My Little Turtle!

Jordan is a hill-billy and Carter is a Turtle.

Carter's came with a cute little turtle hat but...it didn't fit. :(

Look what Carter was busted doing to the trick or treat candy

Ankle Foot Orthotics

Back to the fun posts! Just another thank you for all the fundraising efforts of all of our families, friends and community. Your efforts were so wonderful. Our family feels so supported and loved, thank you!

Lets get back to the fun stuff, the day to day stuff. I have tons of info since our last "how we are doing" post. Lets start with DAFO's (Dynamic Ankle Foot Orthoses). Our Physical therapist was concerned with Carter's ankles turning in, here's a pic of before the DAFO's were ordered. She said this sometimes happens to children who don't use their muscles often or have low muscle tone. So in Carter's case he has both those problems. We ordered from Cascade and we love them, well Carter doesn't love them, but they are doing their job. Ug looks painful...

And Here's a pic of Bug in his DAFO's. They're just like little shoes.

And today, just a couple months later, look at the major improvement:

HYDRO MOM TIP: Go to a shoe store and purchase "High Heel traction" for the bottom of the DAFO's. They originally came plastic on the bottom and he slid all over when trying to walk. Payless Shoe store sells high heel traction for just a couple of bucks. Oh and they fit perfectly on the bottom, no need to cut, bonus!

Walk Pics

Team Carter raised $2,334 for this year's walk! We are also so excited about Dr Walker's announcement that the government just awarded a grant of $1 Million to the Research efforts for Dr McCallister and Dr Walker's new research center here in Salt Lake, what an accomplishment. Dr Walker spoke at our walk about the wonderful research they've come out with and how this money will help them fund their findings for different ways of TREATING and PREVENTING Hydro. What angel's the researchers are, they work for next to nothing with very little funding. They are definitely doing great work for hydro families all over the world. Check out some of our exciting pics from the walk:

We also got a chance to perform a shunt operation on a brain:

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

TEAM CARTER!

Join our 3rd Annual Hydrocephalus Walk in Salt Lake City. You are invited to come out and walk with TEAM CARTER on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 9:30 am at Sugarhouse Park. Last year we came in Second place for the most funds raised and First place for the most walkers who came out to support. You can view our page and register to walk at:
TEAM CARTER'S WEB PAGE
This website is where you would register to walk, make sure you order your free t-shirt when you register.

We have done several fund raisers for this walk and other hydro events so if you'd like to donate that would be great but we know we've tapped a lot of resources lately. Last year we did have several of our friends and family go around to their friends, families and co-workers and collect donations, that would also be great again this year.

Its our family goal to raise awareness about this condition that Carter lives with every day and we are determined to make a difference for him and others who live with this debilitating condition. We hope to see a cure in his lifetime and you can help us reach that goal with our fundraisers throughout the year.

Our web address for the walk page is: http://www.gifttool.com/athon/OurTeamPage?ID=1488&AID=794&TID=4635

Please e-mail us if you need more information or need help registering at hydroinutah@gmail.com

1st Annual Carter Classic Softball Tournament

Tis the season the Shields family fundraisers. With the success of our golf tournament we are confident we'd like to continue to raise awareness about Hydrocephalus. Our next event is just a few weeks away, we are hosting a softball tournament to help raise funds for Hydro Research. We are so blessed to be in our area with wonderful family, friends and a great community that has always supported us through our tough times. We also are blessed with such a gifted group of Neurosurgeons and Researchers that have dedicated their lives to Hydrocephalus research and I am confident they will make a difference in Carter's life and thousands of others suffering with this condition. So, we are donating half of the Softball funds to the Dr Marion Walker's Research Fund and the other half will go to the Hydrocephalus Association's Annual WALK on Sept 26th.

FIRST ANNUAL CARTER CLASSIC

CO-ED Softball Tournament

Sept 12, 2009

Deseret Peak Complex

Tooele, Utah

Teams should consist of at least 10-12 players (equal guys & gals). We play underhand pitch and you do not need to be pros. We will have raffles, 1st 2nd & 3rd place prizes. For more information or to sign up your team, please contact Brandon Shields at 801-554-4381 or Eric Shields at 801-831-5210 or email us at hydroinutah@gmail.com Your team can be sponsored by a company or just collect $20 dollars from each player.

First Annual Carter Shields Open

Saturday, our family learned just how important our friends, family and community are to us. We are so blessed to live in such a wonderfully supportive group of people who love us and who truly care about our family. Our golf event was more then we could have expected. People came from far and near, it was remarkable to see people step up and be so generous. Our family is truly changed by the amount of love we feel and the amount of support we've been given. Thank you to all who planned, participated and donated to our family. We are forever in debt to the wonderful people who came out this weekend. Thank you! Check out our GOLF BLOG for more pictures and please go to the links on the right to support the businesses that have supported us.