tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59720856622552483922024-03-14T02:39:06.095-04:00Our Place Called HomeOur Family's JourneyOur Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.comBlogger429125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-86507630209212779812015-10-06T16:03:00.001-04:002015-10-06T22:13:39.148-04:00Ruth's heart surgery<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">we adopted Ruth we knew we would one day have to return to CHOP. We knew this would be extremely difficult. The same sights, sounds and emotions from the day we loss Teresa would be hard to relive. </span></div><div>Ruth was scheduled to have her first surgery to repair her heart on Wednesday September 23. Her anatomy is very complex. Being there and going through the same environment as before brought back many suppressed emotions for Ed and I. We specifically asked not to be in room 11. Greeting the nurses that took care of Teresa for those 2 weeks was hard. It felt like it was only yesterday we were hugging them and grieving our sweet Teresa and now we were there again.</div><div>Going down the same hall to the OR was not good. Saying "good bye", was not good. </div><div> </div><div>Why do some children survive and others die?</div><div><br></div><div>I just don't know. When a child goes through a difficult surgery and survives, people say " God must have a great plan for their lives", " this child is a fighter".</div><div><br></div><div>I disagree. Does this imply that if a child dies that God did not have a great plan for them or they did not fight to live? </div><div><br></div><div>It's nice to say" they are in a better place" or " they are out of pain". I can assure you that no mother feels her child is in a better place other than being in HER arms. </div><div><br></div><div>So as we kissed Ruth good bye , we prayed as we did before with Teresa, for Gods will to be done and God to be glorified through Ruth's life.</div><div><br></div><div>God is always good even when the outcome is not what we pray for.</div><div><br></div><div>Ruth did incredible with her surgery. She was up the next morning walking. We slowly felt relief and comfort knowing she was doing so well. She has had a few complications along the way but she is making steady progress. Her pericardial effusion has finally almost dried up after having a drain placed. And it looks like home is not far away!</div><div><br></div><div>Walking this journey again was hard and at times almost felt impossible. But as I look at Ruth as she is sleeping holding my hand , I know it was all worth it! I would do it over again 100 times to have the honor of being her Mama. </div><div><br></div><div>God is good all of the time.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qmXhfgFEVHk/VhR_xQf0UJI/AAAAAAAAEGo/OPwq7YmtQK0/s640/blogger-image-2024704452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qmXhfgFEVHk/VhR_xQf0UJI/AAAAAAAAEGo/OPwq7YmtQK0/s640/blogger-image-2024704452.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zNXKH2tdf3k/VhR_y9gWxLI/AAAAAAAAEGw/yfJHRv_okK8/s640/blogger-image-24201138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zNXKH2tdf3k/VhR_y9gWxLI/AAAAAAAAEGw/yfJHRv_okK8/s640/blogger-image-24201138.jpg"></font></a><font color="#000000"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zNXKH2tdf3k/VhR_y9gWxLI/AAAAAAAAEGw/yfJHRv_okK8/s640/blogger-image-24201138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_gj2AoAzgX4/VhR_wD9FKYI/AAAAAAAAEGg/xekGG-7GSlA/s640/blogger-image-511424084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_gj2AoAzgX4/VhR_wD9FKYI/AAAAAAAAEGg/xekGG-7GSlA/s640/blogger-image-511424084.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_gj2AoAzgX4/VhR_wD9FKYI/AAAAAAAAEGg/xekGG-7GSlA/s640/blogger-image-511424084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zONAkro0PwY/VhR_0F7NHjI/AAAAAAAAEG4/sUz5lwDag_o/s640/blogger-image--1257574610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zONAkro0PwY/VhR_0F7NHjI/AAAAAAAAEG4/sUz5lwDag_o/s640/blogger-image--1257574610.jpg"></a></div></div></font></div>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-62662178746804517542015-09-02T21:51:00.001-04:002015-09-02T21:51:21.418-04:00Little Hearts MedicalI would love to share with everyone what we have been working on in China. As many of you know after Teresa passed away it was our mission to help orphans born with CHD in Teresa's memory. For the past 2 1/2 years we have been working to fulfill this mission. We have been working closely with the CCCWA and many orphanages and Foster Homes in China to improve the care of these precious children. In a few days Executive Assistant Eric Olson heads to China for what we pray will be a fruitful trip! Eric will begin by training the ayis of Peace House Beijing in the basic cardiac assessment of infants, followed by traveling with Holt International to Jinan to assist in the Journey of Hope program. The precious children who are part of that program will soon be available for adoption and Eric will be assisting Holt in their documentation. After the JOH, he will travel to Shanghai for the General Assembly Meeting where the Little Hearts Medical/Holt International Children's Services "Love You More" Cardiac Care Presentation (named in honor of our sweet Teresa) will make its debut to an audience of China's orphanage directors. Ed and I had wished to attend this momentous event but with recently returning home from China with our two new treasures it was not possible. I know Eric will do a fantastic job. As we continue to move to our ultimate goal of opening the "Love You More" heart home in Beijing we welcome all prayers for the continued success of this mission. If you would like to have a child's file reviewed for adoption or make a donation, please contact me at- ann@littleheartsmedical.org . You can also like our FB page to keep updated, Little Hearts Medical. We love you more Teresa!Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-21390798928742537072015-08-09T00:03:00.000-04:002015-08-09T00:03:23.260-04:00Bend in The Road<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">
"The only road that leads to the destination God desires for us has it's sharp bends."<br />
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Two years ago the road we were traveling had a huge bend in it. How I wish at that time we could have taken a detour. But I can see now that this short cut would have lead us into the wilderness. And this was not the end of Teresa's story.<br />
Two years later, we are now on a road less traveled. <br />
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Two little girls have joined our family. This now makes The Bartlinski Bunch...11 amazing children that God has blessed us with.<br />
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Ruth and Maria are fitting right in to our "wacky" family. They love all of their sisters and adore their three older brothers.<br />
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Our journey on this new road has also lead us to China. Our bend in the road also put a bend in our hearts. We spent one month in China working with our partner Little Hearts Medical and our Executive Director, Andrea Olson. Ed is on the Board of Directors and I am the Special Projects Director. We worked closely with the CCCWA (
China Center for Child Welfare and Adoption ) to improve the care of orphans in China born with heart disease. I could hear Teresa giggling from Heaven as the the Director of The CCCWA said " Yes, we agree , we would like to have you work with us to improve the care of heart children". As I told him that it is our ultimate goal to build a Heart Home for orphans, he was visibly moved by Teresa and Andrea's son, Bryce's story and photo albums we presented to him.<br />
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Wow! Two years ago I only dreamed of this day but now it is a reality.<br />
We have been very busy for the past two months as we prepare for the meeting that will take place with all of the orphanage directors in China as we present to them a training video that will be used to identify orphans with heart disease as they enter the orphanages. This is an incredible step in the right direction to saving more lives. Had this been done for Teresa her story would have had a different ending.<br />
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We also visited several medical Foster Homes. We spent time with the children learning about their medical conditions and advocating for them.<br />
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We also had dinner with our team of surgeons in Beijing. This is one of the most dedicated group of people whose hearts really care about the orphans. Dr. Liu and Ed had such a great time toasting each other. Dr. Liu calls me his " American Mama". We met him 2 years ago when we traveled to China to start our road to building the Heart Home. Last year we brought him to CHOP for 2 weeks to shadow Teresa's team of cardiologists and then attended the annual Cardiac Conference in Florida. He is an amazing surgeon who has a heart of gold. What a blessing it was to spend time with them again.<br />
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The bend in the road that we thought would break our hearts has lead us on another amazing journey where our lives will be forever touched by our angelic little girl that "loved us more". Teresa you are still changing lives from heaven and helping orphans to have their own families.<br />
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This was written by our Executive Director of Little Hearts Medical, Andrea Olson.<br />
<br />
"Congenital
heart disease is the most common birth defect worldwide, affecting
approximately one in every 100 children born. An estimated 130,000
children are born with CHD each year in China, and a staggering
percentage of those children die by their first birthday.<br />
During
our trip to China in May, LHM was asked to meet with the Director of the
China Center for Child Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA). Our Executive Director
Andrea Olson, Special Projects Coordinator Ann Bartlinski, Board of
Directors member Dr. Ed Bartlinski, LHM in-China Coordinators Dennis
Yang and Susan Song, and Holt International Children’s Services
representative Sue Liu met with CCCWA staff and presented our findings
on the state of care of orphans affected by CHD. We were met with
compassion, interest, and the spirit of cooperation, and at the
conclusion of the meeting we were invited to join hands with the CCCWA
in a partnership to work towards the betterment of life for these
precious children. It was a powerful moment for our team, as the Olson,
Bartlinski, and Lee families (LHM Founders) have all adopted CHD
children from China. The battles fought by our children and those of so
many we know, and the sweet memory of Teresa Bartlinski and the many
other precious children who have passed away, have been our driving
force.<br />
We are honored to have been asked to attend the annual
General Assembly Meeting of Orphanage Directors taking place in Shanghai
in September, to give a presentation on the challenges facing CHD
children residing in China’s social and child welfare institutions.
