My dad sent me the sweetest email on Thanksgiving.
I won't post his letter (because of the ongoing investigation .. ha, ha) but it is just filled with encouragement & love. In his letter he mentioned the "gorgeous uninhibited Hannah" .... & he is so right!
I just came across this video tonight from a trip we took to the Bahamas in the Fall of 2007 with our dear friends, Rick & Satu. Hannah was dancing away on the deck of the ship.
When they say dance like no one is watching, Hannah certainly does just that -- enjoy!
She is a treasure!!!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Remembering A Year Ago
Did you know there is a very certain odor in the hospital? I will never forget the distinct scent when the double doors opened to the Pediatrics Unit for Hannah to be admitted one year ago today.
It was a year ago today, the Monday after Thanksgiving, that I took Hannah to the doctor to get checked & have blood drawn to see why she had so many bruises. I remember driving West on the 210 Freeway when the doctor reached me on my cell phone just a few hours after our morning appointment. I remember him saying things like " Hannah is very ill probably not leukemia but something very serious ... get to the hospital, pack a teddy bear, you will probably sleep over at least a few nights." What he should have said was: TAKE YOUR CALENDAR & THROW IT INTO THE BLENDER, YOUR LIFE HAS JUST BEEN HIT BY A BUS! Hannah was in-patient for such a long time!!!!
How has it been a year?
I don't know but it's been a full year & I am standing here today as a complete testament to God's amazing grace. It is only His strength that has carried all of us through. He is so faithful & on this day of Hannah's Aplastic-versary, I have to say: THANK YOU, LORD!
Thank you that my girl is here to decorate the tree, to sleep in the same room as her sister, to have gone 2 months now without a transfusion, to be in an acting class, to say to me a million times a day "look at me, Mom", & of course, to drive me crazy in so many ways. :-)
My heart is so grateful to the Lord for all He has carried us through during these past 12 months. God is faithful.
No matter what you are going through today -- NO MATTER WHAT -- He is there. If you will let Him, He will carry you through. I know this for a fact. I know this as a mom who went for a long time living on a hospital unit with my 7 year old attached to an IV pole. I know God is faithful & He is my loving, kind & caring Heavenly Father that I can trust NO MATTER WHAT.
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"As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more & more. My mouth will tell of Your righteousness, of Your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure." Psalm 71:14-15
"The Lord reigns, He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Your throne was established long ago; You are from all eternity." Psalm 93:1-2
It was a year ago today, the Monday after Thanksgiving, that I took Hannah to the doctor to get checked & have blood drawn to see why she had so many bruises. I remember driving West on the 210 Freeway when the doctor reached me on my cell phone just a few hours after our morning appointment. I remember him saying things like " Hannah is very ill probably not leukemia but something very serious ... get to the hospital, pack a teddy bear, you will probably sleep over at least a few nights." What he should have said was: TAKE YOUR CALENDAR & THROW IT INTO THE BLENDER, YOUR LIFE HAS JUST BEEN HIT BY A BUS! Hannah was in-patient for such a long time!!!!
How has it been a year?
I don't know but it's been a full year & I am standing here today as a complete testament to God's amazing grace. It is only His strength that has carried all of us through. He is so faithful & on this day of Hannah's Aplastic-versary, I have to say: THANK YOU, LORD!
Thank you that my girl is here to decorate the tree, to sleep in the same room as her sister, to have gone 2 months now without a transfusion, to be in an acting class, to say to me a million times a day "look at me, Mom", & of course, to drive me crazy in so many ways. :-)
My heart is so grateful to the Lord for all He has carried us through during these past 12 months. God is faithful.
No matter what you are going through today -- NO MATTER WHAT -- He is there. If you will let Him, He will carry you through. I know this for a fact. I know this as a mom who went for a long time living on a hospital unit with my 7 year old attached to an IV pole. I know God is faithful & He is my loving, kind & caring Heavenly Father that I can trust NO MATTER WHAT.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more & more. My mouth will tell of Your righteousness, of Your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure." Psalm 71:14-15
"The Lord reigns, He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Your throne was established long ago; You are from all eternity." Psalm 93:1-2
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
Hannah lost her first tooth tonight & her comment was, "It is the night before Thanksgiving & I am losing teeth not my hair". Chemo was to have started on Thanksgiving as preparation for the BMT.
I feel like I just keep repeating myself but there are no words to describe the tremendous joy of having Hannah out of the hospital & on the road to remission.
I want every person that reads this blog & has supported us during these very difficult months to know from the bottom of my heart how grateful I am.
I have never once felt like I was walking this road alone and in the midst of some very dark days, that knowledge has always been a gift. I am grateful to the Lord for so many that have cared for our family, prayed for us & helped us in many practical ways.
Our entire family is so thankful for the tremendous support we have received.
We are truly blessed.
Even in the joy of this time, my heart is heavy for those we know that are enduring this disease right now in the hospital: Ethan, age 4, at City of Hope -- fighting fevers, cold symptoms & waiting for engrafement of his new bone marrow. Erin, a friend of ours from NIH, with an infection in her central line.
No matter what is going on today -- burnt yams, dry turkey, crying babies, whatever -- just count your blessings. There really are so many!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Just Plain Happiness In Cambria, CA
Considering that we were going to be in Seattle for Hannah's bone marrow transplant right now it is just too much to even explain the joy of this mini-vacation as a family.
