Hi everyone! I know I already shared a bit about my new big adventure, but I thought I’d share an important piece of my past that took me on an adventure of it’s own. Before I scared mom with the seizure, I was diagnosed with a strange condition called “megaesophagus”. Sounds like a scary transformer doesn’t it…? Turns out, my esophagus started to lose its mobility needed to move food and liquid down to my stomach (wake up, lazy esophagus!).

Mom and dad told me that this means I’m at greater risk for aspiration pneumonia, which happens when food or liquid accidentally gets into my lungs. They were very serious about this because it can lead to death. I told them not to worry, but dad sprung into action after he and mom did some research.

After hearing dad work out in the garage with loud tools, making quite a racket (and interrupting nap time!), mom and dad brought me outside to see the project in progress. Turns out, dad was making what’s called a “Bailey Chair”. They sat me down in the base of this contraption, so that dad could measure where the door should be. They explained that this will help me eat in a vertical position, allowing for gravity to move food and liquid down to my stomach, making up for that lazy esophagus. I wasn’t too sure about this new contraption, or new way of eating…

While dad continued working on the special chair, he and mom started to think of other ways that might work, to try and spare my hips and legs, due to getting a bit older. Luckily, my case of megaesophagus wasn’t too severe, so mom and dad were able to try a different technique!

Now I’ve gotten to be a pro at eating my food in little meatballs, right off of a spoon, like mom and dad do! They feed this way every single meal, and then I stay in my little spot in the corner of the kitchen, waiting 20 minutes for gravity to take that food down to my belly.

While it took some getting used to, I’m always ready for my fancy meatball meals, and when I occasionally get a little sad about having to sit up for so long, dad always plays my favorite song (Three Little Birds).