Thank you Make A Wish !!!!!
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Gemma-Hawaii
Thank 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.
Gemma's new friend- Elizabeth
Vanina Walsh- 16 years old and second in the world for paddle boarding. She is such a sweet girl.
Siana Hunt- CEO of Make A Wish
Uncle Kalani and Gemma getting ready to surf.
The girls with Sarah Hill. Carrie Underwood played Sarah in the movie.
Emilia and Gemma surfing with Noah Hamilton ( Bethany's older brother) . He is the kindest, warmest, most humble person !
Gemma received the trophy for the most FEARLESS surfer!
Thank you Make A Wish !!!!!
Thank you Make A Wish !!!!!
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Surfing
To say today was amazing would be an understatement. 
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.
The girls spent the day surfing with Bethany and playing on the beach. Even Emilia surfed. Bethany's coach tandem
Surfed with her. All the girls had the best time . They accomplished a dream
They never thought they could.
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. 
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.
Hanalei Bay on Kuai is breathtaking . It was kinda neat to see in the movie the same beach the girls were surfing on.
Tomorrow the girls will surf with Bethany in the morning and then go tubing down the ditch In the afternoon .
We are all loving the island life. "No worries" and " island time" are fantastic!
"If you have faith anything is possible". Bethany Hamilton
" I get my strength from Jesus Christ" Bethany Hamilton
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Kauai
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)
Gemma is having the best time. 
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
2014
Sorry it has been so long since I last posted.
Christmas was a difficult time for us this year. Not only was it Christmas but it also was Teresa's 7th. Birthday.
We decided to do things a little bit differently. Thank you to our friends and family who didn't judge us and ask why?
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.
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.
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.
She lived for 6 years with half a heart and when she died she took half of our hearts with her.
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!!!
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!
Ed and I feel so blessed to be enjoying the pure love of our first grandchild. He brings us all so much happiness.
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.
Christmas was a difficult time for us this year. Not only was it Christmas but it also was Teresa's 7th. Birthday.
We decided to do things a little bit differently. Thank you to our friends and family who didn't judge us and ask why?
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.
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.
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.
She lived for 6 years with half a heart and when she died she took half of our hearts with her.
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!!!
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!
Ed and I feel so blessed to be enjoying the pure love of our first grandchild. He brings us all so much happiness.
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.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
How are you doing?
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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. "
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.
Ron Lee Davis
~ 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..
Billy Graham
~ We cannot truly face life until we have learned to face the fact that it will be taken away from us.
John Vance Cheney
~ The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.
Thank you for all of the prayers, love and support.
Monday, December 9, 2013
One Wish
What would you wish for if you had one wish?
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.
Gemma- favorite color -rainbow, Teresa-pink. Gemma- favorite book,Green Eggs and Ham, Teresa- Shoe La La.
The last question was - "What would you wish for if you had one wish?"
Gemma wished to see what Teresa was doing in Heaven.
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.
We love you more Teresa!!!!
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.
Gemma- favorite color -rainbow, Teresa-pink. Gemma- favorite book,Green Eggs and Ham, Teresa- Shoe La La.
The last question was - "What would you wish for if you had one wish?"
Gemma wished to see what Teresa was doing in Heaven.
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.
We love you more Teresa!!!!
Friday, November 29, 2013
"Love You More" Heart Home
The "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.
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.
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.
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;
1. A 25 bed home with the ability to expand in the future.
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.
3. All cardiac surgeries.
4. Medical equipment, furnishings, medicine, food and clothes.
5. Nannies
6. LOVE
After the first years expenses have been met , the Chunmioa Foundation will help to cover the costs of all medical care for the children.
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.
If you are able to help us raise the money , there are several ways you can donate.
You can donate through Pay Pal on Teresa's page or Little Hearts Medical .org page.
Or you can send a donation to : Little Hearts Medical, 20 Apple Tree Ct. ,Baltimore MD. 21228
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!
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.
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.
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;
1. A 25 bed home with the ability to expand in the future.
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.
3. All cardiac surgeries.
4. Medical equipment, furnishings, medicine, food and clothes.
5. Nannies
6. LOVE
After the first years expenses have been met , the Chunmioa Foundation will help to cover the costs of all medical care for the children.
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.
If you are able to help us raise the money , there are several ways you can donate.
You can donate through Pay Pal on Teresa's page or Little Hearts Medical .org page.
Or you can send a donation to : Little Hearts Medical, 20 Apple Tree Ct. ,Baltimore MD. 21228
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Happy 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.
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.
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.
Child life has been fantastic working with her to alleviate all of these fears.
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.
Unfortunately she has spent Halloween, her birthday and now Thanksgiving in the hospital.
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.
Over the past several weeks a lot of people have commented and asked "how do you do it?"
Doing "It" really is not a big issue now.
Several years ago, as we struggled with "our will" and "Gods will", it was very difficult to do "it".
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.
I wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving with your families.
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.
We love you more sweet girl... and we miss you SO much !!!!
I am so grateful that God gave us three years with you here on earth.
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.
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.
Child life has been fantastic working with her to alleviate all of these fears.
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.
