Beautiful Sabrina

Finally some time to blogg and show off this pretty girl. She has been such a blessing to us to care for her. Having her here has opened up so many discussions about God with so many people and especially to our son Jeremy. He is so loving, and prays over her even lays hands on her to pray every day.

Not understanding why God does some things is difficut. Sabrinas case is severe. Many discussions have been had about quality of life, decisions about her care and outcome. They are all difficult. Some think "why would you even try to save her, what about the money used and resources wasted when she might only live a few years." (Yes I have recently heard this)Others like us are willing to say we dont know what God has planned and why she is here and who she will touch in her long or short life. If she shows improvment we will be praising God and if she doesnt we will still be praising God. She now has a shunt so her head will not grow to a massive size and her seizures are under control, she is not vomiting anymore. We do not know what she will respond to and what she wont but her quality of life is improved greatly. The orphanage in Haiti did an amazing job and above all else loved her and prayed for her and committed her to God. We now will continue that love and care for her no matter what her outcome and she will be a testimony for Gods love and our commitment to Him.

We feel love for her as do so many others already. I dont know how you can look at that last picture and ask why.

Steph

New Pics

Tom doing his first gavage feed

Carseat ride home

Awake and looking around

Anna loving on her

Precious feet

Cute little hands

Sleeping in the hospital

Sabrina is doing awesome! She has not vomited since 6am yesterday morning over 24hrs!! She is only having very mild seizures when she is disturbed for feeding, holding, pooping etc. and they are no where near what they were before. Her head is shrinking. It is amazing to watch it. The skin is sagging down where it was bulging out and it is jiggly. You can actually see her bones sticking out.

Her abdomen is large where the fluid drains and her body has to reabsorb it slowly. She has not been very active. She will stretch when you change her diaper, suck on her pacifier occasionally, she only cries when she is moved.

The seizure meds are a little sedating too though. She hasent even needed any Tylenol since she was in the hospital.

Anna is a huge help here for us and Tom is learning her care too. The boys are doing awesome. God is so awesome!

Steph

Surgery

We left the ER for PICU around 7am. Sabrina was doing very well. They took her to surgery at 10:00 am. She did amazing. No problems at all. We even went to the regular peds floor after surgery.
She continued to do great the rest of the day. She only needed Tylenol and was comfortable. She continued having some seizures through the day but not anywhere near what they were before. We are so thankful for that. She got to start getting her tube feedings later in the evening and did have a little vomiting.
Her shunt was definately working. Her fontanel was getting softer and where the shunt drains in the abdomen was getting bigger. Her eyes were looking more normal. It was awesome to see that process.
It was a very long day. We had a lot of doctors in and out and it was very busy. Anna and I left in the evening. I had been up since Wed. morning and was exhausted. Heather is going to be her permanent host mom in OH after about 4 weeks with us and was there for the surgery. She stayed with her last night so we could get some much needed sleep.
She will leave today. Anna and I are one our way up to the hospital now to see how her night was.
Steph

Update on Sabrina

We had to come into the ER last night. Her seizures were getting much closer together and felt she needed some closer monitoring. She of course got much better as soon as we crossed the door frame to the ER. But they did give her a different seizure medication that has almost totally stopped them and she is on an IV and much better hydrated for surgery today. We are waiting on the neurosurgeon to arrive but are still planning on the shunt being placed today. She is doing very well now and looks great. She is such a little fighter. She is keeping her temp up and resting comfortably.
Pray for her and everyone involved in her care.
Thanks Steph

WE MADE IT!!!

God definately had his hand on Anna and Sabrina yesterday. They had no problems traveling. Sabrina tolerated traveling well. They made it here around 1230 at night. We had a good night with her as well. She kept her temperature up and only had one episode of vomiting.

We saw Dr. Young this morning. He said hers was the largest head he has ever seen. He was optimistic though and we are praying she does well throughout surgery. She is at very high risk for complications. How long she is in the hospital will depend on how well she does for surgery. We have to be there at 8am with surgery at 1000am.

Nick and Jeremy are doing very well!! This morning Jeremy prayed over her. It was the sweetest thing I think I have ever seen. He is sooo compassionate.

Seeing her head in person is very shocking but Tom and the boys are doing well.

Her temperature dropped a little this after noon so I put a heating pad under her and it worked really well to warm her up slowly.

Dr. Young is hopeful that after the shunt is placed that the vomiting, seizures and temperature issues will dissapate.

Keep praying,

Steph

Were Ready

I think were as ready as we can be for Sabrinas arrival tonight. The plan is if she is looking good that we are comming home with her. If she is not breathing well or her temp is really low we are going to the E.R.

I will stay up with her tonight and sleep on the couch. Anna is going to be tired from traveling all day. If I wasnt a NICU nurse she would be going straight to the hospital.

Toms sister is spending the night so it will work out perfectly that they will be here with the boys while I go to the airport at 11:30pm to get them since Tom is working night shift. Especially if we end up at the hospital tonight.

They should be on the plane now. Pray that Sabrina travels well. They have a layover in Chicago before getting to Indy. She has been vomiting a lot.

Steph

We see Dr. Young at 9:00am tomorrow.