Alongside Holt International Children’s Services, Executive Assistant
Eric Olson and our in-China Coordinators will deliver the presentation
to all of those in charge of China’s hundreds of social and child
welfare institutions. We are honored by this invitation, and we ask for
your support and prayers as we reach out to touch the hearts and souls
of those in attendance. We pray that our message will be effectively
communicated, that the importance of early diagnosis and the critical
significance of intervention will be understood, and that the directors
will leave inspired to do their utmost for the children in their care.<br />
After the Shanghai meeting, Eric will continue on to Shandong Province
for the Journey of Hope camp, where he will be sharing our presentation
with the ayis of several orphanages there.<br />
We are all too aware
that there are many obstacles to obtaining cardiac care for China’s
orphans and children living with their families of origin, but by taking
one step at a time, building relationships, opening eyes and hearts,
and approaching the problems with unbiased minds, fortitude, and spirit,
we know we can make a difference.<br />
The primary mission of LHM is
the sharing of knowledge between our U.S. based team of pediatric
cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons and those in China, and that
work continues! We are planning more training trips for the upcoming
year, including a partnership with a respected organization already
rooted deeply in China. We will be continuing the training of advanced
interventional catheterization procedures so that more children may be
reached earlier, at a cost that will be less prohibitive to families in
China, orphanages, and the organizations funding children’s cardiac
care. <br />
We will soon be asking the community of families who have
adopted CHD children from China to assist us with a special project.
Stay tuned!<br />
Thank you for your prayers and your support!"<br />
<br />
</div>
Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-90011765359737032272015-05-19T08:00:00.001-04:002015-05-19T08:00:08.006-04:00Two lessThere are two less orphans in the world tonight!<div>Maria and Ruthie are doing great . They came from very different backgrounds. Maria is adjusting much faster than Ruth. Ruth watches everyone and takes everything in. She is sweet and kind and very smart. She loves to share with Maria . But she is guarding her heart and let's us in a little at a time.</div><div>Maria is soft spoken and so sweet. She is silly and loves to play. She has bonded very quickly with us and loves to give hugs and kisses.</div><div>Please pray for Ruth's heart. She is starting to cough and is retaining fluid. </div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HlV64LnObkw/VVslwyzwpiI/AAAAAAAAEDw/z4PifxnQZ70/s640/blogger-image-1619781437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HlV64LnObkw/VVslwyzwpiI/AAAAAAAAEDw/z4PifxnQZ70/s640/blogger-image-1619781437.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lT8CuXucSjU/VVsluBM4xXI/AAAAAAAAEDo/2vJ8z7MTmG4/s640/blogger-image--1241907547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lT8CuXucSjU/VVsluBM4xXI/AAAAAAAAEDo/2vJ8z7MTmG4/s640/blogger-image--1241907547.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-41425607348262011912015-05-09T04:14:00.001-04:002015-05-09T05:32:22.376-04:00LivingThree years we spent learning how to really live. This is what Teresa taught us. It was not nearly long enough. In this short amount of time our lives took on a different meaning, a different purpose. But in the blink of an eye, she was gone.<div><br><div>She taught us how to live, now she was teaching us how to die.</div></div><div><br></div><div>The moment she died it was as if I was standing before God myself. He told me that He has her now. It was His turn to hold her. </div><div><br></div><div>I let go, but she took my heart with her to heaven that day.</div><div><br></div><div>Life has gone on. It has been almost two years since that day. The day that our life changed again.</div><div><br></div><div>We had learned how to live , how to die and now we are learning how to live again.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>This has brought us to China.</div><div>We are spending one month in China learning again how to live.</div><div>I am the Special Projects Director for Little Hearts Medical and Ed is a Board Member.</div><div>Along with Andrea Olson ( executive director) we have come to China to help improve the lives of orphans.</div><div><br></div><div>We are spending two weeks in Beijing working with the CCCWA and our partnership , Little Flower along with 5 other medical Foster homes.</div><div><br></div><div>The children we have met are precious. Some are too young to know they are orphans. The older children somehow know.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5IyxS4c8nDU/VU3BvhLJehI/AAAAAAAAEDE/UCRCJDEXx-U/s640/blogger-image-364353479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5IyxS4c8nDU/VU3BvhLJehI/AAAAAAAAEDE/UCRCJDEXx-U/s640/blogger-image-364353479.jpg"></a></div></div><div>The little ones run to us with their arms in the air to be picked up calling us MaMa, BaBa.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6UjZC4z46dc/VU3Bp2RoB6I/AAAAAAAAECs/cZ1mpdoyCgM/s640/blogger-image--1534810291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6UjZC4z46dc/VU3Bp2RoB6I/AAAAAAAAECs/cZ1mpdoyCgM/s640/blogger-image--1534810291.jpg"></a></div></div><div> All the children we have met are special needs, mostly heart children, the ones hardest to place because of so many unknowns.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ryhbow2VsPo/VU3Bn4aZqLI/AAAAAAAAECk/ITvSGx5Gnd8/s640/blogger-image--807709429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ryhbow2VsPo/VU3Bn4aZqLI/AAAAAAAAECk/ITvSGx5Gnd8/s640/blogger-image--807709429.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BfyvA_cYTMc/VU3BmJvB5sI/AAAAAAAAECc/2AAKsP4eP_E/s640/blogger-image-1556112099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BfyvA_cYTMc/VU3BmJvB5sI/AAAAAAAAECc/2AAKsP4eP_E/s640/blogger-image-1556112099.jpg"></a></div></div><div>So today we are living. We chose joy. We chose to help the forgotten and unwanted. Every life matters, no matter how short or how long. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hoOUiqrErAA/VU3Br9fo_5I/AAAAAAAAEC0/KqmCA6_ltQs/s640/blogger-image-1508620341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hoOUiqrErAA/VU3Br9fo_5I/AAAAAAAAEC0/KqmCA6_ltQs/s640/blogger-image-1508620341.jpg"></a></div></div><div>In the face of each of these children I see Jesus.</div><div>On July 1,2013, Teresa went to Heaven.</div><div>On May 18, 2015, we will adopt our two daughters from China.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UgBkqn4dwJw/VU3BtlMZJ7I/AAAAAAAAEC8/5FNRoj9XlXw/s640/blogger-image-989213679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UgBkqn4dwJw/VU3BtlMZJ7I/AAAAAAAAEC8/5FNRoj9XlXw/s640/blogger-image-989213679.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zv1kv1YGQi4/VU3Bxq14g2I/AAAAAAAAEDM/8zzhFbcp9mQ/s640/blogger-image-1062998116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zv1kv1YGQi4/VU3Bxq14g2I/AAAAAAAAEDM/8zzhFbcp9mQ/s640/blogger-image-1062998116.jpg"></a></div>What joy! </div>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-50256671379348450602015-05-08T01:30:00.001-04:002015-05-08T01:30:01.711-04:00The Hot Pot<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7F3y-W7qA1U/VUxJ1eTUMAI/AAAAAAAAECM/zExDo-5RwAs/s640/blogger-image-431947681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7F3y-W7qA1U/VUxJ1eTUMAI/AAAAAAAAECM/zExDo-5RwAs/s640/blogger-image-431947681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ger4UEJyKGI/VUxJzDDIdeI/AAAAAAAAECE/eUTmszG8v4E/s640/blogger-image-279482452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ger4UEJyKGI/VUxJzDDIdeI/AAAAAAAAECE/eUTmszG8v4E/s640/blogger-image-279482452.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7F3y-W7qA1U/VUxJ1eTUMAI/AAAAAAAAECM/zExDo-5RwAs/s640/blogger-image-431947681.jpg"></div>Last night we had dinner at Ed's favorite place to eat in Beijing, the Hot Pot.<div>We met Sue , Lily and Andrea and her son Bryce there.</div><div>We had a wonderful time catching up with old friends and discussing plans for the future.</div><div>Today we visited Agape House and met Maria. This is a medical Foster home for children with osteogenesis imperfecta. </div><div>She is such a sweet little girl but is very shy. </div><div>She warmed up to us a little and even gave me a kiss.</div><div><br></div><div> </div>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-34780527303923189322015-05-06T06:41:00.001-04:002015-05-06T06:41:48.872-04:00Little FlowerYesterday as soon as we arrived in Beijing we headed straight to LF.