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July 2019
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live exceptional lives academic immersion magnet school studying spanish. when
carissa
began having problems with her esophagus and was very susceptible to infections, the family opted for homeschooling instead. ?i pulled her out of school in february,?
ginger
says
. ?with all of her issues, i?m afraid to send her back in with the masses.? this fall,
carissa
will begin seventh grade via university view academy, an online public charter school. in addition to keeping up her spanish,
carissa
is teaching herself french with duolingo. after an unsuccessful procedure on her esophagus,
carissa
was on an all liquid diet for a month. ?she?s a fighter, and she doesn?t let any of it get her down,?
ginger
says
. ?she couldn?t eat a thing, and she was still super happy and positive.? a second procedure was successful, and the family is on a high with some good health news. ?she?s actually gaining weight. for the first time ever, she?s on the height weight chart. it?s all good right now,?
ginger
says
.
carissa
plays the violin, and she would like to be an author. she loves babies and is a certified babysitter. she?s looking forward to volunteering in her church?s nursery when her immune system allows.
carissa
also loves to organize and has made the most of her time while at home by organizing the bedroom she shares with her sister. ?she hasn?t been a lazy home body,?
ginger
says
. ?she prepared her own daily schedule, and she always sticks to that.? and best of all,
carissa
has a group of good friends who always look out for her. ?her positive attitude is what keeps me going,?
ginger
says
. ?we?re just so lucky we are where we are right now.? ?
carissa
?s health challenges began at birth, and
ginger
was advised to call in hospice for her baby. she opted for more interventions, including a feeding tube that remained in place until
carissa
learned to eat at age three. ?we still don?t even know all the issues,?
ginger
says
. ?she had eating issues from birth, and so her main issue has always been eating. she?s always been small.?
carissa
had a ventricular septal defect, or hole in her heart, when she was born. ?but luckily that thing healed up on its own,?
ginger
says
. a spinal fluid leak later caused hearing damage in both ears, so
carissa
wears hearing aids.
carissa
and cadee were students at baton rouge foreign language y ou will never meet a nicer girl than
carissa
murray. the 11-year-old is sweet, kind and caring, with an inquisitive mind and an ear for languages and music. she also has faced unique medical challenges throughout her young life. although she?s received no single diagnosis, she has undergone multiple procedures and surgeries, including five craniotomies. ?these have left noticeable scars on her face and head that tell of much darker times,?
says
ginger
gauthier,
carissa
?s mom. however, life at home is bright and full of love.
carissa
lives with her mom and stepdad, maurice; her sister, cadee; and her aunt and grandma. ?we have a unique family blend,?
ginger
says
. by mari walker a bright future after darker times photo credit: lauren leopold photography 3 4 b r p a r e n t s . c o m | j u l y 2 0 1 9
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