HISTORY: Isabella was adopted into the Smith family July 18, 2008. She had been born 2-months prematurely, and was 2 months old when we got her. One week later, she suddenly had a breathing crisis and was rushed to the hospital following a traumatic resuscitatation.

This was the begginning of a (now) seven month odyssey. Isabella suffers from Bronchial Displasia, related to premature lungs at birth. Whenever she gets a cold or flu bug, within hours it can become life-threatening.

Between medical incidents, Bella (or "Bellaboo" as Marc calls her) is strong, fat, healthy, robust, smart, active, alert. She is an EASY baby, happy, sleeps well, eats well. However, over 40% of her little life since birth has been spent in the Intensive Care Unit -- with either her Mommy or her Daddy at her side.

Aug 13, Wednesday: BREATHING TUBE REMOVED!


Today was a wonderful, emotional day. All praise to our Heavenly Father!

The doctor removed Isabella's breating tube...and she continued to breath by herself!

After many hours had passed, her oxygen levels were still very high, and she was kicking and crying like a normal baby.

They tried to place her in Corenne's arms, but Isabella was not ready for that as her throat was too swollen. But we were able to touch her throuth the incubator windows as much as we wanted.

She cries VERY softly, poor thing, because her lungs cannot produce enough air to really belt out, and when you touch her you can feel the vibration and raspy breath from her clogged lungs. She is still being fed through a tube. But it really feels like we are on the home stretch now!