Happy New Year from the Eddy Family!
As we say goodbye to 2024, we can't help but reflect on all of the growth and healing that has come through so many experiences this past year.
Jason Eddy
Jason started a job at Food Lion in August and is loving it.
When at home, Jason loves making delicious meals for the family. This year he’s had a blast experimenting with Asian cuisine.
At church Jason serves as Young Men’s Advisor to the Priests, spending lots of time with Dinomite, Bulldozer, and friends.
Jason is having "fun" adjusting to the life of a middle aged man spending time in physical therapy for his shoulder and knee, and being diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Renae Eddy
Renae continues running her online business, Every Star Is Different, supporting Montessori educators and families with developmental, emotional, and trauma-based disabilities.
She also continues to homeschool Dinomite, Bulldozer, and Princess.
In January 2025, Renae is reopening her music studio!
She is currently accepting students ages 5 and up for piano and voice lessons.
After surgery on her vocal cords in 2023, followed by a year of vocal rest (no singing and only speaking quietly), Renae's voice has healed.
The doctors have said she may never have the vocal range she had before, but she can sing again!
The year 2024 has provided many medical answers for Renae.
Thanks to Dinomite, Renae and her doctors now understands many of her physical struggles (including her vocal cords and chronic inflammation), are a result of Ehler's Danlos Syndrome (a genetic connective tissue disorder).
A colonoscopy and endoscopy showed Renae also has a 4 cm hernia in her diaphragm which is causing severe reflux and breathing issues.
Inflammation in the gut due to struggles with gluten was also noted.
Biopsies and bloodwork confirmed hemochromatosis (a genetic blood disorder related to iron absorption). This has perplexed doctors as Renae has struggled with chronic anemia for years.
Renae now refrains from all gluten and mammal products. She also follows a reflux friendly diet.
Big changes in diet and exercise are making a huge difference for Renae!
She has slimmed down two pant sizes and her hair is starting to grow, which is pretty crazy! Lol.
"Dinomite" Eddy
Dinomite, 17, spent 8 months in physical therapy this year because his joints, particularly his shoulders, kept dislocating.
A geneticist confirmed that Dinomite meets criteria for Hypermobile Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome (EDS).
The doctor and Dinomite chose to go with the diagnosis of Benign Hypermobility to avoid future medical and insurance discrimination.
Dinomite still follows all the protocol for EDS which includes following a gluten free, lactose free, low sugar, and no processed meats diet, paired with constant cardio and strength training to keep his body together.
Despite hypermobility challenges, Dinomite became lifeguard and CPR certified this summer.
He participates on swim team, coming home with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons from swim meets.
Dinomite helps coach both middle school and elementary school swim teams.
His goal for 2025 is to become a certified scuba diver and study photography, to work towards his career choice of becoming an underwater film and photographer (think Shark Week).
At church, Dinomite serves as Priest Quorum’s 1st Assistant.
Dinomite also attends early morning seminary.
When he has down time, Dinomite loves following and watching his favorite sports teams.
"Bulldozer" Eddy
Bulldozer, 16, decided to join the Blue Forest Theater Academy (BFTA), and was cast in his first musical Hadestown this fall.
Theater matches well with Bulldozer’s passion for cinema.
He loves acting, singing, and dancing, and has found his tribe.
In 2025 Bulldozer plans to take voice lessons, dance lessons, and participate in all the BFTA shows.
When not at theater rehearsal, Bulldozer enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, including being her date to homecoming and all other occasions.
Bulldozer attends early morning seminary on weekdays.
He also loves following and watching sports with his brother.
.jpg "Princess' Young Women's Recognition Night")
"Princess" Eddy
Princess, 15, continues to be very passionate about writing and drawing.
She also enjoys puzzles, LEGO, and all things Marvel.
Princess has decided she wants to become a surgeon and is focusing on studying all she can to prepare for the future.
This year has been a huge year for Princess socially.
She attends early morning seminary and other church
activities, is developing many friendships, and has been asked out on her first
date.
"Sunshine" Eddy
Sunshine, 13, continues to reside in her fifth residential placement due to severe mental illness that jeopardizes the safety of our family.
We are thankful for a year of consistency in treatment and the healing it has provided for our family.
Our prayer is that it is possible for Sunshine to heal and someday be safe with her family again.
Until then, we continue to support her in her treatment.
Our favorite interactions with Sunshine have been weekly letters we write back and forth to each other with the help of her therapist as well as monthly visits and passes.
The highlight of the year for our family was our Christmas vacation to Washington D.C.
We were able to watch NFL and NHL games, visit museums, take tours of the White House and Capital Building, and meet with our congressman and his staff.
Here’s
to a Happy New Year in 2025!
Love,
The
Eddy Family
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