All About Louis Angelo

This site costs us $14.95 per month to run. Please help keep Louie's site online by donating $1 a month to help us with our costs. Visit the Louie's Fund page to make a donation.

NEW! Angel Boy Art is now a non-profit organization! Visit us at www.angelboyart.com.

Update - September 22, 2007 - WE GOT PICKED! WE ARE NOW SITTING IN OUR "EXTREME MAKEOVER HOME EDITION" HOUSE. WOW!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!

Our deepest thanks go out to every single person who has supported us in any and every way! Thank you to the McKernon group for building this beautiful home, thank you to the town of Athens for making it possible, thank you to everyone who nominated us and supported us, thank you to ABC for this awesome dream come true, thank you to our neighbors for tolerating Hollywood for a bit, thank you to everyone who has donated products and money to our family, and most importantly THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY VOLUNTEER!

As far as we know our episode will be aired on December 2nd at 8pm Eastern Time on ABC. The McKernon group has set up a beautiful website about the makeover with lots of photos. Please visit at :

http://www.mckernongroup.com/extreme_home_makeover/index.php

We are not permitted to show any photos of the inside of the house until after the airing of the episode....but it is gorgeous! They really nailed our style perfectly.

To the staff we worked so closely with at ABC (and you know who you are) WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU for taking such great care of us and making us feel like royalty while we were on vacation. You guys are WICKED COOL....much love :-)

Fun Fact* What's in a name? A lot! Louis means "Warrior" and Angelo means "Angel". Put them together and you get a Warrior Angel. Anyone who knows Louie can appreciate how well his name fits him!

Hello and thank you for visiting Louie's Site! here you can keep up on all that is going on with Louie now and you can also read about his past and what we might expect in the future!

What's New With Louie?

Louie vomitting issues are under control!!!! Louie went to Boston Children's Hospital and had a GJ tube placed which allows us to feed him into his intestine rather than his stomach. This has had a very positive effect! Read more on the Feeding and Stomach Issues page.

Louie has trouble vocalizing. During our recent stay in Boston Louie had a quick scope to look at his vocal cords and the Doctors found that his larynx is "squashed" and his vocal cords do not appear to be moving at all. We will be having a more in-depth study done within the next few months to learn more. He says "Hhhhh" which is his way of saying "Hi". He likes to cover his trach with his hand and make little squeaky noises. He has been working with picture symbol communication as well. Learn more on the Cognitive Development page.

Louie recently had achilles tendon lengthening surgery on both feet with excellent results! He will now wear AFO's on both feet which are custom made braces that keep his feet properly positoned. Without these braces his feet would turn back in again. Read more details on the Orthopedic Page of the Medical Information section.

After much discussion amongst ourselves and Louie's care team we have decided not to undertake any further "corrective" orthopedic procedures. Louie will wear his braces on his feet to maintain what we have accomplished with casting and surgery. The process of fixing his feet has given us new insight into how we feel about making changes to his body. We feel that his development depend greatly on his happiness and freedom, and we want to provide him the most normal childhood possible. We are astounded every day at how quickly and how well he learns to adapt to his limitations and we feel he will do just fine with what God has given him to work with. When he is older and is able to understand his options and express his desires, we will support him 100% in any surgical procedures he may choose for himself. The bottom line is that the most important thing to us is that he feels in control of his body, his disabilities, and his ability to choose what he feels is right for himself.

You should see Louie cruise around the floor! He is amazing to watch...he has learned how to adapt so well! He easily moves around the floor to wherever he wants to go, and is getting really good with using his hands in creative ways to accomplis tasks. we call him "Mr. Grabby" because he always wants to grab everything, especially things he shouldn't be grabbing like his GJ-tube and his trach.

Big brother Kane holding hands with Louie Jr.

Louie Jr. and Daddy laughing at each other.

Louiesaurus after his bath.

Flying!