A Bit Of Hope To Share

[Sheila]

Just wanted to send everyone a bit of hope, many of us have gotten bad news lately....the important thing is to never give up, never quit asking questions.
I have asked for prayers many times for my little Grandaughter Jasmine. A quick bio on her, she was born in Tacoma Washington 10 years ago at the Military Hospital, took her first trip to Portland, Doernbecker Childrens Hospital at 1 month of age for open heart surgery at 4# in weight. She did suffer a slight stroke after surgery which has left her paralyzed on the L side of her face. After recovery, she was flown back to Madigan NICU, where she spent her 1st 6mos of life. She finally came home, she was released on Oxygen, a feeding tube, a port, a list of heart and B/P meds, etc. Basically the Dr's said, take her home and love her, she will be lucky to last a year. My daughter's husband could not deal with a sick child so he left her. I flew to Washington to bring them home here to Illinois. Every year has been a struggle for Jasmine and my daughter as a single parent. There have been numerous bouts of pneumonia, kidney surgery, a Fundal Nisan Procedure for regurg in the tummy, Oxygen 24hours a day, no food or water, only nutrition via feeding tube, port IV antibiotics on many occasions at home, leg braces, slept sitting in a special chair as she couldn't breath lying down, numerous nebulizer treatments and suctioning, glasses...wheel chair, failure to thrive and grow due to chest compression.....her chest was compressing her breathing so bad that her oxygen level kept increasing. She had a homebound teacher, too ill to ever go to school. My daughter was told there was nothing more that could be done, she would eventually die of pneumonia or complications due to her chest and back abnormalities, and in her health, was not a candidate for surgery.
Well...that was 1 1/2 years ago. After seeing a program on TV about a Dr. from Houston that did a titanium rib procedure, I searched on the internet and found a Dr in Chicago who trained with the specialist in Houston. Made an appointment, dreading hearing the words "there is nothing we can do", but to our amazement, the Dr, said 'I can help Jasmine." That was 1 1/2 years ago, and 4 back surgeries ago. She is now walking on her own, no braces, completely off oxygen, feeding tube and port are both gone, she is eating and drinking like a normal child (yes she love's Mc Donald's), attends special ed classes at the public school every day for full days (she is a socialite), has grown 6 inches due to back surgeries....she is a different child! She will require back surgery every 6 mos, and recovers so quickly. She is still tiny (wears a size 4) but makes up for her staure with her attitude. My daughter has finally been able to go back to school and is in the Nursing Program, and is #1 in her class...I am enclosing a picture of 5 of my six grandchildren taken last December..the best gift I have ever gotten for Christmas! In order from the left is Eden 6, Saul 10,holding Allison 6 mos, Jessica 9, and Jasmine 10.
The moral of all of this....never give up, never quit, always keep trying, asking, and searching..miracles do happen..Jasmine is one of them.