<div>Ruth is very shy and wanted nothing to do with us. She will turn 3 in September but is sooo tiny. She is very dainty and does not like to have food on her fingers or face. She loves to eat. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EXeBW-tj8p8/VUnv44Rt2cI/AAAAAAAAEBo/5zKjnwKDF1o/s640/blogger-image--585144646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EXeBW-tj8p8/VUnv44Rt2cI/AAAAAAAAEBo/5zKjnwKDF1o/s640/blogger-image--585144646.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Today she let me hold her and feed her lunch. So we are making slow progress.</div><div>We spent the entire day at LF loving all the children.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2zaNyX3MfvI/VUnv1PrdxqI/AAAAAAAAEBY/GYMWv6GvRbY/s640/blogger-image--989668243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2zaNyX3MfvI/VUnv1PrdxqI/AAAAAAAAEBY/GYMWv6GvRbY/s640/blogger-image--989668243.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G8aleF7K7ec/VUnv3G832qI/AAAAAAAAEBg/RbdNImnd6gU/s640/blogger-image-1643043715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G8aleF7K7ec/VUnv3G832qI/AAAAAAAAEBg/RbdNImnd6gU/s640/blogger-image-1643043715.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Andrea will arrive in China tomorrow and on Friday our team will start the process of meeting with medical Foster homes, the CCCWA and establishing plans for the care of heart children.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pilJRCkW95s/VUnv6gcy68I/AAAAAAAAEBw/McSb4pAFx2Q/s640/blogger-image-1116310451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pilJRCkW95s/VUnv6gcy68I/AAAAAAAAEBw/McSb4pAFx2Q/s640/blogger-image-1116310451.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QVpxx0theRs/VUnvy6oEWtI/AAAAAAAAEBQ/e76MHq6XOQM/s640/blogger-image--1629034009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QVpxx0theRs/VUnvy6oEWtI/AAAAAAAAEBQ/e76MHq6XOQM/s640/blogger-image--1629034009.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-90350507113344436322015-04-28T22:23:00.000-04:002015-04-28T22:23:11.054-04:00Going to ChinaIt is with great joy we would like to share that we are adopting again.<br />
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We will leave shortly to travel to China to bring home 2 little girls.<br />
Maria Teresa and Ruth Ann!<br />
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If you would like to follow along on our amazing journey , we will post updates from China.<br />
More details to come...<br />
You can also follow along on Pray for Teresa B facebook page.Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-13264583336847685822014-06-15T22:56:00.000-04:002014-06-15T22:56:13.423-04:00June 17, 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am not the type of person that is always recapping what happened "this time last year", what the weather was like..."this time last year" or on this day "last year" we were...<br />
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BUT on this day last year...we received "the call" that changed our lives forever.<br />
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We were sitting on the beach enjoying the beautiful day. Teresa was making sand drippies and pretending to be a mermaid princess in the sand. We had just eaten lunch and were planning on what to eat for dinner. Teresa wanted shrimpies. Then my cell phone rang. We had not taken a vacation since Teresa was listed status 1A for a new heart. We were only going away for three days and all the girls were looking forward to having fun at the beach. When I saw the number I knew exactly what was about to happen. On the phone was our transplant nurse. The conversation was a complete blur. All I heard was, " there is a heart for Teresa... hurry and get here...<br />
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We gathered all of the girls off the beach in record time. I could hardly breathe as we ran back to Grandmoms Beach house. I put Teresa in the shower with me because she was covered in sand. We called Alex back home and he would meet us at CHOP with all of our bags. Teresa watched her favorite movie in the car as we drove to CHOP in record time. She was totally unaware of the magnitude of events about to unfold.<br />
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Usually you arrive at the hospital to wait and wait and wait. But not this time. Teresa was whisked into a bath and then given a special scrub down. We met with the Doctors to sign mounds of paperwork. The child life specialist, Meredith, spent the entire time with us and Teresa. She discussed what was about to happen. Alex arrived just in time to give Teresa lots of hugs and kisses. Teresa loved Alex dearly and was so happy to see him.<br />
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The nurses tried to talk Teresa into putting on the sterile hospital gown but Teresa was having nothing to do with it. She was going to wear her princess gown and tiara and that was that. So off she went to the OR in style, dressed as a Princess. I rode with her in the bed until it was time to say our final good bye. We kept saying " I love You ". As the OR door closed , Teresa yelled out " I Love You More".<br />
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That day held so much hope but it quickly turned to sadness. As soon as she came out of the OR she started having trouble. Cardiac arrest, 30 minutes of CPR, ECHMO for two weeks, two more open heart operations, heart cath, ECHMO cannula braking and nearly bleeding to death in front of our eyes. For two weeks we watched as Teresa fought so hard to live. <br />
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Each day our hope for a new life filled with all the hopes and dreams for a healthy life for Teresa slowly faded. After two weeks we knew it was time to say good bye. On July 1st. , a Berlin Heart was Teresa's last hope . But it too was not to be.<br />
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Slowly Ed and I realized it was not meant to be. It was Gods Will to
unite a world in prayer for two weeks for a little girl born with half a
heart ,an orphan whose only wish was to have her own family. Teresa's
story changed thousands of lives all over the world. God used a little
orphan who had nothing except her little panda bear to move mountains in
peoples hearts. She changed lives one heart beat at a time.<br />
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For
two weeks the resemblance of her suffering with Jesus' was
remarkable. She bleed from her eyes, nose, mouth and chest
continuously. She signed for a drink every time she was awakened. She
never complained and gave us the thumbs up when we talked about going
home. It was the holiest two weeks of our lives. We had never felt as
close to God as we did during that time.<br />
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I never thought I would be strong enough to hold my daughter as all the machines were turned off and she entered Heaven. From the very begining it was our desire to be Teresa's family and to not let her die alone. We were not there when she took her first breath but we were there for her last breath.<br />
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Death is a very hard thing to deal with . Our faith tells us that Teresa waits for us in Heaven with our Lord. This gives us tremendous peace. But being human and having human emotions, I want her in my arms here with me.<br />
We have so many happy memories with Teresa. But some days memories are just not enough. <br />
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Ed and I knew we wanted to help more orphans in Teresa's memory. The "Love You More" Heart Home in Beijing will be able to do just that. If you would like to help us reach this goal in Teresa's memory, all doations can be made to -<br />
Believe In Miracles<br />
P.O. Box21199<br />
Catonsville Md. 21228<br />
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OR 0n the Go Fund Me site on the side bar.<br />
All donations are tax deductible!<br />
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Thank you for loving our sweet girl, praying for her and supporting our family through such a hard journey. And YES, we would do it all over again even if we had just loved Teresa for one day , it was all worth it. For you can not put a price on love. Yes , our hearts are broken. Half our hearts went to Heaven with Teresa on July 1. But through this journey we were touched by an angel here on earth. Gods Will was done. God is Love! God is good ALL of the time.<br />
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We love you more Teresa!!!!! <br />
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<br />Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-12393652500336578642014-06-11T22:34:00.001-04:002014-06-11T22:34:48.039-04:00Color WeekThese three girls are amazing!<br />
