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.

Sunday, March 22, 2009: Still in hospital, stable & unchanged


Isabella is still in the hospital. She has remained stable since Thursday, and is not in ICU.

Her condition fluctuates. She is no longer crying and inconsolable, in fact she is very happy, but her lungs are still very full and her breathing yesterday was double what it should be (at 66 bpm) as she struggles for air, so the hospital is definitely where she needs to be.

This is her 6th day hospitalized this round, admitted Tuesday the 16th. She had been released March 12 after a difficult 2-week stint in the ICU.