Silly girl liked to stick her tongue out at me. :)
Sleeping peacefully.Our little beautiful Tessa, day after surgery.
Tessa and her proud daddy
Monday, June 2, 2008
Tessa's Before and After Surgery Pictures
Silly girl liked to stick her tongue out at me. :) Sleeping peacefully. Tessa and her proud daddy
Tessa's first surgery
Thursday morning we took our little sweetie to the hospital for the biggest day in all our lives since she was born. Tessa was a little cranky - no feedings allowed past 3:30 AM, but our little one handled it with the amazing grace we knew she would.
As soon as the nurse came to wisk her away to the operating room, she was calm and ready to go. There was a peace in the room and although we did not want to be separated from her, we knew it was time. Time for something we had been waiting for since we found out she had a cleft lip and palate. We knew God had angels surrounding her in the operating room, so all that was left to do was wait.
Tim and I spent a lot of time talking, praying, and being thankful that Tessa was in such good hands. Dr. Franks is very talented and God has gifted him with the ability to perform such a surgery so well. There was a nurse there would who make rounds to the surgery rooms every hour and a half or so and then give the families updated. It was God's way of reassuring us every so often that Tessa was doing well.
Surgery lasted about 4 hours and of course, our little girl was hungry. She fed before she came out of recovery and when we saw her in the nurses arms, I could not help but run to her. When I held her as they took us to her room, I couldn't believe how different she looked. The transformation was amazing! I loved her first smile so much and now she looked so much like her brothers. Words are not enough to describe how it felt to see her with her new smile. Despite all of the stitches in place, we could definitely see the transformation.
We praise God for such an able surgeon. We praise God for a safe and successful surgery. We praise God for all the many, many blessings in our life and especially on this day for our little Tessa Grace Marie.
As soon as the nurse came to wisk her away to the operating room, she was calm and ready to go. There was a peace in the room and although we did not want to be separated from her, we knew it was time. Time for something we had been waiting for since we found out she had a cleft lip and palate. We knew God had angels surrounding her in the operating room, so all that was left to do was wait.
Tim and I spent a lot of time talking, praying, and being thankful that Tessa was in such good hands. Dr. Franks is very talented and God has gifted him with the ability to perform such a surgery so well. There was a nurse there would who make rounds to the surgery rooms every hour and a half or so and then give the families updated. It was God's way of reassuring us every so often that Tessa was doing well.
Surgery lasted about 4 hours and of course, our little girl was hungry. She fed before she came out of recovery and when we saw her in the nurses arms, I could not help but run to her. When I held her as they took us to her room, I couldn't believe how different she looked. The transformation was amazing! I loved her first smile so much and now she looked so much like her brothers. Words are not enough to describe how it felt to see her with her new smile. Despite all of the stitches in place, we could definitely see the transformation.
We praise God for such an able surgeon. We praise God for a safe and successful surgery. We praise God for all the many, many blessings in our life and especially on this day for our little Tessa Grace Marie.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Is It Just Another Empty Promise?
Months ago, before the fury of the Iowa Caucuses John Edwards stumping for his canidacy for president came across James Lowe, a 51 year-old man who had been born with a cleft palate. A cleft palate that he could not get repaired because insurance would not cover it and his family could not afford the corrective surgery to repair it.
Well, that was 50 years or so ago and while things have changed dramatically in regards to repairing cleft lip and palate, they have not changed as much with the insurance side of the picture. We wonder if John Edwards, who talked about Mr. Lowe every chance he could
knows about how wonderful the NAM device is for babies born with cleft lip? We wonder if he knows that it saves surgeries and improves the outcome of the surgeries needed? We wonder if he knows there are little boys and girls like Mr. Lowe and our little Tessa whose lives are changed because of this? We wonder if he knows if the NAM, which our craniofacial surgeon deems medically necessary, is in most cases not covered completely if at all by most insurance companies?
We wonder if Mr. Edwards knows that parents like us struggle to provide the best for our children but are left out in the cold when it comes to insurance coverage for this amazing device? Mr. Edwards can you tell us if you intend to help change things to help people like Mr. Lowe and our little Tessa even though your candidacy has ended? Mr. Edwards is quoted about this situation in Time Magazine as saying "We have to do something about this! This is not okay!" the candidate said. "How can we allow this to happen, that James had to live 50 years without treatment? Are you listening? This is America's problem. And let me tell you, as long as I am alive and breathing I'm going to do something about it!" Well Mr. Edwards we are all waiting. Will you still step up and help us make a change?
Well, that was 50 years or so ago and while things have changed dramatically in regards to repairing cleft lip and palate, they have not changed as much with the insurance side of the picture. We wonder if John Edwards, who talked about Mr. Lowe every chance he could
knows about how wonderful the NAM device is for babies born with cleft lip? We wonder if he knows that it saves surgeries and improves the outcome of the surgeries needed? We wonder if he knows there are little boys and girls like Mr. Lowe and our little Tessa whose lives are changed because of this? We wonder if he knows if the NAM, which our craniofacial surgeon deems medically necessary, is in most cases not covered completely if at all by most insurance companies?
