We want pictures of Sammy with Santa! I am so full of admiration for this little girl. She has the heart of a lion- well surely of a very impressive cat :)
We want pictures of Sammy with Santa! I am so full of admiration for this little girl. She has the heart of a lion- well surely of a very impressive cat :)
Sammy sings Jingles Bells like this....
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way......HEY!
It is hysterical. You first press the phone really, really close to your ear to hear her saying the first part, then BLAM! The HEY sets you back a foot or two... :D
Oh my gosh! She is just the most precious and amazing girl EVER!!!!! It's so nice to see her doing so well after enduring so much. It really makes me appreciate all of the things I have and take for granted every day. I too hope to see some of those Christmas pictures!
Continued prayers for you and your family, Jo. May you all have a fabulous holidays! :D
**hugs**
SO CUTE. I want to hear that!!! :D Sammy's progress makes me so happy. What a wonderful, sweet, miracle child!Quote:
Originally Posted by Cataholic
99 December 10, 2005 at 07:32 PM EST
This is Johanna, posting on behalf of Jessica and Rob. Sadly, earlier this morning, Sam returned to the PICU. She seemed to have a cold/flu the last day or so, and was feverish this morning, about 830 am, EST. No matter how many blankets Rob put on Sam, she wouldn't stop shivering, and her upper extremeties and lips were blue. Jessica was already at work, and Rob called the paramedics. After some consult, Sam was air cared to Children's, where she remains now. Sam is stable, on a vent again (to give her all the assistance she needs to focus on other organs, she did not 'need' the vent for breathing purposes), has the fever and BP under control, and is medically sedated. Her urine output (always a concern with the kidney problems) remains good. The doctors think it is some sort of bacterial infection, but, probably not meningitis again. However, with Sam, everything is very precarious, medically speaking. The doctors will remove the older PICC line, and insert a new one in the groin. It is **possible** that the PICC line became infected. The majority of the tests/cultures won't be back until tomorrow or the next day. Sam is on antibiotics, to fight the infection, from whereever it is from.
Needless to say, Samantha needs lots and lots of prayers again, to fight the infection, return to her spunky self, and be home for Christmas! Keep Jessica and Rob close, too!
Johanna
Dear God ~
Please Help Dear Sammy bounce back from this setback.
We'll all Pray she's Home for Christmas.
<Amen>
What terribly distressing news.:(
Prayers for Samantha.
I just read the update. Will keep good thoughts and prayers for baby Sam.
Poor little Sammy. :( Feel better soon sweet child! Prayers that she is able to return home soon.
Come on miracle baby girl, keep amazing us all.
Prayers rising tonight.
This certainly puts my whining about my life in perspective.
Thoughts, prayers and lots of hugs and love sent to your family Jo, from the bottom of my heart.
:( Samantha is in my prayers, as well as Jessica and Rob.
I am so sorry to see that our Sammy has had this setback. :( Many prayers coming her way and for Jessica and Rob as well.
Kim
Johanna,
So sorry to hear about Sammy ......... {{{{hugs}}}} and prayers coming your way.
I'm so sorry to hear about Sammy. You will be in my thoughts.
I'm so sorry to hear this. :( Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent Sammy's way.
Thinking and praying for you Sammy.
Oh no!!!!! I am so sorry. Deep breath.
All my best thoughts for the Sammy girl.
Monday, December 12, 2005 at 04:17 PM EST
Thanks, everyone, for continued prayers and support
during this sudden and scary setback;
after nearly 4 months of constant and amazing improvement,
this has been a real blow,
but I'm happy to report that Sam is rallying back like the fighter she is.
http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/smile.gif
She is stable, and they are beginning to wean her off the vent, and
will wean her off the sedatives as well.
It is quite possible that she will be awake by mid-week.
An initial concern was whether or not she had an immune system problem
that would lead to a second bout of septic shock in so short a time,
but nearly all the docs we've spoken to feel that the "hardware" (belly catheter
and esp. the PICC line) she came home with facilitated this infection,
and that in the absence of those, she likely would not have become ill again.
(Other facts against the immune system problem theory:
she survived a serious case of one of the worst pediatric infections, and
she remained healthy for the nearly 2 years she spent in a foreign orphanage.)
They still suggest a consult w/immunology, just to be safe.
The PICC has been removed, and the kidney team is going to come up with
another way to handle labs. Up to this point, they haven't needed dialysis;
we pray that this will continue.
She's a bit puffy, but that was inevitable, in light of the sepsis;
she is on a lasix drip to help pull liquids off and reduce swelling.
They will start running some nutrition through her line tonight,
and then we're on a wait-and-see.
They are hoping to extubate by Wednesday -- late tomorrow if we get really lucky.
She seems to be past the worst of it, and is working her way out --
there can't be a stronger little girl in all the world!!
I'll try to update each day --
please keep Sam in your prayers!!
Jessica
-----------------------------------------------
Whttp://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/smile.gifW ~ GOOD NEWS all the way!!
WAY to GO - SAMMY!!
KEEP on Gettin Better!!
http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/smile.gif
---------------------------------------------------
Prayers for you sweet Sammy - you are an inspiration to us all xxx
Sammy, what a fighter you are!
I am so glad to hear you are better.
If you appreciate cat nose kissies, Filou and Tigris send some fresh and cold ones :)
http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/biggrin.gif
Wednesday, December 14, 2005 at 12:59 PM EST
Sam is improving each day, and was extubated yesterday;
she's breathing great on her own, and slept through the night. http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/smile.gif
She has opened her eyes, but doesn't stay awake for long --
her sedation is now off, but it will take a little time before she's fully awake.
