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.

MAY 4: ONE YEAR OLD!

Isabella celebrated her first birthday today! Thank you SO much for your prayers. She is doing just great now. Her pulmonologist said that it would be hard to convince her that this was the same baby she saw 6 weeks ago.

Last week Isabella crawled for the first time! And in the picture you can see one little tooth.

Her lung doctor explained to us that the walls of her lungs are thick and soft due to being premature. Because she is so little, when she gets a flu bug and there is irritation and swelling in the lungs, it can block off her bronchial cavities all the way. However, the doctor said there is a 95% chance that Isabella will never suffer another symptom after age 2!

We were also informed that the steroids lower her resistance, making her susceptible to illness. Therefore, we are forbidden to take her to any enclosed public area – mall, church, etc – until she is completely off the drugs.

It was hard to believe all she has gone through, seeing her so full of life and energy. It was especially painful to think back to her traumatic birth one year ago, choking on her own blood as doctors performed an emergency c-section. The ICU team suctioned out two vials of swallowed blood.
She's had a lot of close calls, this one. But the Lord Jesus has special plans for her.