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Two weeks ago, Mary and her best friends Maggie and Katherine, organized a fundraiser for The "Love You More" Heart Home in China.<br />
<br />
The fundraiser was held at their school and they called it "Color Week". Each day of the week represented a different color that Teresa loved.<br />
<br />
Monday- Rainbow. Teresa brightened everyone's day, she loved colorful things and loved rainbows.<br />
Tuesday- Pink. Pink was Teresas favorite color.<br />
Wednesday- Field day. Mary, Katherine and Maggie designed a school T-Shirt to wear this day. The girls put together a race to honor Teresa-The Royal "T" Race. (pronounced royalty). On the sleeve of the shirt was a tiara with a "T" under the crown.<br />
Thursday-Red. Red represents a heart.<br />
Friday-Purple. One of the colors of the Believe in Miracles Foundation.<br />
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Each day the children could come out of uniform in exchange for a donation.<br />
The homeroom with the highest donation would name a room in The Heart Home.<br />
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5A- Mrs. Mclaughlin's class won. They chose to name a room- "The Rainbow" room.<br />
3B-Sister Teresa's class was close behind so we are going to have them name a room also. The children chose- "Sister Teresa's Room". All of our children have been taught by Sister Teresa and love her dearly. While we were in the hospital with Teresa last year, Sister Teresa would call me almost every day with love and support and to let us know that ALL the Sister's were praying for Teresa.<br />
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Along with the help of the Student Council, Mary, Katherine and Maggie orchestrated the entire week. The school raised over $1,700.00 for the Heart Home!<br />
<br />
We are slowly getting there. We had hoped to open the home on July 1st. ( One year after teresa's death ) but God is once again teaching us patience and to wait on His time.<br />
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We are not gamblers but I had to share this funny little story. Last year two weeks before Teresa died I let her pick the Mega Millions numbers. She thought this was so much fun to pick her favorite numbers and have a chance to win money. Then the day after Christmas I was de- cluttering the play room and I came across Teresa's little purse. Inside she had tucked away a Mega Millions Lottery ticket. As I looked at it I thought Teresa must be trying to tell us something. Then I looked at the date, it was the same date except six years earlier, December 26, 2008. Teresa was definitely telling us something! <br />
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So for the past few months we have been playing "Teresa's" numbers. I know you can probably guess what we would do with the money if we win.<br />
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<br />Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-14719669314102341552014-05-10T15:38:00.000-04:002014-05-10T15:38:04.466-04:00This past monthThis past month our family celebrated three Birthdays . Alex turned 23, Grace turned 15 and Eddy turned 28!<br />
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Ed and I were invited to "Evening of Wishes" with Make A Wish. Gemma's wish was highlighted in a documentary to promote the importance of "Wishes" for children with "health challenges" and was debut at the Gala. It was a very special evening and we felt very humbled to be a small part of it.<br />
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We are still fundraising for the " Love You More" Heart Home. <br />
Teresa's journey touched so many lives all over the world. If she touched your life won't you please consider donating to the " Love You More" Heart Home. The Home will be in Beijing China. We will provide life saving surgeries and medical care to orphans born with heart disease. We will then help them to find their "Forever families". It was Teresa's one wish to have her own family. Every child deserves to know the love of a family.<br />
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We have set up a Go Fund Me site located on the side bar. <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/92ax6k">http://www.gofundme.com/92ax6k</a><br />
Donations can also be mailed to - Believe In Miracles P.O Box 21199, Catonsville, MD. 21228<br />
Believe in Miracles is an approved 501c foundation. All donations are tax deductible. <br />
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Thank you for helping us to change the lives of orphans- one heart beat at a time!<br />
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<br />Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-43052736375675548792014-03-31T22:35:00.000-04:002014-04-02T14:05:18.556-04:00April 1 - nine months<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5183">
April 1. I can hardly believe it has been 9 months since our sweet girl went to Heaven. Nine months of learning to live without her here, helping us through life. Yes, she helped us through every minute of every day. Now she is helping us from Heaven. There are days it feels like only yesterday she was here being a princess, giggling, singing and dancing. And other days where it feels like she has been gone forever. I often wonder why God chose to share Teresa with us for only three years. How could we possibly have learned everything HE wanted us to learn from her in only three years? But I guess we did and now it is His will for her to teach us from Heaven. Some may question "Learn from her, really?" Yes, we have learned from her so much and we continue every day to learn more. <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5183">
The biggest lesson we all have learned is, God is good all of the time. God was not bad because Teresa died. This was His will. All things work for the good of God. God is LOVE. Teresa was and still is LOVE. She personified love.</div>
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<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5183">
I read an article tonight talking about grief written by <b>Sara McNutt </b> It pretty much summed up what our family has gone through for the past nine months.-</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5183">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5183">
Since we have begun our own grief journey, I have
noticed this subtle mindset that so many have about grief. The more
outwardly composed and collected we are, the more praised we are for
"being strong" and being a light and example. An example of what? Not
collapsing on the floor in gut-wrenching pain and weeping that leaves
our eyes nearly swollen shut and our faces red and blotchy? No, we save
that for the privacy of our bedrooms.</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5187">
I've said this before and
I'll say it again: People who experience such profound loss and grief
are not any stronger than you are. We did not experience our loss
because we possessed more strength than you, and you are not exempt from
experiencing it yourself. People who experience such profound loss and
grief go on living because they have to.</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5189">
As my sweet friend and I
talked, I realized we shared many of those same experiences. People
praising her for being strong. People commending her because she looked
like she was moving on because she happened to get dressed and put
makeup on that day. I loved the way she confronted the last person who
told her that. "It's a front," she said. "I'm actually living in a black
hole right now."</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5191">
Because people don't see the other side.</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5193">
They
don't see the sleepless nights and the nightmares and the constant
replay of your worst memories: the still heart where there should've
been a beating one; the moment she was placed in your arms and all you
could cry was, "You're so beautiful; you're so perfect"; the kissing of
her head over and over; the soaking in of her face, knowing you'd never
see it again; the handing her over for the final time; the collapsing on
the bed in tears because you don't know how you will live through this
pain.</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5195">
They don't see the crushing of your heart when you see
someone who has what you should have. They don't see the tears rolling
down your face night after night, the thousand different places in this
city that you've cried and then pulled it together as you pulled into
the church parking lot.</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5197">
They don't see the anger and the desperate
questioning and the item thrown across the room because you can't stand
the pain and anger anymore. And they don't see that it doesn't stop.
