11/22/07
Alcolu family makes ‘spiritual and emotional journey’ with infant son
By Jerriod Grizzle

Jerriod Grizzle/Manning Times

The Holladay family poses for a picture in their home in Alcolu. (Left to Right) Landon, Herb, Ethan, Melinda and Taylor (center) say their family is blessed to have Ethan and that God has a special plan for him.

“We try to be normal,” said Melinda Holladay of Alcolu about her son, Ethan, 4-months-old and newly released from the hospital.

“He’s a good child and his two brothers love him to death. They hold him as much as they can,” she said. “Despite his disease, he has not been sick whatsoever.”

Having gone through three major surgeries, Ethan’s young life already has sent his family on what they call a spiritual and emotional journey.

“There is a purpose for Ethan and for us. It put us back in check,” said Herb Holladay, Ethan’s father, a maintenance mechanic at Federal Mogul. “There was certainly a reason for God sending him to us.”

Ethan was born with a rare genetic disease, Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata (RCDP).

RCDP is a rare and very severe genetic disease that affects the limbs and bones. The disease causes dwarfism with bone abnormalities that are visible under x-ray and the naked eye. The disease also causes other problems such as cataracts and some mental and developmental deficiencies.

“There are lesser degrees of the disease. His upper limbs are not as long as they should be but he is growing in length and weight. His weight is really good,” said Herb Holladay.

Ethan was born July 9, 2007 at Clarendon Memorial Hospital. Because of a dislocated hip, he was sent to Palmetto Richland Hospital in Columbia to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“Despite all of his sickness, you have to look at it as being in God’s hands. You take it day by day. Look at it as a little miracle. You look for what can happen, not what is going to happen,” said Melinda Holladay.

The family stayed in the Ronald McDonald House, a place, which the family calls a blessing.

“It really helped us get over the initial shock. We were able to go back and forth to the hospital whenever we wanted. The other families were very supportive and we received and gave comfort and support,” said Herb Holladay. “We met a couple from Sumter going through a similar situation with their first child. We also met another couple, who lived in Beaufort. Over time we got really close.”

One of the saving graces the family said the house had to offer was the closeness of their own family.
“They let us keep our two other boys up there so we weren’t separated,” he said.

Julia Teal, House Manager for the RMDH in Columbia said that the Holladay family was an inspiration.
“They are wonderful people and a loving Christian family,” she said.

Teal said that when the Holladays first got to the RMDH they had a chance to stand up and talk about what they were going through.

“Like every other family these things are very sudden. At some point everyone is in tears,” Teal said. “I think looking at the other families that let them know they were not alone really helped them out a lot,” said Teal.

RMDH, “A home away from home,” is part of Ronald McDonald House Charities charitable organization that operates in all 50 states.

The RMDH lets families stay for little to no charge while providing for their room and board and often times meals. The houses are located in walking distance of the hospital to allow families easier access to see their child.

After a three-week stay, Ethan was moved to the Medical University of South Carolina for cataract surgery and hearing aid implants.

Taking all her family has been through into account, Melinda Holladay said she is very thankful for all the love and support her family has received.

“Everyone has been so good to us. They have called, sent cards and blessings. It is surprising and comforting to know that this big of an area was supporting us,” she said.

Ethan’s long battle is not over. He still goes through speech and physical therapy.

Melinda Holladay said that as Ethan gets older, they and the doctors would reassess his condition.

The Holladays said that they are praying Ethan has a lesser but even more rare form of the disease.

“He is already growing and doing things that the doctors said he wouldn’t do. He is otherwise healthy and we are blessed with how well he is doing,” said Melinda Holladay.

The Holladays said that no matter what happens, their faith is strong and they are sure Ethan will be what God wants him to be.