She has managed to cry, though!
Her arterial line has been removed, and though she was puffy yesterday,
the fluids are coming off, and she's "deflating" as I type.
Dialysis won't be necessary, which is great.
She has bled a bit into some old wounds, so some of her scars are darker,
and she's had a little blistering/bleeding, but plastics has been alerted,
and we'll wait to hear what they have to say.
She did mouth a small kiss to me yesterday, and
gave her Barney a brief hug.
She received a shampoo & hairstyle (pigtails), and
is nearly ready to leave the PICU -- maybe tomorrow!
She will need to finish the course of antibiotics,
so she'll recover on a regular floor for a week or so, at least.
They are lowering the lasix as well.
They identified the bacteria; it's a GI bug, and a pretty uncommon one.
It's not an esp. resistant one, luckily, and
they feel they have it under control.
The PICC did not appear infected, but the fact that she had a
line in increases the chances for infection, so they still think it's involved.
We're hoping Sam will be hungry when she wakes up, and
have the menu in front of us, to order some of her favorites.
Thanks, everyone, for your support and prayers;
Sam plans on being home as soon as she can!
Jessica
PS: Yesterday was one year to the day when Sam was
first placed in my arms!
---------------------------------------------------------
Happie *Gotcha Day*, Sammy!!
Now let's see if you can make it Home to see Santa!
----------------------------------------------------------
Phew!! So glad to hear you are bouncing back from that scary setback Sammy! :D
Keep on fighting, Sam! I am praying for you and hoping you will be home for Christmas with a big smile on your face.
{{HUGS}}
Sammy, you will be in my prayers.
Sammy and family must be so exhausted and confused. What more must they endure? It seems as though they had things on track and now must re-join the hospital scene. Hopefully they will be home soon, just in time for Santa to arrive. If not, I bet Santa will come to the hospital to visit Sammy and family.
You are in my thoughts day in and day out.
((((((((((((((((((((((Sammy and family))))))))))))))))))))
Yes, my thoughts exactly..........how much more? How my heart goes out to this family.
Continued prayers are being offered that Sammy will conquer this latest challenge and be home in time for Christmas.
My apologzies for not keeping up with this thread. I've only learned about the setback this morning. Sammy, you and your family are an inspiration to us all and seeing what you've been through makes our own lives a piece of cake.Isn't that the truth Staci?? You and me....we have absolutely nothing to complain about.Quote:
This certainly puts my whining about my life in perspective.
Speaking about "piece of cake" was that on the menu??? ;)
Big relieved sigh! Sammy I can't get over what a fighter you are- sweet girl.
{{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}} for you and your family.
Thursday, December 15, 2005 at 05:25 PM EST
Today hasn't been a good day for Sam,
and she won't be leaving the PICU yet. http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/frown.gif
She's been in and out, but when her eyes are open,
she doesn't seem cognizant of anything or anyone -- even us.
She's begun having seizures, and has had 5 episodes today.
They did a CAT scan, which looked fine, but doesn't always offer a complete picture.
They have her hooked up to an EEG, and
will put her on anti-seizure meds. They're not sure why she's seizing,
as she never has before; the immunology folks have been by,
and will be doing some testing to rule out an immune deficiency problem.
They are also going to do a spinal tap to see if the bacteria managed
to cause any swelling or inflammation upstairs.
Her kidney function is stable, and they expect it to continue to improve,
now that the acute period is over, which is good,
but now we have this new set of worries.
Please pray hard for Sam, as her battle continues.
Jessica
-----------------------------------------------------
Dear God ~
Please, can You give Sammy, Jessica, and Rob a break?
We'll Pray that tomorrow is a Better Day for Sam.
Thanks God
---------------------------------------------------
Keeping continued good thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
I agree Phred.
God:
I do think it's time to put a stop to all this heartache. This family has been through enough and I pray that little Sammy will get well can be home for Christmas Day! Please, can you place your healing hands in just the right spot to bring peace to this family. Thanks God.
I'm so sorry to hear about Sammy. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent to both her and her family.
I simply hurt for this family............Dear God, please, this is now too much to ask of all three of this family.
I continue to pray HARD for Sammy.
Such sad news for such a lovely family. I hope that things settle down and Sammy turns the corner for home, soon. She needs our good thoughts, vibes, prayers and toss in a little luck, can't hurt. Oh my.
Oh- it is so sad to hear that. Sending all my love and hopes that Sammy is going to better soon.
:)
Friday, December 16, 2005 at 11:27 AM EST
Today is a better day! ~~ Sam had no seizures overnight,
and they suspect the seizures were from a drug she's been on;
the spinal tap was negative, thank God,
so there's no reason to think a more "sinister" reason lies behind the seizures.
She's much more alert today, and has spoken to us!!!
When Daddy held her favorite toy school bus in front of her,
she said, "Hi, school bus!"
She also looked at me and said, "Mama",
and when Daddy handed her something,
she said, "Thank you, Daddy",
so we think she's back!
She's still very tired, as seizures wipe you out for a while,
plus all the testing and meds, so nobody expects her to be overly perky,
but we're so happy and relieved to see her responding appropriately
and interacting a bit.
Thanks,
Jessica
---------------------------------------
Thanks God!
----------------------------------------
With that excellent news (thanks Phred for posting it), I can now begin the day not quite so worried about little Sammy. But I won't stop the prayers.
I can just imagine, when she says "Mama" or "Daddy" under these circumstances you must just fall apart with your heart singing at the same time.
Thanks God! I knew you would let them down!!
Great news!! :) I'll still be sending prayers for you, little Sammy.....