That nine months later you're still so freaking sad and angry that you
realize for the first time that grief is a long, long journey and you're
just getting started.</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5199">
I'm comforted when I find in the Bible the same gut-wrenching pain
that has become so familiar to me. None of this ridiculous composure and
"staying strong" and being the poster child for handling grief well.
Isaiah tells me that Jesus was a man familiar with grief and sorrow, and
when Jesus wept the original language describes for us the type of
weeping that is from the stomach—you know, the kind that doubles you
over.</div>
<div>
Jesus is near to me. He is with me. He has never left me. I
have laid in bed and pleaded with Him to please show me His love and
kindness because it felt so far and, even at times, not true, and my
God, the One who leads the stars out in number by name, has done just
that. He has shown me indescribable love and kindness. But it doesn't
erase or exempt me from the grief experience. Nor any other believer.</div>
<div>
Yes,
God is good, but death isn't. He tells us in His own Word that the last
enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Cor. 15:26). Yes, death is an enemy.
And we can have every type of visceral reaction to it that soldiers have
in battle at enemy lines. It is not tidy. It is not comfortable. It
doesn't make for easy conversation or even relationship. It reshapes
what you thought your life would be like and look like. It is
inescapable.</div>
<div>
When I talked to my friend today, my eyes filled with
tears as she spoke and shared how angry she's been, and I told her I
have been as well, and I told her that's OK; it's part of the process.
No, we don't want to stay there and become embittered, but we don't have
to have a quick, palatable response to everything either. We don't have
to defend God or try to make it go away for the other person. We can
simply say, "I know and I'm so sorry. I've been there too. I'm there
now."</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5201">
Someone shared this perspective not long ago, and it's stuck
with me. How much would I love it if my children came to me when they
were older with their real problems and questions and struggles and sin,
more than if they simply always told me the "right" thing so that I
somehow felt better about them? I love my children desperately, and
nothing could ever separate me from loving them. I crave relationship
with them, not a surface appearance of them doing the right things but
me never actually knowing them, truly knowing them. And it makes me
wonder how much more so our Father? He's not looking for us to have our
spiritual ducks in a row first. He's not looking for us to redeem our
own pain and experiences. He is the Redeemer. He is the one who
sanctifies. He is the one to work out all things for good.</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5203">
I think
people who suffer and grieve have such deep faith because the believing
doesn't come easy anymore. It's been purified in the Refiner's fire. We
can no longer say that God is good because our lives are going how we
think they should; we now say God is good because He is simply good.
Because it is who he has been for all of eternity, and He is incapable
of being anything other than Himself in all His perfection. His goodness
isn't true because we have good gifts. His goodness is true because it
is who He is.</div>
<div>
Yes, my faith is deeper. My belief in God and His Word are stronger. But it's not without severe pain and wrestling.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div>
Teresa , we love you more and are so much better for having the privilege of being your family forever... We will be together again someday in Heaven. Until then please tell Jesus ," Thank you."</div>
<em id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396315087638_5210"></em>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-81250805599167962232014-03-06T17:04:00.001-05:002014-03-06T17:04:21.451-05:00We Have a NameWe have a name- Mrs. Jaudon's second grade class at Hillcrest had the
highest donations for the "Love You More" Heart Home. The school raised
over $ 4,000 in one day! Her class chose to name the Baby Room -"The
Pink Princess Teresa's Heart room" lovingly from Mrs Jaudon's second
grade class . These children all gave from their hearts . They are
amazing ! Thank you so much!<br />
<br />
If you would like to name a room , please email me. We will also have a "Wall of Love" for donations. You can make donations on the pay pal site here or by mailing to Believe in Miracles,P.O.Box 21199, Catonsville Md. 21228. All donations will go to Opening the Heart Home. Believe in Miracles is an approved 501c.<br />
We Love You More... Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-25972870964963382942014-03-03T22:16:00.000-05:002014-03-03T22:16:19.923-05:00The Big PictureAre you the type of person that likes to know the bigger picture. You like to know the end of the movie or whats going to happen next.<br />
<br />
I am definitely like this. I don't like surprises or not knowing whats going to happen next. I like routines and having everything planned out.<br />
<br />
Four years ago if I had seen the bigger picture - We would adopt a little girl with half a heart, spend months in and out of the hospital, go through procedures, caths., illnesses, scarry nights trying to breath for her, learning more than any parent should ever have to learn about the human heart, able to write a book on heart transplant and all the possible complications, learn about organ donation and become a strong advocate for it, jump every time the phone rings , living out of a suit case for one year, going through two weeks of suffering and pain and then holding Teresa as she went into Jesus arms, I am not sure I would have said "Yes" when Jesus asked us to take a leap of faith and trust Him and adopt Teresa. Not knowing the bigger picture is sometimes a benefit. We wanted to adopt Teresa to love her and for her to know the love of having her own family. We trusted God as we prayed for a miracle but also had complete trust that God knew the bigger picture and His will would be done.<br />
<br />
Looking back now I can see the bigger picture, I understand. But I can only understand it now standing on the other side. And yes, we all agree we would do it again. God is always good. It doesn't mean your life will not have suffering or pain but with God ALL things are possible.<br />
<br />
Many wonderful things continue to happen. Two weeks ago we met in Philadelphia with our team from China. They spent the week shadowing Teresa's team of Doctors from CHOP. It was an amazing week. The knowledge theygained they will take back to China and help the orphans. <br />
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Lily, took care of Teresa in China. It is amazing how God brought her back into our lives. Only God could orchestrate all of these details perfectly.<br />
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Last week Ed and I ran in the Disney Princess Marathon ( the 10K ) weekend at Disney World. We both have never run in a marathon before but we could definitely feel Teresa leading us on. As we crossed the finish line I could hear Teresa saying" really Mom , what took you so long?" Next year we hope to have a larger team and raise even more money for the Heart Home.<br />
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Also last week Teresa's school held a fundraiser for The Heart Home. In one day the children raised over $4,000!!! The class that raised the highest donations will name a room in the new Heart Home . I will keep you posted on the name they choose. We will be meeting with the Children on Thursday.<br />
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I had hoped on opening the Heart Home on July 1, 2014 ( one year after Teresa's passing) . But this is in Gods hands. We need to raise the first years expenses before we can open the Home. So far we have raised $30,000. After we raise the first years expenses ( $80,000), The Chunmiao Foundation will help to fund the home along with donations. We are working on other fundraisers. It is never too late to donate, Donations can be made to Believe In Miracles( an approved 501C foundation) and all donations are tax deductible. P.O Box 21199 , Catonsville Maryland 21228. Thank you !<br />
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All the girls are doing fantastic. Emilia will have the fixators from her legs removed on Friday. She will be three inches taller and is so excited! <br />
We are so grateful to God for all the blessings He has bestowed on our family and continue to trust completely in His will for our lives. <br />
