Maddox had a swallow study on Monday to make sure it was safe to begin purées. Many babies like Maddox are at risk for silent aspiration, meaning they can aspirate without any obvious signs-so it was really important for us to get answers before moving forward. 

 

And the best news… Maddox passed his swallow study with zero signs of aspiration! He was officially cleared for purées and even approved to eventually trial a cup system (likely further down the road, but still an exciting milestone). 

 This week, his speech/feeding therapist shared an update that melted my heart: 

“He had oatmeal mixed with Gerber sweet potato and enjoyed it! Great closure and clearing of the spoon. He’s definitely tolerating and accepting the purées. He seemed to enjoy Tuesday’s feed and anticipated more.” 

 That was our one successful purée session this week. He was too sleepy for his other sessions and even fell asleep mid-feed. With all of his seizure medications, managing energy and alertness is always a balancing act for Maddox. But honestly? We’ll take the win. It’s a start, and a meaningful one. 

 We also have a GI appointment later this month to discuss his nutrition plan as we get closer to his first birthday. As he approaches a year, his body needs more, and we’re ready to keep advocating and planning for what comes next. 

 So proud of our boy. One spoonful at a time. 💙