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.

Dec 19; Isabella Comes Home! (Again)

After 7 days Bella was released for home! (still using oxygen). As of today, Dec 22, Isabella no longer needs oxygen and is fully restored to health. I do believe in the power of prayer and beleve that yours made a difference. Thank you.
We celebrated her homecoming a couple days later by giving Isabella her first bite of food! (See picture, Dec 21. Click on images to enlarge)

Dec 12, 2008: Very Close Call

On Friday morning we came very close to losing Isabella...

The previous Wednesday (Dec 10) we were on our way to the Sao Paulo airport to spend Christmas in the USA. We saw that Isabella had a runny nose, turned the car around and came home.
By Thursday evening, her breathing was increasingly labored. On Friday morning, her oxygen saturation suddenly dropped alarmingly (we keep her hooked up to a vital signs monitor) and her heart rate nearly doubled, and she became placid with her eyes rolling back. . We called the paramedic pediatric team-- an excellent free service of the State with trained medical doctors, Within minutes, the paramedic team zoomed up a one way street and screeched to a halt in front of our building.
In the ambulance, the doctor told the driver to "make it a code 3" which is evidently for the most pressing emergencies, whereupon we blazed through intersections with lights, sirens, and horns. I was in the passenger seat thinking we were all going to die.

Upon arrival at the hospital, they immediately moved Isabella to the ICU. At this point she cannot live without supplimental oxygen, and I am back to sleeping in the ICU waiting room at night while Corenne spends the day with Isabella.
Despite being terribly sick Isabella can't help giving her nurse friends a smile within her little oxygen tent - I reached in and snapped this picture on Sunday.

November 2008: Life with Isabella


Isabella has been home two months now, and charms everyone that she sees!

Unfortunately, however, she is a little bit fragile when it comes to cold and flu viruses affecting her lungs, and our otherwise thriving little baby occasionally demonstrates her vulnerability.

In early November, Isabella was hospilized for a week with respritory problems, and remained on oxygen and monitors and home for another week. She is now back to perfect health, smiling, wiggling, and happy. She sleeps through the night, rarely complains, and is a very easy baby.





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