Unfortunately she has spent Halloween, her birthday and now Thanksgiving in the hospital.
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.
Over the past several weeks a lot of people have commented and asked "how do you do it?"
Doing "It" really is not a big issue now.
Several years ago, as we struggled with "our will" and "Gods will", it was very difficult to do "it".
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.
I wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving with your families.
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.
We love you more sweet girl... and we miss you SO much !!!!
I am so grateful that God gave us three years with you here on earth.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Our Immigration Officer
Almost 4 years ago, someone special came into our lives.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We are so grateful that God orchestrated that day almost 4 years ago and brought Cindy into our lives!
All because of you sweet girl. We love you more!!!!!
Poor Emilia has had a really hard time. Since she had her fixator surgery on October 8 , she has had one infection after another.
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.
We started 2 more antibiotics. The Doctor said she was very lucky that we caught it so soon because it saved her life.
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
We have been so blessed with wonderfully caring sons.
Emilia ended up back in the hospital last week because the infections in her legs became resistant to the antibiotics. It turned out that she had two different bacterias. The one strain was very rare and had never been seen before with a pin site infection. Her legs became very swollen and it was very painful.
After spending several days in the hospital, our son Alex volunteered to spend the night on Halloween with Emilia so I could go home and help the other girls with their costumes. On Friday Paul came to the hospital and stayed with Emilia so Alex could go to school. Ed and I traveled to CHOP to discuss Teresa's autopsy results.
Our boys would do anything to help their sisters. They are so caring and loving.
Going to CHOP to discuss the autopsy was something we had been putting off. But we needed to do it to bring some closure. It was very difficult to even say Teresa's name in the same sentence as "Autopsy".
The good news was we were able to discuss our plans for an upcoming trip. We are arranging for The Chief of Cardiology and The Chief of Surgery from Beijing along with Lily , who is the Medical Director for Chunmiao Little Flower ( and who has also been helping us with the Love You More Heart Home), to come to CHOP and shadow Teresa's team in surgery, caths. and on the cardiac floor. Our team from China will then travel to Florida for the 2014 Pediatric Cardiac Conference.
This will be a tremendous learning experience for them and we are so happy we could help to coordinate it.
Our prayer is for our team of Doctors from China to be able to take back many new techniques to help the children in the Heart Home.
Another angel that is helping us coordinate the trip is Teresa W. She is a very caring RNC who has traveled to China many times to help the orphans. Thank you Teresa!
This weekend we have a VERY special guest coming to visit, our Immigration Officer. Cindy played a paramount role in helping to bring Teresa home in record time. We have kept in touch over the past three years and we had always planned for Cindy to come visit after Teresa received her new heart. After Teresa passed away , Cindy still wanted to visit.
Cindy would like to visit the Cemetery. We will also do a little site seeing. On Tuesday we will have lunch in D.C. with our producer from The Today Show along with another very caring person from the Immigration Office. It will be so nice to see them all again. Just a wonderful group of people all brought together because of a little girl who had the dream of having her own family.
We Love You More Teresa!
Emilia ended up back in the hospital last week because the infections in her legs became resistant to the antibiotics. It turned out that she had two different bacterias. The one strain was very rare and had never been seen before with a pin site infection. Her legs became very swollen and it was very painful.
After spending several days in the hospital, our son Alex volunteered to spend the night on Halloween with Emilia so I could go home and help the other girls with their costumes. On Friday Paul came to the hospital and stayed with Emilia so Alex could go to school. Ed and I traveled to CHOP to discuss Teresa's autopsy results.
Our boys would do anything to help their sisters. They are so caring and loving.
Going to CHOP to discuss the autopsy was something we had been putting off. But we needed to do it to bring some closure. It was very difficult to even say Teresa's name in the same sentence as "Autopsy".
The good news was we were able to discuss our plans for an upcoming trip. We are arranging for The Chief of Cardiology and The Chief of Surgery from Beijing along with Lily , who is the Medical Director for Chunmiao Little Flower ( and who has also been helping us with the Love You More Heart Home), to come to CHOP and shadow Teresa's team in surgery, caths. and on the cardiac floor. Our team from China will then travel to Florida for the 2014 Pediatric Cardiac Conference.
This will be a tremendous learning experience for them and we are so happy we could help to coordinate it.
Our prayer is for our team of Doctors from China to be able to take back many new techniques to help the children in the Heart Home.
Another angel that is helping us coordinate the trip is Teresa W. She is a very caring RNC who has traveled to China many times to help the orphans. Thank you Teresa!
This weekend we have a VERY special guest coming to visit, our Immigration Officer. Cindy played a paramount role in helping to bring Teresa home in record time. We have kept in touch over the past three years and we had always planned for Cindy to come visit after Teresa received her new heart. After Teresa passed away , Cindy still wanted to visit.
Cindy would like to visit the Cemetery. We will also do a little site seeing. On Tuesday we will have lunch in D.C. with our producer from The Today Show along with another very caring person from the Immigration Office. It will be so nice to see them all again. Just a wonderful group of people all brought together because of a little girl who had the dream of having her own family.
We Love You More Teresa!
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