Just beyond thankful for our family of four ...
Friday, November 20, 2009
Numbers Going UP
We went to clinic today & Hannah's numbers are going up.
Yes, GOING UP!
I am overwhelmed with emotion to be a front row witness of Hannah's road to recovery. What a blessing, especially less than one week before Thanksgiving to see her numbers rising. We had been scheduled to start her bone marrow transplant prep on Thanksgiving day. Thank you, Lord, that we are home & life feels n-o-r-m-a-l!!!!
Her white blood cell count is just about into the low normal range .. did I really just type that? Yes, almost into the normal range. Her platelets went up 10K on their own & her hemoglobin is holding (despite having to get her blood re-checked this afternoon b/c the first test showed her hemoglobin as being critically low).
I am so excited because we are leaving this Sunday to spend a few nights in Cambria. A vacation for us as a family of four .. it will be so nice!!!
I am so grateful for God's goodness & His ever present help to me in my never ending moments of need!!!
Please take a click over to Pearl River Outreach to see how you can help some very special orphans in China during this season. The little girl we sponsor, Callie, was just placed with her forever family. When I told Hannah that Callie had been adopted she reacted as if Callie was coming here -- she was so incredibly excited for Callie to have been adopted. It was adorable to see her joy for Callie & now we are ready to sponsor another one of these precious babies!
And, finally, please pray for two kids we know from this world of Aplastic Anemia:
Ethan & Noah.
Noah lives a few towns over & he was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia in September. He is plowing through many bleeding issues that this disease typically causes. I know how hard it is for any child to deal with this disease, not to mention how exhausting it is to be the mom dealing with all the complications.
Ethan has been in isolation in his room at City of Hope with his mom for 2 weeks. He is waiting for his new bone marrow to engraft. Nothing would be a better Thanksgiving gift than to see his blood counts to start rising on their own!!
If you'd like to send a card to Ethan, he is four years old & the address is:
Ethan Barrios
City of Hope Hospital Pediatric Unit, Room #3123
1500 E. Duarte Road
Duarte, CA 91010
My heart just breaks for the journey of this disease ..
Yes, GOING UP!
I am overwhelmed with emotion to be a front row witness of Hannah's road to recovery. What a blessing, especially less than one week before Thanksgiving to see her numbers rising. We had been scheduled to start her bone marrow transplant prep on Thanksgiving day. Thank you, Lord, that we are home & life feels n-o-r-m-a-l!!!!
Her white blood cell count is just about into the low normal range .. did I really just type that? Yes, almost into the normal range. Her platelets went up 10K on their own & her hemoglobin is holding (despite having to get her blood re-checked this afternoon b/c the first test showed her hemoglobin as being critically low).
I am so excited because we are leaving this Sunday to spend a few nights in Cambria. A vacation for us as a family of four .. it will be so nice!!!
I am so grateful for God's goodness & His ever present help to me in my never ending moments of need!!!
Please take a click over to Pearl River Outreach to see how you can help some very special orphans in China during this season. The little girl we sponsor, Callie, was just placed with her forever family. When I told Hannah that Callie had been adopted she reacted as if Callie was coming here -- she was so incredibly excited for Callie to have been adopted. It was adorable to see her joy for Callie & now we are ready to sponsor another one of these precious babies!
And, finally, please pray for two kids we know from this world of Aplastic Anemia:
Ethan & Noah.
Noah lives a few towns over & he was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia in September. He is plowing through many bleeding issues that this disease typically causes. I know how hard it is for any child to deal with this disease, not to mention how exhausting it is to be the mom dealing with all the complications.
Ethan has been in isolation in his room at City of Hope with his mom for 2 weeks. He is waiting for his new bone marrow to engraft. Nothing would be a better Thanksgiving gift than to see his blood counts to start rising on their own!!
If you'd like to send a card to Ethan, he is four years old & the address is:
Ethan Barrios
City of Hope Hospital Pediatric Unit, Room #3123
1500 E. Duarte Road
Duarte, CA 91010
My heart just breaks for the journey of this disease ..
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Happy Birthday, Hannah!
Today my sweet Hannah turned eight. HOW has it been eight years since I heard "it's a girl" at Loma Linda Hospital?!
I always knew she was an amazing little girl but she has proved it over & over this past year with all the challenges she faced. I didn't know her inner strength until this year ... thank you, Lord, for giving her what she has needed to get through so much!!
After everything we have been through it just felt like Hannah's birthday was a gift to us all. Just to have this day. To have her here. To all be home. To not be in the hospital. To not have an IV pole attached ... the day was just a gift!
We spent the day, just the four of us - getting bagels & going to Disneyland for hours & hours & hours of a great time.
Hannah is a delight to have as a daughter. She brings joy, laughter, happiness, and more fun than I could have ever imagined.
I am so proud of her in so many ways but particularly the way she is in her role as "Big Sister". What a gift she & Lily are to one another!
Hannah, you are so loved! I always go through the whole list with Lily of who loves her but just know the list is just as long for you, sweet girl!
Daddy & I are so incredibly proud of you & thankful that God chose us to be your parents. You are a blessing to our hearts .... & to so many!!!!!!
We love you forever -- XOXOXO!!!!
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