The Backstory

Hello all! Welcome to our blog!

I guess a bit of an introduction is in order. We were a family of four, until last January, when we travelled to China to meet our new son, Jiesheng.

Jiesheng is a very busy 4 and a half year old lad. He's taking to Canadian life like a fish to water! He's been part of our family for 14 months now, but you'd think he's been here his entire life. Somedays it's hard to imagine a time before Jiesheng!

How he came to us is not so important. But a quick mention of his medical condition is necessary, as it forms the basis for everything that follows. Jiesheng was born with a condition known as arthrogryposis. Literally, the word arthrogryposis means "curved joints." Jiesheng was born with it affecting his ankles, knees and hips. When he came to us, he could not walk, only crawl.

Many visits to the IWK Hospital and three surgeries later, our little boy can walk. He's got braces and crutches, but he makes his way along with his older brother, Nick and sister, Bethany.

On one of his appointments, Jiesheng's surgeon, Dr. Logan suggested that we should ask The Sunshine Foundation of Canada for a "wish" for him.

A wish? What an interesting thought. What would that be? What would the young boy, who's whole world has turned upside down in the last year wish for? Luckily, the answer came to us very quickly.

Over the past 10 years we have been fortunate enough to travel to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. This was all before the arrival of our newest little person. Well, one day, Jiesheng looks at the digital picture frame in the living room. As pictures of Bethany and Nick at the beach flash by, he said, "How come I'm not in those pictures? I want to be in those pictures." We found his wish.

A bunch of phone calls to the Foundation and the plan was hatched! Seven days in April in the Dominican. What started out as a wish for Jiesheng, has become a treat for the whole family!

It's become such an event, the extended family is coming along to make it a family event for sure! Four cousins, two more parents and two grandparents! What an excursion! :)