitively awesome! 🐾💤

Now, here’s the not-so-fun part. This week, I also caught my third hospital virus – a little thing called the flu. Ugh, not cool, right? But don’t worry, I’m a tough cookie, and I’m feeling better. Still, I’ve got this feeling that I need to be home, away from all these hospital bugs. I want to rest, grow safely, and soak up all the love from my family. 💕🏡

I’ll keep you posted on my adventures, but for now, send me lots of love and positive vibes. Who knows, maybe my next update will be from the comfort of my own crib! Until then, keep smiling, everyone! 💖

Embracing the Journey

Hello Beloved Friends, Family, and Readers,

As January’s end nears, we reflect on our journey with our precious Alyce, now seven weeks old. Diagnosed with Laryngomalacia (LM) and an undetermined form of Dysphagia due to weak neck muscles, we face a path that intertwines challenges with hope. This journey has taken us through the spectrum of emotions, reminiscent of the five stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

In the beginning, there was a phase of denial. When we first heard Alyce’s diagnosis, our minds recoiled from the reality. We clung to a belief that perhaps the doctors were mistaken, that our little girl couldn’t possibly be facing these health issues. However, the past 40 days in the hospital have taught us the importance of balancing hope with the reality of her condition.

Anger followed, not towards anyone in particular, but at the situation itself. Why Alyce? Why us? It was a natural reaction, a raw and human response to an unexpected turn in our life’s journey. Being in the hospital has been a challenge, half the time spent waiting around for holidays and our child catching a bug from being in the hospital. Our journey through Ontario Canada’s hospital system has not been without its frustrations. We’ve felt the slow pace and complexities of the system firsthand.

This experience has prompted us to consider joining the Patient and Family advisors at the McMaster University, Children’s Hospital in hopes to bring about positive changes for families like ours.

Then came bargaining. We found ourselves in silent negotiations with our faith, promising to be better, do better if only Alyce’s health issues would be less severe. This stage was a testament to our desperation and hope, a desire to regain control in a situation where we felt utterly powerless.

Depression, too, made its presence known. The long days and nights in the hospital, the uncertainty of Alyce’s condition, the disruption of our family life – all these weighed heavily on our hearts. It was a time of profound sadness and reflection, a period where we grappled with the reality of our situation.

But, through this journey, we’ve also found acceptance. This isn’t resignation, but rather a recognition of our new reality. It’s an understanding that while we cannot change the diagnosis, we can change how we respond to it. Alyce’s LM is thankfully mild, and though the Dysphagia is complex, we remain hopeful and committed to providing the best care and love for her.

Our up and coming anticipated discharge from the hospital marks a new chapter. We will adapt to a home routine with oxygen therapy and specialized feeding. Alyce’s resilience, despite the challenges, continues to be a source of inspiration. She is our beacon of strength, health, and personality.

We firmly believe that God, in His infinite wisdom, has entrusted us with one of His angels. Our daughter, although needing a little extra help, is a blessing in every sense. As the saying goes, “God Jehovah doesn’t give you anything you can’t handle.” This belief fortifies us, reminding us of our duty to provide her with a life filled with love, even if it’s not always easy.

The support from our community has been our rock – the baked goods from friends, the care for our dogs from family, and the nourishing soup from neighbors. These acts of kindness anchor us in gratitude.

We invite you to continue to walk this path with us, through updates, insights, and moments of joy and struggle. Your support means everything to us, and most importantly, to our brave little Alyce.


With love, hope, and newfound strength,

Damian, Katerina, and our little warrior

Woof Woof 🐾

Oh, la la! Bonjour, dear readers! It’s your favorite dynamic duo, Boujee and Dapper, here to share the latest happenings in our fabulous lives. Now, usually, our days are filled with luxurious naps, gourmet treats, and strutting our stuff in the latest canine fashion. But, mes amis, things have taken a turn for the dramatic lately!

You see, our beloved sister Alyce has been away for a whopping 40 days. Can you believe it? Forty days without her royal presence, and we must say, it’s been quite the ruff time. ALREADY?! Sacré bleu! Time flies when you’re living the doggy high life, but seriously, Alyce, we miss you like a squirrel misses its nuts.

We’ve been holding down the fort at home, waiting for our pack to be reunited. Our plush beds just aren’t the same without Alyce.

In the meantime, our fabulous Auntie Sheryl has been filling in as our beloved personal assistant. She’s been dishing out treats, giving us belly rubs, and trying to decipher our sophisticated personalities. Auntie Sheryl, you’re a gem, but let’s get real—no one can replace the magic of Alyce.

We’ve been keeping a close eye on the clock, counting the seconds until Alyce is back in our glamorous abode. We want to witness her every milestone, from mastering the art of treat begging to conquering the stairs like a true Frenchie champion. Plus, we need her to maintain our impeccable Instagram presence. #SquadGoals, non?

Now, on to the weather report: winter has arrived for couple of days, and it was a snow-covered wonderland outside. Dapper, being the adventurous spirit that he is, has been frolicking in the snow with pure joie de vivre. He’s been fashioning snowflakes into the latest doggy accessories—snow hats, anyone?

As for yours truly, Boujee, the snow is a bit too… chilly for my taste. Call me a winter diva, but my delicate paws are not made for prolonged walks in the frosty wonderland. I prefer to admire the winter wonderland from the cozy confines of our chic doggy mansion.

In conclusion, life without Alyce is like a day without sunshine. We’re counting down the moments until our family is whole again. Until then, we’ll keep living the glamorous life and eagerly awaiting Alyce’s grand return.

Au revoir for now, and remember: life is short, so always paws for a fabulous moment!

Boujee & Dapper ❤️

Thank you to our dear Vilhelmians for following our adventures! Hit like and subscribe for more! Get ready for a wild ride! Hit that subscribe button to join our awesome Substack community! Vilheeeeeelm!