Hello to you all,

Yes we are now a family of six.  Natalia Marie arrived last Friday
and surprised us all with many medical problems.  She is one of the
special children God sends down every once in a awhile.

As I sit down to write this, I am up for what might have been an
early morning feeding.  However, Natalia is still in the hospital. I am trying to write down what we know and I don't even know how to spell any of the problems and its too late to hassle with the dictionary. So--------I ask for your prayers and will send you another e-mail later today after we talk to the Genetic Doctor.  I will try and keep you all updated as to her condition daily and ask for your prayers for her and all of our family as we are all adjusting to what might be a long haul of medical procedures and surgeries.  I promise I will tell you more later today, I just will make a fool of myself if I even attempt to spell what she's going through.

I will mention, she is out of critical Neonatal ICU and  she is in a step down unit although still ICU. She is now in her own crib, not an isolator.  She has just gotten a special plate for her (here goes some
spelling) cleft lip and mouth. She won't be blind, but will need special surgery soon for cataracts and lenses.

Her heart is good and tests results should be coming in for all kinds
of tests in the next few days. Doctors are all over the place. As I
look around the ICU I have noticed we are the only ones with a
constant visitor load of specialists.  The best news is--------that every time I come in to see her, I get good news.  I truly believe God is creating a miracle baby each moment and healing her with your prayers.

We  were told the first day, Friday, that her preliminary exams shows that she might have a rare disease called Trisomy 13.  If you look up the symptoms.  She has most or all of them.  I was told by many in the staff that we would be lucky to bring our little angel home.  And may only have her for a year or so.

Well, I cried a lot, and went into prayer mode. God is truly amazing.  She is actually fighting along with us all to survive.  I know God wants the world to see his miracle in action and I will shout it out if he helps us pull her through.  Please help us with your prayers.
I am concerned most with her brain as  Trisomy 13 affects most of the mid-line functions.  The cat-scan was done yesterday and results
should be coming is soon.

She is good natured, loves her Dad and Mom and is quite the fighter.
The entire family is adjusting and the kids need your prayers too. Its confusing for them.  Thank you for praying with us.  We love you all.  If you know of friends who are not on our e-mail list, please pass this on to them.  I truly believe your prayers will help our little Natalia.  :)
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Hello to you all,
I'm so glad I thought of this e-mail update on Natalia.  I am overwhelmed with the loving response from you. I sent the first e-mail early Wednesday morning 8/30/00.  I was so anxious for Wednesday morning we were going to the Genetic Doctor to see what Natalia's prognosis was.  Unfortunately she hadn't yet received the lab work from Friday, Natalia's birthday.  She was pretty sure that Natalia was definitely a Trisomy 13 baby (notice, I now can even spell that correctly-so many new words for me!) We spent most of the morning learning about all that may come with this syndrome. Although not the best news, I was in good spirits as her heart is good and many of these cases die early from heart problems.

My sister told me about a web site at www.Trisomy13.org I haven't looked at it and probably won't, I believe I have heard most of the details and its not too positive.  There are a few children who survive past the first few years and I am praying Natalia is one of them  IF IT IS GODS WILL.  She has a good heart and if the results come back on her brain with some positive information than I will feel much better.

I had a terrible afternoon Wednesday, I was truly an emotional wreck, I guess I could say postpartum blues but whatever it was, I was definitely not myself. I was able to get a sleeping pill from a neighbor and I was feeling much better Thursday morning.

When I woke I felt called to go to mass.  I went to our local parish,
It has been years since I had gone the St.Bonaventure, we attend
St.Simon and Jude across town.  After the service the priest asked if
I was ok.  We began talking and by the time we were done he had
offered to baptize Natalia at the hospital.
I am grateful and excited that she will be baptized this Monday at
11am.  I'm a bit nervous also, wondering why I was lead to attend
daily mass and he offered to baptize her when he was aware we went across town.  I am praying that God wants to give her strength, not preparing her to come home to heaven. Of course, I need to always remember and be greatful to have had the chance to know her even if for a short time. WOW! This gets hard at times. Fr. Martin told me that Blessed Junipero Serra (the Franciscan Father who started the missions in California) needed one more miracle for Sainthood. Well, I have a child who needs lots of miracles.  Please pray for her, especially her eyes, brain, kidneys and her loving heart that it beats for as long as God wills.

Here is where Natalia stands in needing your prayers. We don't yet have results on the brain scan. She will need eye surgery for her cataracts, but she won't be blind. thank God We are waiting on hearing test results.

Her heart is good, not to be concerned with now, she has a normal
hole that most newborns have and they believe it will close. Her kidneys are enlarged and she will be put on medication to bring down some swelling, hopefully the medication will help or there will be surgery around six months from now. She will have surgery for her mouth after she is over 10lbs. It will take several surgeries to fix her lip, nose and palate over a few years. At one point, we'll take care of her rocker foot and extra pinkies on her hands. She has already had a mouthpiece made for her cleft palate as you may have noticed the blue string in the photos. We are working on bottle feeding and look forward to her drinking more so she can come home.

It is wonderful having a physician for a husband as most of this stuff goes right over my head.  As you can see, I keep it pretty simple but she is still in need of lots of prayers.

Thanks to all of you, I have received your e-mails.  I feel soblessed to know that you, your friends, your schools, churches and your e-mail lists are all praying for our little angel.  God wanted her here.  He made sure we were not stressed by knowing she was arriving. As you know I am Pro-Life and Abortion would never have been an option.I have a wonderful Doctor and even had four ultrasounds. She kept her face hidden (little rascal).  Choices were made this pregnancy not to have an AFP or Amnio test.  God truly wanted her to be here. Stephen is off for two weeks between jobs. Shelly, Stephen's sister is in town out of a job, and she has been helping us cook and watch the kids. The kids got every teacher they wanted so school should be a calming environment for them with all this stress. God  has so planned our life for these first few weeks so we could handle what is happening.

Thank you for all your kind thoughts, I do try and get back to you by
phone or e-mail but I get about 20 phone messages a day and so you can see, its impossible to call everyone.  Jacqueline, Nicolas and Jacob are fine,  although prayers for the family help.

So many people have called and asked what they could do, or what we might need, or how they can help.  Stephen, myself and the kids will get through this beautifully with just your prayers.  Nothing
material will help at this point. Just prayers, Oh!!! Maybe some fast
dinner crock-pot ideas would do!HA-HA-HA Stephen, myself and the kids thank you all.

God Bless You   Love, ThereseAnn, Stephen and kids. xoxoxo
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Hello to you all,
I feel so much love and prayer from all of you and your friends.  I
am receiving e-mail that touches my heart, thank you.  I woke up
feeling the need to thank you all again.

Praise God, last night the preliminary exam of her brain showed some of her brain missing, but no significant brain damage.  Of course, a MRI scan was suggested for a better look. I am thrilled for now.  I know God is present for me.  Thank you for you prayers. I am so blessed with so many friends who are faithful.

I am up early to meet with Fr. Pat Crawley.  He is a priest my mother knows who has a gift of healing.  They are having a Southern
California Renewal Conference (SCRC) at the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend.  My mother has arranged for Fr. Crawley to pray with us at 10:00am for Natalia.  If you get this e-mail in the morning, please help us pray at that time.

Natalia, is a fighter, she is working on taking in more milk so she
can come home. We look forward to having the kids hold her today and her Baptism on Monday.

God Bless You all, Thank you for your prayers, calls, e-mails and wishes.

Love, ThereseAnn, Stephen and kids.