By Bob Lewis, Contributing Writer
Almost everybody is familiar with “The Little Engine That Could,” a book written in 1930 to teach children the value of optimism and hard work.
For Eric and Kimberly Lewis, their son Ethan is a modern-day story of a local youngster who is employing those same traits to be “The Little Boy Who Could.”
Two months after his birth, Ethan was diagnosed with Complete Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum. In other words, he is completely missing the center part of his brain that connects both the right and left hemispheres.
Along with that bombshell came more bad news when a neurologist, neurosurgeon and other specialists told the worried parents multiple times that their beautiful son would not walk, talk or show emotion, and would always be dependent on them.
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Eric and Kimberly admit it took a period of grieving before they could fully accept what the doctors were saying. But accepting it and sitting by doing nothing about it are quite different.
“We became proactive in getting Ethan all the therapy and resources we could to provide him with the best possible quality of life,” Kimberly said. He was put on the waiting list at the Little Light House when he was 2 months old.
The Tulsa-based Little Light House was founded in 1972 by Marcia Mitchell and Sheryl Poole when they discovered the city had no early intervention services available for their daughters who were both born with visual impairments. With one teacher and a small group of volunteers it began serving five children in a small white house.
Since then, it has become an internationally recognized tuition-free Christian developmental center providing educational and therapeutic services for youngsters with special needs. It has a state-of-the-art facility in southeast Tulsa and a $4.3 million annual operating budget. Local enrollment has grown to 250 children up to 6 years of age.
“From the first time we walked into that school we felt God’s presence,” Kimberly said. “We believe God created Ethan perfectly in His image and for His glory. He is now four-and-a-half years old and I am happy to say he is thriving in life.”
Despite earlier predictions, Ethan can now walk/run with the assistance of a walker. He speaks 10-plus words and can communicate through hand/physical gestures. He has his own LAMP device to help him continue to improve his communication skills.
As for emotions, he shows happiness, joy, curiosity, interest and, above all, love. He adores music, dancing, playing shadow puppets with his hands and delights in bringing joy to all with a gorgeous smile and one simple word – “Hi!”
Along with a variety of activities conducted by his parents, the lad’s days at school are filled with programs focused on occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, social skills and acts of daily living.
Marveling at all his son has accomplished, Eric said he and his family will forever be grateful for the impact the Little Light House has made on Ethan’s life and theirs.
“He has been able to exceed some of his goals and has an amazing amount of confidence,” Eric noted. “While it is true that most of our attention is on Ethan, we note with pride that he has given us reinforcement of the Bible’s definition of ‘special’ which includes surpassing what is common or usual; exceptional; distinct among others of a kind. He really is a special boy.”
With another year and a half of enrollment eligibility at his school remaining, his proud parents say they are convinced their son has begun a journey that will lead to continuing achievements. And they look forward to celebrating every milestone he passes.
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