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<br />Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-89876214290367420712014-02-12T22:55:00.000-05:002014-02-12T22:55:24.447-05:00"Love You More" Heart HomeSomething wonderful is happening this week.<br />
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A few months ago I spoke with Teresa's team of Doctors at CHOP and asked them if they would host our team of Doctors from China.<br />
Dr. Hanna was very gracious an organized a week filled with lectures, Heart Caths., surgeries and rounds. Our friend Teresa W. graciously funded the trip.<br />
After spending the week in Philly the team will fly to Orlando and attend The 2014 Pediatric Cardiac Conference. Here they will spend another week in conferences and lectures learning from the best cardiac Doctors in America.<br />
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This is such a tremendous experience and we are very excited for them all!<br />
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Keep moving those mountains Teresa! We love you more!!!Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-74043133668290351202014-02-09T17:20:00.002-05:002014-02-09T17:20:54.705-05:00Gemma-HawaiiThank you Make A Wish Hawaii for making Gemmas wish so magical. The entire team of volunteers, life guards, surf instructors and the Hamilton family all went above and beyond to make the week fabulous for all 10 of the wish children. They enjoyed a Hawaiian Luau, surfing, sand castle making, lai making, Hula lessons, tubing the ditch, snorkeling, watching Soul Surfer and private time with Bethany. They all overcame fears and embraced the challenge of learning something new. Friendships were made. All these children are my HERO'S. Each child facing obstacles in life with their health and never giving up.<br />
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Gemma's new friend- Elizabeth<br />
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Vanina Walsh- 16 years old and second in the world for paddle boarding. She is such a sweet girl.<br />
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Siana Hunt- CEO of Make A Wish<br />
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Uncle Kalani and Gemma getting ready to surf.<br />
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The girls with Sarah Hill. Carrie Underwood played Sarah in the movie.<br />
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Emilia and Gemma surfing with Noah Hamilton ( Bethany's older brother) . He is the kindest, warmest, most humble person ! <br />
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Gemma received the trophy for the most FEARLESS surfer!<br />
Thank you Make A Wish !!!!!<br />
<br />Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-15925713840738286872014-01-29T02:35:00.001-05:002014-01-29T02:35:51.276-05:00SurfingTo say today was amazing would be an understatement. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9fHjg1swF9w/UuivUvcH4HI/AAAAAAAADzI/yDxSYiQNdJ4/s640/blogger-image--2086123174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9fHjg1swF9w/UuivUvcH4HI/AAAAAAAADzI/yDxSYiQNdJ4/s640/blogger-image--2086123174.jpg"></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EWuMYMjlsTY/UuivQAJM-zI/AAAAAAAADy4/SoY0xgJXLrQ/s640/blogger-image-1821272959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EWuMYMjlsTY/UuivQAJM-zI/AAAAAAAADy4/SoY0xgJXLrQ/s640/blogger-image-1821272959.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We started the day with breakfast with Bethany. The entire Hamilton family is so kind. Bethany's parents, uncle , two brothers , sister in laws and niece spent the day with us also. Mrs. Hamilton taught Grace how to make ti leaf lais. </div><div><br></div><div>The girls spent the day surfing with Bethany and playing on the beach. Even Emilia surfed. Bethany's coach tandem </div><div>Surfed with her. All the girls had the best time . They accomplished a dream</div><div>They never thought they could.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J4JoxYdP1t0/UuivSEYK5uI/AAAAAAAADzA/rKeSotQ_-fs/s640/blogger-image-1425916661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J4JoxYdP1t0/UuivSEYK5uI/AAAAAAAADzA/rKeSotQ_-fs/s640/blogger-image-1425916661.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Tonight everyone had dinner with the entire Hamilton family. The wish children then had individual time alone with Bethany and had the opportunity for autographs and more photos. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_bVsMpmHFdw/UuivJPmudUI/AAAAAAAADyg/7Xqg2GX1lyI/s640/blogger-image-1172923591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_bVsMpmHFdw/UuivJPmudUI/AAAAAAAADyg/7Xqg2GX1lyI/s640/blogger-image-1172923591.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>After dinner everyone was treated to a movie under the stars on hanalei bay ....soul surfer . After the movie we all got the inside scoop on the making of the movie.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dYsRwLyOkr8/UuivN5Xhc-I/AAAAAAAADyw/hhXFhJhts2A/s640/blogger-image-1111935838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dYsRwLyOkr8/UuivN5Xhc-I/AAAAAAAADyw/hhXFhJhts2A/s640/blogger-image-1111935838.jpg"></a></div></div><div> Hanalei Bay on Kuai is breathtaking . It was kinda neat to see in the movie the same beach the girls were surfing on. </div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow the girls will surf with Bethany in the morning and then go tubing down the ditch In the afternoon . </div><div><br></div><div>We are all loving the island life. "No worries" and " island time" are fantastic! </div><div><br></div><div>"If you have faith anything is possible". Bethany Hamilton </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pja_PBkPO6E/UuivLXilrXI/AAAAAAAADyo/tX4Qq84xAQY/s640/blogger-image-461464449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pja_PBkPO6E/UuivLXilrXI/AAAAAAAADyo/tX4Qq84xAQY/s640/blogger-image-461464449.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>" I get my strength from Jesus Christ" Bethany Hamilton </div>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-46223333472511033512014-01-28T02:56:00.001-05:002014-01-28T02:56:31.840-05:00Kauai<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wXRy1AtIL4c/UudirSSbuUI/AAAAAAAADyQ/OT9QiBNjg4c/s640/blogger-image-522068756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wXRy1AtIL4c/UudirSSbuUI/AAAAAAAADyQ/OT9QiBNjg4c/s640/blogger-image-522068756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q6PIsnebs2k/Uudijl3eNzI/AAAAAAAADyA/w4WAuU0NSwQ/s640/blogger-image--1324741846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q6PIsnebs2k/Uudijl3eNzI/AAAAAAAADyA/w4WAuU0NSwQ/s640/blogger-image--1324741846.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wXRy1AtIL4c/UudirSSbuUI/AAAAAAAADyQ/OT9QiBNjg4c/s640/blogger-image-522068756.jpg"></div>Tonight we had dinner with the ten children attending the first Bethany Hamilton surf camp for Make A Wish. Gemma quickly became best friends with another little girl from Phoenix. There is also an adopted little girl from Gemmas province in china with the same medical condition as her. All the children learned how to do the hula. Tomorrow morning the girls will have their first surfing lesson with Bethany ( even Emilia). They are so excited. Kauai is such a beautiful island . Several movies were filmed here. ( pirates of the Caribbean , South Pacific , Jurassic park)<div>Gemma is having the best time. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6HRR17p6ZA8/UudioMmik2I/AAAAAAAADyI/ME7tfi1ciz8/s640/blogger-image-1937043307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6HRR17p6ZA8/UudioMmik2I/AAAAAAAADyI/ME7tfi1ciz8/s640/blogger-image-1937043307.jpg"></a></div> </div>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-17948731870000478872014-01-25T12:30:00.001-05:002014-01-25T12:30:51.973-05:00Make a Wish<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">O<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nQZh1LQQAAY/UuP0yciWAJI/AAAAAAAADxw/Weph6gS2v1g/s640/blogger-image-1176656250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nQZh1LQQAAY/UuP0yciWAJI/AAAAAAAADxw/Weph6gS2v1g/s640/blogger-image-1176656250.jpg"></a></div>We are in Hawaii ! Gemma wished to surf with Bethany Hamilton and she is so excited.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4fDIbJFEXY4/UuP0wYTPzQI/AAAAAAAADxo/74yIPlYYmWI/s640/blogger-image-1833223920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4fDIbJFEXY4/UuP0wYTPzQI/AAAAAAAADxo/74yIPlYYmWI/s640/blogger-image-1833223920.jpg"></a></div>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-44654277667361429812014-01-22T22:12:00.000-05:002014-01-22T22:12:27.853-05:002014Sorry it has been so long since I last posted.<br />
<br />
Christmas was a difficult time for us this year. Not only was it Christmas but it also was Teresa's 7th. Birthday. <br />
We decided to do things a little bit differently. Thank you to our friends and family who didn't judge us and ask why?<br />
