Dahlia is active once again on the transplant list! She has beat the infection that almost killed her.  She also made it through two operations to clean out bleeding and blood clots from around her lungs; her lungs are improving and she is almost off all supplemental oxygen.  This is one tough little girl.  Yesterday, I got a wonderful early Christmas present, I got to hold her for the first time in one MONTH!  Her poor little head is all misshapen from having to lay in bed for so long.  Despite the circumstances she has been smiling and laughing a lot. It's so good to see her getting back to her old self.  The Berlin Heart was approved by the FDA last week.  The doctor told us that if Dahlia did not have the Berlin Heart her infection would have killed her, now this life saving device will be widely available. Have a wonderful Christmas, enjoy the gift of today that you have been given.  Spend time with those you love and let them know you love them.  Give a gift that can save lives, become an organ donor.

rollercoaster ride

It seems like around here it's just one thing after another. Just when it looked like Dahlia's recovery was going well, she gets hit with a blood stream infection caused by a nasty bug that likes to lurk around hospitals. There are some things in life that just aren't fair and a suffering baby has got to be at the top of the list.  She'll be made inactive on the transplant list until her infection is gone.

                                            Dahlia's Berlin Heart

update

Our brave little girl is recovering well from her surgery!  Her doctor told us that she is the smallest baby they have preformed that surgery on. Either tomorrow or the next day they hope to get her off of the ventilator.  Then, in the next couple of weeks if all goes well she will be out of the I.C.U. and in her own private room where I can stay with her.  While she has the Berlin Heart she can be held and physical therapists will work with her so that she is not to far behind in her development. The main goal is to get her healthier and stronger for her heart transplant. Several days ago while we were in the waiting room there was the cutest little four year who had a heart transplant when she was a baby. She was so full of energy and life, it was a good sight to see!  Yesterday Dario told me that what he really wants for Christmas if so for his baby sister to be better. That would be the best Christmas present ever. 

Berlin Heart

On Wednesday Dahlia had an operation to give her a Berlin heart. It is a device which assists the heart with pumping, in order to keep extremely sick patients alive until they receive their new heart. We had to be at the hospital at 6:00 a.m. When got their Dahlia was awake with her eyes wide open. That was the most alert I had seen her since she was readmitted to the hospital. She stared at Brian and me for the longest time. It was good to look into those sweet eyes again and let her know we where there. There's a lot you can communicate just with the eyes, she was looking at me so intently, that I hoped she wasn't telling me goodbye. Finally at around 9:00 a.m. Dahlia was taken back for surgery. Each hour we were given updates on how the surgery was going. It went well but towards the end the Doctors were having problems controlling her bleeding and getting her stabilized. The surgery ended at around 7:30 p.m. and we were not allowed to see her until 10:30 p.m. When I finally got to see her it was a horrific site. She was lying there heavily sedated but her eyes were wide open. She had a huge cut down her chest, drainage tubes everywhere, and the Berlin Heart which is outside her body with blood pumping through it. Since then there has been ups and downs. I don't know if she will continue to stay and fight for her life or move on to a better place where she will once again be whole and happy. However, I have come to terms with either outcome and know that in the end everything will be okay.