A 6-month-old baby girl was diagnosed with an extremely rare disease called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM).
Opal Trimble from Shawnee, Oklahoma has already faced many challenges since she was 4 months old. Dr. Michael Johnson, the medical director of the Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital, said to Good Morning America: “She is the youngest [patient] we have come to us with this diagnosis and each case [of AFM] is different.”
AFM is a serious condition that affects the nervous system, specifically the gray matter of the spinal cord. It causes the reflexes and muscles in the body to become weak.
Even though Opal is so young, it is evident that she is a smart little girl. In fact, she shares a ritual with her father, Josh Trimble.
A heartwarming video shared by Opal’s mother on Facebook shows father and baby saying goodbye in their own way.
As Josh beats his chest, little Opal looks at him and copies his move.
Speaking about their heartbeat ritual, Josh told GMA: “That moment of me beating on my chest was actually Opal and I sharing a heartbeat. I was letting her know that even though we may not be there physically together, we share a heartbeat.”
He added: “That day in particular we were praying about her not only mobility but her intentionality in deciding to move a certain way and our focus was on her arms.”
In the family’s Facebook page, Opal’s Fight-Team Trimble, Gretchen Trimple posted some amazing news.
Their little girl was taken off her ventilator and is said to be getting better. “We are so incredibly humbled and encouraged by the signs of progress Opal has shown us these past few days… Thank you, Lord!!!” the update reads.
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