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.

[Carolyns]

Hi Sheila,

That is a beatiful story and a beautiful family. Thank you so much for sharing this message of hope and glory.

Take care.

Love, Hope, and Peace,

Carolyn

[StephN]

... an update on little Jasmine. I was wondering about her lately. Guess all the nursing fuss with my Dad made me think of her as you had described her condition in a past post.

Hopefully we can get my Dad to a point where he can be a little independent again. Each day there is a small progress now and I hope to look back in the near future and this will be in the past. Like Jasmine's first doc said, love can go a long way. I KNOW her grandma absolutely adores her and she knows it!

Thanks for the powerful "True Life Story."

[Vi Schorpp]

Oh Shelia you are truly blessed. After reading your post I was filled with awe at the fortitude and courage shown by your daughter, and by you. Your grandchildren are truly angel babies, and Jasmine is a miracle. My nephew was diagnosed 25 years ago with leukemia (ALL) along with 12 other children. Of the 12, he is the only survivor. He was given a random treatment -- as were others in this group -- and we weren't as positive as we should have been. Balanced with this gratitude that he survived is the sadness that all the others didn't. I know miracles when I see them! I just know that God put Jasmine in your daughter's arms because he knew she would have you to guide her both as a mother, and as a nurse. You are so blessed, and what a wonderful story.

[Margerie]

Thinking how profoundly the internet has affected all of our lives- and yours in particular Sheila! Much love to you and your beautiful family!

[Jean]

Miracles certainly do happen - and we should never ever give up! 25 yrs. ago I was expecting twins. At 7 months I went into early labor and lost both babies. Back then the dr's. did not have the methods available today. My husband and I were crushed. A yr later I was expecting again. I had surgery, stayed in bed for 6.5 months and delivered a full term beautiful baby boy. I knew when I was carrying this child that he was a special gift. The dr. started to exam the baby and said they did not know what was wrong but his muscle reaction was extremely low. After loosing the twins I just wanted to know he was breathing. He was alert and bright eyed, they put him in my arms and I was just in heaven and was not going to worry about his little muscles at that moment. My husband and I were told that the baby was born with an unknown muscle disease. We took him to every top specialist and they ruled out all the muscular dystrophies, cerebral parsley and neurological diseases, he was a complete unknown. We also went to a genetic specialist who found nothing. So we were left with a mysterious disease that affected my son so severely that I had to worry that he would not roll over and suffocate since he could not pick up his own head, his neck muscles were so weak. We were told he would never walk. I started physical therapy when he was only a few months old - five times a week. We made small progress the first year. By the time he was a yr old he was moving his head and able to sit up on his own without falling over. Strength came in small steps. He was bright and speaking many words by this time so I knew he did not have developmental problems in this area. He was a happy baby always responding, smiling, laughing and was our little blessing. By the time he was two yrs. he was able to scoot around on the floor on his bottom to get around. He still could not stand or pull himself up. I would put him on a three wheel scooter which he could push with his feet and was able to be ambulatory. I had my son in every possible therapy, swimming, PT, hand therapy,horse back riding, we went each and every day was filled with therapy with Sundays off. It was my full time job. The Dr. were now advising that I get him a motorized wheel chair. He was 4 yrs. old. I never gave up and kept searching - I was given the name of another dr. who is a surgeon at the hospital for Special Surgery in NY. He did not know what my son had just that he would attempt to see what he could do. The first surgery was six hrs. long. He was in a body cast for three months. He had major hip surgery and leg surgery. Nine months after surgery he walked -32 steps all by himself and as if this wasn't enough - this happened on Mother's Day! He has had 10 other surgeries since that time through the years. Today my son is 23 yrs. old - graduating with honors from college this May 19th. He is big and strong and no one would ever realize what this young man has been through. He works out, swims and leads a normal life. I am very proud of him. We never gave up no matter what the doctors told us. So my dear sisters - we can never give up. I pray each and every day for a cure (even another miracle)
for they do happen.

Sheila God Bless your beautiful grandchildren and they are truly blessed to have you in their life.
Jean

[Mary Jo]

Oh Sheila,

What a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. And what a beautiful picture of your grandchildren. Now those are the real blessings in life and the things for which we are most thankful..........love and family.

God's Continued blessings to you and your family.

Mary Jo

[Karen Weixel]

Sheila,

Thank you for sharing your story with us and making my day.

Karen

[suzan w]

Thank you for reminding me to never take life for granted...bless you and your beautiful family!!!

[Sheila]

Jean
Your story touched my heart....I am so sure my daughter has felt what you have been through many times....she has asked why me, why my little girl many times...I have always told her, God gives special children to special people...he knows you have the extra to help them through....he also never gives us more than we can handle, although at times I have felt he is pushing it! By the way, my daughter, Jasmine's Mom is a twin, and she was very sick as a baby and through her childhood with kidney problems...it takes me back many times when I see Jasmines struggles. Thak You for sharing your story, how proud you must be of your son.

[Jean]

Dear Shiela,

So true - God does present us with very special blessings.
Amen...

hugs,
jean

[Ceesun]

Sheila, Very inspirational you have a lovely group of grandchildren. Ceesun

[Andi]

Sheila - what a wondeful story, and a great picture of your beautiful grandchildren. Jean - thanks for sharing your inspiring story of your son. Both were very moving.

[Lolly]

Sheila, I am so moved by your grandaughter's story, thank you so much for sharing the good news with us of her successful surgery! I know you've been such a pillar of strength for her and your daughter, and to see her smiling so big in the picture and knowing what she's been through, well, it's humbling. BIG HUGS to all of you

<3 Lolly

[TriciaK]

Shiela and Jean---Thank you for sharing such beautiful, inspiring stories! It kind of puts what we go through with BC in perspective! Hugs, Tricia

[Vanessa]

Thanks for sharing those inspirational stories. Sheila, you have beautiful grandchildren. I am getting closer and closer to being a grandmother. I can barely wait.

[Adriana Mangus]

Sheila: What a wonderful story. I guess we all have experienced similar situations within our own families. My sister (lives in Mexico) has an Autistic child. He's an adorable 8 yrs old, his name's Alex. He's been diagnosed with severe autism. All of us in our family constantly pray for a miracle, I tell my sister to never give up and to continue providing Alex with whatever he might need to help him deal with this disease. My sister and her husband have another daughter _ Annette, she's 14 yrs. old and first in her class,-smart cookie. They help each other a lot and both are in good hands with a Family Counselor who's been helping them to deal with this ordeal. The Miracle already took place in my sister's household, after a definite diagnosis of Alex's austism, my brother-in-law stopped drinking, (a habit my sister detested). He does not even drink non-alcoholic beverages.

We're concerned that he might become an alcoholic after hearing such devasting news, to the contrary he's cured himself. Now..talk about Miracles, I know they do exist and happen to Good People Like You and my Sister.

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's ex?husband, some men for some reason are unable to cope with stressful situations, but after reading Jasmine's story, it's his lose to not be able to witness his daughter Miracle!!

Congratulations to your daughter! When is she graduating from Nursing school. Please let us know.

You are a super MOM and a TERRIFIC GRANDMA!!!

[Marie G]

I love hearing your stories, you are an inspiration to us all. Bless Your Family and YOU!!>>Love Ya>>Marie G

[tricia keegan]

Sheila what beautiful grandchildren you have, and such a fighter in Jasmine,
I can see where she gets that from lol!!
I hope you both keep up that fighting spirit!

[fullofbeans]

Sheila and Jean thank you for sharing your stories, very inspiring. Yes there are miracles sometimes but keep your hope all the time,

With love
Karina