Chaz • Photo Story | kara k. pearson | Kara K. Pearson Photography

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:52:12 -0600

Jerri and Sequoia leave the hospital around 6:00 p.m. after being there with Chaz all day. Jerri said she likes to be with Chaz at least six hours a day.

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:52:00 -0600

Like she does every morning, Jerri calls the hospital to check how Chaz's night went as Sequoia wakes up yawning.

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:51:44 -0600

Chaz watches his sister in the bed next to him as his mom talks to a hospital employee Monday, April 30, 2007.

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:51:30 -0600

Hardly touching her dinner after a long evening at the hospital with Chaz, Jerri sits at Las Margiritas, a restaurant near the Ronald McDonald House where she and Sequoia often go to eat.

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:51:19 -0600

After going out for dinner, Sequoia has a pillow fight with her mom before bed Sunday night, April 29, 2007 at the Ronald McDonald House in Denver.

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:51:06 -0600

Ronald McDonald greets them good morning as Jerri catches up on some phone calls while walking with Sequoia to the hospital.

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:50:51 -0600

Chaz Israel-Olson calmly lies in bed as a technician performs an EKG during his stay at Children's Hospital in Denver.

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:50:34 -0600

Sequoia Israel-Olson and her mom, Jerri Israel, show how they sign "I love you" to Chaz.

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:49:53 -0600

Chaz Israel-Olson, 6, was adopted from Cambodia in Dec. 2001. Since then, he has gone through 11 surgeries and been diagnosed with a number of illnesses, including mulscular dystrophy, ostesoperosis, two chronic lung diseases, heart disease, sleep apnea, and developmental disabilities.

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:49:35 -0600

Jerri tries to get some rest in the bed next to Chaz as a respiratory therapist works on loosening up the mucus in Chaz's chest Monday April 30, 2007.

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:49:09 -0600

Chaz Israel-Olson, 6, cries out in pain as his mom, Jerri Israel, tries to comfort him April 29, 2007 at Denver's Children's Hospital. Chaz was constipated and his stomach was hard as a rock.