The Bartlinski Bunch

" Teresa "

" Teresa "

Teresa "Fang Fang " Bartlinski

Teresa was born on December 25, 2006 in China. She was born with a very complex heart condition. In July 2010, GOD added Teresa to our family through adoption. We have been blessed with 9 wonderful children. Gods grace has woven us together as a family. Upon bringing Teresa home from China we unfortunately learned she not only needed a heart transplant but also a lung transplant. Her doctors feel she would not survive this operation. Please help us to pray for a miracle for Teresa's heart and lungs to be healed. She is a very special little soul who has touched so many lives around the world ...
I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

What were we thinking?





What were we thinking adopting two three year olds in 7 months?
Twice the hugs, twice the kisses and twice the love.

The past seven months have been a huge adjustment for us. Just when we thought Gemma's medical condition ( Beta Thalassemia Major) was under control we were thrown a curve ball. Gemma receives blood transfusions every 3 weeks. Last month her Hematologist wanted to try and push her to every 4 weeks for transfusion . This made her hemoglobin level dropped too low and now she is playing catch up to get back to a safe level. Last week she received extra blood at her transfusion . We are hoping this did the trick or she will have to start receiving transfusions every 2 weeks. Receiving transfusions every 2 weeks for the rest of your life is not a good thing. With each transfusion comes the extra iron and it is stored up in the heart and liver eventually causing these organs to fail. Gemmas liver biopsy revealed her ferritin levels at 3211(normal levels are 10-300). Luckily her heart is just enlarged and does not show signs of iron . She takes a daily chelation medicine to remove the iron from her liver but so far it has not helped. The only cure for this disease is a bone marrow transplant but unfortunately this is not an option for Gemma because the donor has to be a blood relative.
We are hoping her transfusion schedule will improve .I know it is hard on her to receive so many needles ,but she never complains and she tries to be brave.

Teresa's health continues to be a day to day encounter. She has good days where you would never guess she was so ill and then she has bad days where she is blue and lays on the couch most of the day. So far the good days out number the bad days and she continues to find happiness in each new day with new experiences to love.

Our road of life continues to take many turns with each new day but we are learning how to go with the flow ,accepting GODS will and appreciating every new day.

7 comments:

Rita and John said...

What beautiful photos of your girls! Gemma and Teresa look so good here. We'll keep praying!

Annie said...

Our two four year olds are running us ragged right now. Defintely going through a rough patch but I know it will get better again. Having virtuial twins has it's advantages and disadvantages but at the end of the day you do get twice the love and that makes the hard part bearable:) I have lately been hearing about families being able to hire someone in China to help them find their children's birth families with some success. It would be a long shot but maybe?? We continue to keep sweet Teresa in our nightly prayers!!

Jen said...

You guys are such an ispiration. I love seeing kids find such loving homes. Teresa is dear to my heart, I've worried about her since I seen her on my agencies list a year ago, I'm happy to see that she's living the life she deserves.

Shannon said...

Ann...Where do I begin? I fasted and prayed for Teresa to find her family for so long! The Lord placed her on my heart and on the hearts of so many who prayed along with me on my blog. We had a day of fasting & praying that she would find her family. It brings tears of joy to my eyes to see her here so full of life and fully loved! Oh, how words fail in knowing all she is fighting but surrounded by such love. I would love to write about her and get as many people as I can praying for you guys tomorrow. Praying for a miracle!
Shannon
www.throwingourarmsopenwide.blogspot.com

Chris said...

Twice the joy, indeed!

I will be praying for both of your three year olds!! :)

Adrian Roberta said...

Just read this through NHBO's site, you have a precious family! (our daughter is named Gemma aswell) Will be praying for your beautiful children.

Roberta
http://berzenji.blogspot.com/

Kristi said...

Oh wow! That's a lot of scary stuff going on the the lives to two darling little girls. I'll have both on my prayer list. And peace for your heart as well!