Johanna (Cataholic) & Sister Jessica continue to Request Prayers for young Samantha

[Albea]

Prayers and positive thoughts continue for Sammy and her family.

[rg_girlca]

Keep fighting little one.

Prayers and positive thoughts still going on for precious Sammy and her family.

[popcornbird]

Still praying for little Sammy!

[Cinder & Smoke]

June 07, 2005 at 06:59 PM EDT

Sam is just now on her way down for the dressing change --
must have been a busy day in the OR.
She's having a cat scan done immediately after.

A physical therapist was in yesterday and today to
gently work her arms & legs; the guy today got a big surprise when
he lifted her blanket back to find a big pile o' poop. He patiently waited
for the nurse to clean her before he worked on her.

Today she opened her eyes all the way, and looked right at me!
She was fairly awake for quite a while, and
we were able to talk and sing to her, and read her a story.
I can't tell you how it felt to look into those eyes again.

But the biggest news is that I was able to hold her today,
for the first time in over a month!
For about an hour and a half before they came to get her,
she was in my arms, and I was able to rock her to sleep.
She'll be heavily sedated when I see her next, of course,
but once she gets a break from all the surgeries,
perhaps we can start seeing a more alert Sammy.

They will also check her lungs again tomorrow, and
try to determine why part of one is collapsed.

Well, they should be finished shortly, so I'll post again tomorrow.
Thanks for keeping Sam in your prayers!
I'll dream of holding her tonight, and hopefully
she'll have the same dream!!

Jessica

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WOW!!

That's all pretty GOOD News!!
Keep on Improving, Lil Sammy!!
More Prayers on the way!]

[gini]

This news just brings tears to my eyes and they are burning.

My prayers have never stopped. Bless you Jessica..........what joy it must have been for you to hold her and sing to her.

[popcornbird]

The new update brought tears to my eyes. What wonderful news. Little Sammy, keep getting better and better. You are such a strong little girl, and God has been taking such good care of you throughout this.

{{{hugs}}}

[Cincy'sMom]

What great news!! glad to hear Sammy is improving!

[anna_66]

What a wonderful update and how great it must have been to finally hold your little girl again!
I'm glad to hear she's on the right track

[lbaker]

My eyes are burning as well. LES is just a crazy, happy circumstance. Oh thank you so very much for sharing this with us and letting us share your happiness.

[RobiLee]

OH, this just brought tears to my eyes. I can picture you holding sweet Sam now. What a wonderful feeling that must have been and to see her look at you had to bring such happiness to you.

I'm always thinking of Sam and keeping her in my prayers. Keep on fighting Sam you can do this. We are all sending positive thoughts and prayers your way still.

Robin

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Ohhhhhhh, thank you, God!!!!
I am so happy for little Samantha!

[ramanth]

Yay!

[Cinder & Smoke]

June 08, 2005 at 09:49 AM EDT

Sam had a restful enough night,
and we are now waiting for the pulmonary team to take
another look at her lungs, and
physical therapy might show up today as well.

Her cat scan looked okay last night, but the official report was not in yet;
the attending physician didn't see anything distressing, though.

Her right hand--which looks good--is undressed and visible now.
The PT will start working w/it, and getting those fingers moving.
It's so nice to see a little hand again!!

She was very active yesterday, and had her eyes
fully open earlier this morning, too.

The plastics team will do daily dressing changes at bedside now,
and some regrafting (most of the grafts took, though)
will take place over the weekend or early next week.

I'll post again later if there's any news.

Thanks,
Jessica

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THANKS for Your Help, God!

[Barbara]

Good news! That most of the grafts took! And that you can see that sweet little hand.

We are still with you, Jessica and Sammy-girl! Hang in there

[Cinder & Smoke]

June 08, 2005 at 03:06 PM EDT

The pulmonary team did their thing and suctioned her out.
They were also able to "puff out" the collapsed parts,
so we'll hope it did the trick.

The attending was in to talk with me prior to this, and give me the current game plan: they want to try and wean her off the breathing tube entirely, as well as start weaning her off some of her (drug) drips, by sedating her less, but still giving pain meds. If they can't wean her off the tube within a week or so, they'll trach her temporarily so she can start rehab. They also want to tinker w/the dialysis, to make it so she can start rehabbing more, by maybe making it intermittent instead of continuous. Even if she needs the trach, they close right back up, so it's not a permanent thing. It looks like she'll do her rehab here at Children's.

The best part about the whole conversation was that she was speaking in terms of rehab and "when she goes home," which was awfully nice to hear. This doctor seemed to think that as long as we can avoid another major infection setting in, Sam should pull through this, w/lots of love and rehab.

From a skin perspective, things look good --
the Dr. said that 85% of the grafts taking is great.

Keep praying for Sam's continued strength,
because she's going to need a lot of it for rehab.

Thanks,
Jessica

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We **LIKE** to hear Good News!!