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We could not wait for 2013 to be over since it seemed like such a bad year. But after thinking about exactly what a "Bad" year entailed , I realized that 2013 could not have been bad. It was probably one of our best years ever.<br />
It was the very last year we would ever have Teresa here with us, so it could not be bad. It was filled with so many happy memories and the sounds of Teresa's magical laughter. But it also held a very sad , life changing time in our lives. We became very different in 2013 because of it. And I have to say for the better. The journey that Teresa started us on 4 years ago was never an easy one, and we knew that going into her adoption. But what we never expected along the journey was exactly how life changing it would be. <br />
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I don't think I could even put into words exactly how our lives have changed. It is something that we all just feel, know and believe every day. Teresa changed us. She came to change each one of us in the way that only God knew we needed. <br />
She lived for 6 years with half a heart and when she died she took half of our hearts with her.<br />
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Many things have been happening ... Emilia is doing so much better with her legs healing. She will have the external fixators removed in 2 months and she will be three inches taller. The infections are all gone!!!<br />
Lucy will be performing in the schools spring play... Willy Wonka. She tried out for Veruca but was cast as Umpa Lumpa #3. She is so happy to be a part of the play she really did not mind being an Umpa Lumpa. And she makes an incredibly cute Umpa Lumpa!<br />
Ed and I feel so blessed to be enjoying the pure love of our first grandchild. He brings us all so much happiness.<br />
Gemma is so excited for a very special event.... she is going on her Make A Wish trip. She has waited for almost 2 years and she is beyond excited. She wished to learn to surf with Bethany Hamilton from Soul Surfer. After watching the movie she felt a connection to her. She said Bethany kept going after losing her arm and didn't give up. She said she was just like her because she doesn't give up either. Bethany is such an amazing role model for girls. It's your choice how you react when life throws you a curve ball. You can stay down and crumble or you can get back up and follow your dreams.<br />
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<br />Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-25964817052482777842013-12-19T23:04:00.003-05:002013-12-19T23:04:45.054-05:00How are you doing?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="person"> A lot of people have asked how we are doing. We knew the first year with out Teresa would be difficult especially Christmas day since this is also her Birthday. Teresa loved celebrating her Birthday with Jesus.</span><br />
<span class="person"><br /></span>
<span class="person">Ed and I wanted to skip Christmas this year. Watching the rest of the world go on with so much joy and happiness was too painful since our joy ( Teresa) was gone. But we knew we could not do this to our other children. They deserved to be happy and have a joyful Christmas also. So we have done the best we can in the midst of great sadness to make Christmas for them special.</span><br />
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<span class="person">"How are you doing?" seems like such a generic question. Some people use it as a greeting, not really wanting an in depth answer. Others can only handle a response of "we are doing o.k.", and yet others seem afraid to even ask. But there are a few who can see behind the smile that hides the pain and the eyes that can cry no more or the arms that long to hold the one that is gone. To these friends we don't need to tell how we are doing because they somehow know. </span><br />
<span class="person"><br /></span>
<span class="person">The death of Teresa has left a permanent scar on my soul. It is a scar that I will wear proudly because without it I would not be who I am today. I lived for 45 years without Teresa and only three years with her. I did not know what was missing from my life until I had her. I now know so much more all because three years of my life were touched by an angel. </span><br />
<span class="person"><br /></span>
<span class="person">This journey with Teresa has brought our entire family closer to God. The journey has been very hard and painful but it also was filled with so much joy with Teresa. We no longer try to find our new normal. This is something that will never be attained. We are different. This difference does not make us special. This "difference" was given to us by God. I do not know why nor do I understand why God has taken us on this path. It is a path that I would surely not choose as my will but one that I will trust in God to lead us on for His Will is always perfect.</span><br />
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<span class="person">Tonight as Gemma was saying her prayers she said," Mommy, I know why the Doctors could not give Teresa a new heart, because Jesus had to give her one in Heaven. " </span><br />
<span class="person"><br /></span>
<span class="person">I know this is true and I know she will celebrate her Birthday in Jesus' arms , both of them celebrating their birthdays together on Christmas day and this is what we will celebrate with a joyful yet heavy heart.</span><br />
<span class="person"><br /></span>
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<b><span class="person">Ron Lee
Davis</span></b><br />
~ <i>In this life we
will encounter hurts and trials that we will not be able to change; we are just
going to have to allow them to change us.</i>.<br />
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<b><span class="person">Billy Graham</span></b><br />
~ <i>We cannot truly face life until we have learned
to face the fact that it will be taken away from us.</i><br />
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<b><span class="person">John Vance Cheney</span></b><br />
~ <i>The soul
would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.</i><br />
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<i>Thank you for all of the prayers, love and support.<br />
</i>Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-49649704954040436972013-12-09T21:33:00.000-05:002013-12-09T21:33:05.512-05:00One WishWhat would you wish for if you had one wish?<br />
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Gemma is the star student this week in school. She is so excited. She decided that Teresa would be the star student with her so she filled out the questionaire with information about her and Teresa.<br />
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Gemma- favorite color -rainbow, Teresa-pink. Gemma- favorite book,Green Eggs and Ham, Teresa- Shoe La La.<br />
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The last question was - "What would you wish for if you had one wish?"<br />
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Gemma wished to see what Teresa was doing in Heaven.<br />
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This year we decided to remember Teresa by changing our Christmas tree. It is Pink with pink lights, sparkly shoes, snowflakes, angels, wings , flowers and tiaras. everything teresa loved.<br />
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We love you more Teresa!!!!<br />
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<br />Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-16693363961086653382013-11-29T16:04:00.000-05:002013-11-29T16:04:56.224-05:00"Love You More" Heart HomeThe "Love You More " Heart Home will be in Beijing China. Teresa loved to say " I love you more" and these were her last words to us. In Teresa's memory we want to help other orphans in China who have severe cardiac disease like her. <br />
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Ed and I have partnered with Little Hearts Medical. Little Hearts Medical was founded by Tanya and Mike Lee and is an approved 501 c Foundation. Shortly after Teresa passed away , Mike and Tanya came into our lives. We quickly became friends and learned that our children had been together for several years in China and were friends in the same orphanage. Mike and Tanya have the same vision as Ed and I about helping orphans with heart disease. We quickly started planning how we could make this dream come true. We traveled to China in September and brainstormed with Serena , Lily, Diana and Theresa from Chunmioa Little Flower on how exactly we could reach this goal.<br />