Sabrina

Tomorrow I will be picking up Sabrina and Anna our college student that has been helping out with Sabrina. We have a doctor appointment Thursday morning and surgery on Friday.
Pray all goes well.
Steph

Sabrina

This is Sabrina. She was born May 20th with severe Hydrocephaly. She has been struggling in Haiti since then while we tried to find a hospital to put a shunt in her. After many difficulties and ups and downs we have finally found an awesome doctor in Indy that will take her on as a patient. Sabrina is missing most of her brain as well as the Hydrocephaly. We don't know her outcome only God knows but she shows lots of good signs that made us feel she needed a chance at life. We finally are getting all the paperwork necessary today to get her a medical visa and to Indy. She will be staying with Tom and I for a while. We are very blessed to have a college student that has been staying with her in Haiti for the last several weeks comming with her. She is going to stay with her in the hospital while she has surgery. This will make things much easier for me.

God has blessed this little girl with an awesome family that wants to adopt her as well! That is a huge answer to prayer. She will stay with us until she is stable after surgery and they can get her put on her insurance policy. We are thinking a few weeks.

Right now she is on several medications and tube feedings. I am used to all this but Tom not so much. We havent had a baby in the house for 9 years! Please pray for Sabrina and all of us that her travel, care, surgery and we all do well with her. We know God is asking us to help and that He will be with us throughout this.

More updates to come!

Steph

Airplane Ride

These are some pics of our super cool airplane ride that Nick and his dad got to take. We bid on this plane ride at the Hands That Heal auction and won. I knew that Nick would go crazy. He is a dare devil (self proclaimed)! He loved it. Tom said it was really neat. Our pilot Bob was really fun and nice. He let us all look the plane over before the ride.

It was a great day!

THE ZOO

We had an awesome day at the zoo with our cousins and grandparents! It was a beautiful day and so much fun.

BABY SABRINA

This is baby Sabrina. She is currently in Haiti at God's Littlest Angels Orphange. We are currently working with Riley Hospital to see if she is a candidate for surgery. Pray we make the right decision for her care and her future. I may be traveling to Haiti to pick her up if she needs a nurse to transport her if things work out that she will come for surgery. The nurses and caregivers at GLA orphanage have grown very attached to her. They are very hopeful she will survive.

Please pray,

Stephanie

Random Things

Some pics from Jeremys birthday party with the cousins. The kids are out of school and so happy. Especially Nick. We are enjoying our new pool and relaxing.

Both boys finished the school year well.

I have lots going on with Hands That Heal. We are having a big auction next weekend to raise some financial support. We are working on several children now to get here for surgeries. Ill update more on that later.

Steph

FLAMANDA

This is a little child from Chambrun where I do medical clinics with NVM. She is 5 months old and has Hydrocephaly. On my last trip I had to tell her mother what was wrong with her child and that there is no treatment avaliable for her in Haiti and without it she will be mentally and physically challenged. Not something that is treated in Haiti very well. It was very heartbreaking.

Through Hands that Heal the other organization I work with we are going to try to seek medical help for her. Her family is extremely poor. Her only chance for life is to get to the U.S. for a procedure to drain the fluid off her brain.

Hands that Heal is in need of several hundred dollars for a CT scan for her, blood work and a passport. I have a doctor in Indy that will review her tests, hopefully she will be accepted but we need the CT before we can do anything. She and her family need much prayer. Her mother brings her to church every sunday faithfully hoping some help will come for her.

If you feel lead to give to her medical care you can email me for more information.

Blessings,

Stephanie

HAPPY BIRHTDAY

Eleven years ago today a little 4lbs 3oz baby Jeremy was born into this world. God has blessed us greatly with him. He has grown into the most compassionate and kind child.

We love you Jeremy!

Georgey

Hello everyone, Hands That Heal has a new child comming soon from Haiti. His name is Georgey. He is 7 years old and will be having surgery at St.Vincent hospital in Indianapolis. The surgery is to correct his gentalia that have not developed properly. The surgery itself will only consist of a few days in the hospital but he will need to have weekly visits with a counselor due to the nature of the surgery and how it will effect him emotionally. We are coordinating his care with Angel Missions Haiti. He is a very quiet, calm and sweet child. A very special family will be needed to help him through this emotional time. We are in need of a family that is interested in hosting him. He will be up for adoption and we also will be looking for a forever family for him while he is here. If you think this may be something God is calling you to do and would like more information please contact me.
Thanks Stephanie

20 YEARS

We just returned tonight from Tom's work banquet. He was recognized for 20 years of service with Mikes Carwash. They had a very nice presentation. We have been very blessed by their company. They treat their associates very well.
Congrats honey!
Steph

Sad News

We found out today that one of our NVM students passed away. This picture is of Claudine the child we sponsor (on the left) and the other two girls are twin sisters Ginette and Gina. Ginette died this week. I do not know the circumstances yet. We believe the family tried to fix her with a witch doctor is all I have heard.
Please pray for the teachers, students and especially Gina.
Thanks Stephanie

New Photos

These are some random photos of our trip. We are doing well. The kids went back to school today, except Jeremy has the "Haiti Stomach" possibly from us so he had to stay home. We had a good Easter with Toms family.

Steph