We wonder if Mr. Edwards knows that parents like us struggle to provide the best for our children but are left out in the cold when it comes to insurance coverage for this amazing device? Mr. Edwards can you tell us if you intend to help change things to help people like Mr. Lowe and our little Tessa even though your candidacy has ended? Mr. Edwards is quoted about this situation in Time Magazine as saying "We have to do something about this! This is not okay!" the candidate said. "How can we allow this to happen, that James had to live 50 years without treatment? Are you listening? This is America's problem. And let me tell you, as long as I am alive and breathing I'm going to do something about it!" Well Mr. Edwards we are all waiting. Will you still step up and help us make a change?
Tessa's Wonderfully Wide Smile
We decided to capture Tessa's big, beautiful first smile in some professional photographs a couple of weekends ago. She loved getting her picture taken for the most part. She smiled and laughed and cooed for the photographer and her assistant. We had her pictures taken at Portrait Innovations. They were very professional, courteous, and well-mannered. I made sure to take the time to explain Tessa was having surgery soon and we wanted to capture the moments before it so she could see her smile prior to surgery when she is older.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Choosing our Craniofacial Team
Grace, she carries a world on her hips
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition
What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because Grace makes beauty out of everything.
- Grace, U2 from "All that You Can't Leave Behind"
Our beautiful Tessa is now 13 weeks old. Her surgery is coming up soon to repair the lip, gum, and nose. She will have another surgery when she is a bit older to repair the palate. We have been so blessed to have found a wonderful Craniofacial Team to work with. It is no coincindence however. We know God placed us in touch with this wonderful team through my OB/GYN. God works in wonderful ways. When we first learned about Tessa's wide smile we were not sure of what kind of doctor we could find to perform the surgery. Our pediatrician recommended a very well known, reputable plastic surgeon but we were unsure. It wasn't until some time in December that we learned of Dr. Franks and Dr. Wilson. We met with the staff but were still uncertain on which direction to go. We wanted a team that would provide the latest medical procedures to improve the condition of Tessa's lip and palate. Dr. Franks, as busy as he is took the time to stop by the hospital when Tessa was born. We knew immediately they were the team to work with. They were going to fit Tessa with a nasal alveolar molding device to start her journey of repair.
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition
What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because Grace makes beauty out of everything.
- Grace, U2 from "All that You Can't Leave Behind"
Our beautiful Tessa is now 13 weeks old. Her surgery is coming up soon to repair the lip, gum, and nose. She will have another surgery when she is a bit older to repair the palate. We have been so blessed to have found a wonderful Craniofacial Team to work with. It is no coincindence however. We know God placed us in touch with this wonderful team through my OB/GYN. God works in wonderful ways. When we first learned about Tessa's wide smile we were not sure of what kind of doctor we could find to perform the surgery. Our pediatrician recommended a very well known, reputable plastic surgeon but we were unsure. It wasn't until some time in December that we learned of Dr. Franks and Dr. Wilson. We met with the staff but were still uncertain on which direction to go. We wanted a team that would provide the latest medical procedures to improve the condition of Tessa's lip and palate. Dr. Franks, as busy as he is took the time to stop by the hospital when Tessa was born. We knew immediately they were the team to work with. They were going to fit Tessa with a nasal alveolar molding device to start her journey of repair.
Grace Finds Beauty In Everything
Our beautiful Tessa Grace Marie was born on 01/23/08 at 8:39 PM weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces and 19 1/4 inches long. We knew via ultrasound at 18 weeks that Tessa would have a unilateral cleft lip and palate. Some people ask how we handled seeing her for the first time as the doctor delivered her. They imagine it was difficult for us, but it was not. God’s grace allowed us to see her big, beautiful, wide smile as a blessing. My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV) Mothers and fathers and anyone who has witnessed the miracle of a new little soul being born into the word knows that words cannot describe that moment – the moment when you feel her breathing and crying and moving on you. The moment when as you glance up at your husband you know he knows that you have both seen God in that moment. Tessa in that moment was a soft, warm light and she is still in every moment I hold her, feed her, sing to her, and watch that beautiful smile form on those imperfect little lips. Every one of those moments with her is a sort of holiday all its own.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Gabriel's Missing Touch
There is a Jewish tradition that Gabriel is the Angel of Birth.
It is said that he carefully spends the nine months of the pregnancy watching over each unborn child and instructing that child on the necessary knowledge of Heaven that is an inherent part of all people.
Just before birth, though, Gabriel touches each baby on the upper lip to seal them; to make the child unable to rememberall of the information about Heaven and so that the child’s soul cannot inadvertently blurt out all the wonders and mysteries of Heaven until the child returns to the spiritual state at death.
The sign of Gabriel’s Touch, the imprint of the angel’s seal upon the child’s lips, is the little divot just below the nose.
Most babies like Tessa who has a cleft lip and palate are born without that little divot. We like to believe that God’s grace allowed them to share some of the special mystery of Heaven with us when they are born.
It is said that he carefully spends the nine months of the pregnancy watching over each unborn child and instructing that child on the necessary knowledge of Heaven that is an inherent part of all people.
Just before birth, though, Gabriel touches each baby on the upper lip to seal them; to make the child unable to rememberall of the information about Heaven and so that the child’s soul cannot inadvertently blurt out all the wonders and mysteries of Heaven until the child returns to the spiritual state at death.
The sign of Gabriel’s Touch, the imprint of the angel’s seal upon the child’s lips, is the little divot just below the nose.
Most babies like Tessa who has a cleft lip and palate are born without that little divot. We like to believe that God’s grace allowed them to share some of the special mystery of Heaven with us when they are born.
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