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We established a budget and the steps necessary to open the Heart Home. We partnered with two Hospitals and four Cardiac surgeons and Cardiac Internationalists in Beijing. We visited the two Hospitals and helped train the nurses in post op cardiac care for very fragile children. We visited two orphanages and helped train the caregivers on Cardiac care for the children. We also partnered with Philips Medical Equipment in China who has agreed to supply portable heart echo machines for us to travel to the orphanages and help identify children with cardiac disease.<br />
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We have all the plans in place to open the Home , all we need now are the finances. It will only cost $ 80,000 to run the home for one year. This will include;<br />
1. A 25 bed home with the ability to expand in the future.<br />
2. 5 rooms for poor families to stay with their child while we provide them with the medical care necessary for their child. We will also train the families on how to care for their children before returning to their homes and provide them with follow up care.<br />
3. All cardiac surgeries.<br />
4. Medical equipment, furnishings, medicine, food and clothes.<br />
5. Nannies<br />
6. LOVE<br />
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After the first years expenses have been met , the Chunmioa Foundation will help to cover the costs of all medical care for the children.<br />
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It is only money and when you think about it, it is such a small amount of money that is needed and it will have the ability to help so many children.<br />
<br />
If you are able to help us raise the money , there are several ways you can donate.<br />
You can donate through Pay Pal on Teresa's page or Little Hearts Medical .org page.<br />
Or you can send a donation to : Little Hearts Medical, 20 Apple Tree Ct. ,Baltimore MD. 21228<br />
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All for you sweet girl ! You spread your love for others with your hugs and smiles and now from heaven you will help children get the medical care they so desperately need and in doing so you will also help them to have their own families. Then all the children will know the love of having their own families!Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-1035929549003574812013-11-27T18:55:00.002-05:002013-11-27T19:12:13.747-05:00Happy Thanksgiving!Emilia is still in the hospital recovering from an infection. She has spent 31 of the past 49 days in and out of the hospital. What started out as one infection quickly became another and then another. For the past 2 weeks she has been battling sepsis, toxic shock and MRSA. She has endured another surgery to clean the infection and reposition the pins. She has undergone several tests including several ultra sounds, an Indium Scan and an Upper GI along with countless blood tests. She now has a Picc line and a feeding tube to help her regain the several pounds she has lost.<br />
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The infection in her leg has finally cleared up. She now must start eating again to be able to go home. She will continue with IV antibiotics at home for several more weeks.<br />
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Emotionally it has been very difficult for her. When she saw the picc line in her neck and the feeding tube, it reminded her of everything Teresa went through and she was afraid she was going to die also.<br />
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Child life has been fantastic working with her to alleviate all of these fears.<br />
The nurses have been so supportive and loving. One brought her tow trucks after she learned that Emilia wanted to be a tow truck driver when she grows up. Another nurse brought her a huge stuffed dog to keep her company. <br />
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Unfortunately she has spent Halloween, her birthday and now Thanksgiving in the hospital.<br />
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We are praying she will be home soon and able to enjoy all the chaos, noise and love that being in a family provides. This is the best medicine of all.<br />
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Over the past several weeks a lot of people have commented and asked "how do you do it?"<br />
Doing "It" really is not a big issue now.<br />
Several years ago, as we struggled with "our will" and "Gods will", it was very difficult to do "it".<br />
Now we are resolved to doing Gods will. Once we let go of holding on to our own selfish desires we have found great comfort and peace in doing "it". Sure we are tired and at times the journey seems endless but we hold on to our faith and hope.<br />
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I wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving with your families.<br />
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For us it will be our first Thanksgiving without Teresa.There is so much that I miss about not having her here with me to help cook dinner and all the excitement and joy she had being with her family and just enjoying life. On Thanksgiving day she would start counting down the days to her Birthday and Jesus's Birthday. She brought so much joy into every minute of our lives , this has been the hardest thing to"get over". In one way it may be a good thing that I am not home.<br />
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We love you more sweet girl... and we miss you SO much !!!!<br />
I am so grateful that God gave us three years with you here on earth. Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972085662255248392.post-68651292011982030022013-11-15T19:40:00.001-05:002013-11-15T19:40:09.980-05:00Our Immigration Officer<br />
Almost 4 years ago, someone special came into our lives.<br />
As I was preparing our paperwork to adopt Teresa, I called the USCIS Office to ask to have Teresa's adoption expedited because of her health. Cindy answered the phone on that day. As I explained to her the health of the little girl we were adopting, her heart was moved to help us. Everyone in the adoption community knows how important your Immigration Officer is in the adoption process. I quickly gathered all the documents that she asked for and Cindy expedited Teresa's adoption in record time.<br />
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Over the years we kept in touch. Cindy always planned on coming to meet Teresa after she received her new heart. But sadly that would not happen here on earth, it would have to wait until Heaven.<br />
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We were so happy when Cindy told us she still wanted to come and visit. Meeting Cindy was wonderful. Through Teresa we had a special connection that drew us together.<br />
Over the week we went site seeing, ate crab cakes, crab potato chips and crab soup, visited the Cemetery, had lunch in D.C. with friends who helped to tell Teresa's story to the world and hung out with the Bartlinski Bunch and Cindy became a member of our family.<br />
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We are so grateful that God orchestrated that day almost 4 years ago and brought Cindy into our lives!<br />
All because of you sweet girl. We love you more!!!!!<br />
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Emilia-<br />
Poor Emilia has had a really hard time. Since she had her fixator surgery on October 8 , she has had one infection after another.<br />
We thought she was on the road to recovery and then on Monday she started with enlarged and painful lymph nodes. We went to the pediatrician and started yet another antibiotic. On Wednesday the school nurse called to inform me that Emilia was covered in a red rash. I picked her up from school and we went to the pediatricians office. By now she was in a lot of pain and starting with a fever. From there we went to Siani for Dr. Standard to look at her. By the time we reached Siani she had a 103.5 fever and was covered from head to toe in redness and shaking. The infectious disease Doctor looked at her and knew she was in toxic shock and sent her right to the PICU. <br />
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We started 2 more antibiotics. The Doctor said she was very lucky that we caught it so soon because it saved her life. <br />
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On Friday morning she had surgery to clean the infection from her bone. The first results have come back and she now has MRSA and osteomyelitis. <br />
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The plan is to continue IV antibiotics and treat for mrsa and osteomyelitis and wait for the rest of the cultures from the biopsy to come back to see what other nasty bugs might be hiding in her leg.<br />
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<br />Our Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11799414819134594989noreply@blogger.com5