Ava~ Hope for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.: Snow Day!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Snow Day!

Well hello all! We had quite the snow storm here in Iowa. The wind was blowing. It was a blizzard here last night. It finally settled down early this morning. The girls are enjoying their day off. Brian couldn’t get to work this morning. We were snowed in! (This has NEVER happened.) It took us 3 hours to clean the sidewalks and driveway. He used the snow blower and I used the good ole’ shovel. We told the girls to stay inside until we finished….guess what? They couldn’t wait. They were TOO excited. They enjoyed themselves. Lexis kept saying, “Mom I must be dreaming!” Ava could barely walk around. The snow was up to her thighs. However she couldn’t stop smiling!

Miss Ava loving the snow… THIS was the huge snow ball she threw on Daddy. She kept saying, “HEADS UP DADDY!”

BEWARE DADDY! She’s got a BIG snow ball!

My three little snow girls. “How lucky are we Mom, no school!”

“Go Ava!”

Can she walk? Hands up for balance!

And AGAIN!

Can Ava shovel? Well let’s see…

SHE CAN!

Well this is no fun…back to playing!

Ava loves sledding. She gets cold fast but she doesn’t mind UNTIL we come inside. Then the heating pad helps warm her up :) She hated coming inside. Enjoy her fun!

She had such a good time in the snow. She’s over her cold. Her eye is all better and we are staying inside away from germs. Thanks for all the prayers!

So I guess we survived the Blizzard of 2011! Have a safe day everyone!

~Terri

4 comments:

DP said...: Hi! It was great connecting with you on MBC. Your story is so interesting, and your daughter is beautiful. What a fun snow day you guys had.

I'd love for you to write about congenital diaphragmatic hernia (hope I spelled that right) for my blog sometime. I don't know much about it, but if you want to share your story with my blog readers, I'd love for you to guest post. You'd be my guest blogger, and you'd have a link back to your site.

Email me if you're interested dp@pregnancybaby411.com

But anyway, I will be reading deeper into your blog. I am fascinated.

-DP

Hip Chick's Guide to PMS, Pregnancy, and Babies; February 11, 2011 at 10:26 PM
Stacey said...: Thanks for following my blog!
Following back now!
http://madeofsnails.blogspot.com/
&
http://staceylovesscents.blogspot.com/

I am looking forward to getting to know you and reading your blog!; February 16, 2011 at 4:19 PM
Veronica Lee said...: Love the pics!!

Hi! Stopping by from MBC. Great blog.
Have a nice day!; February 19, 2011 at 6:08 AM
Blossom inch said...: Hello! Ava and family how are you?; March 1, 2011 at 10:40 PM

A Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Hello and Welcome Ava's Blog.

My goal to is educate and bring valuable information to the people that need it the most. If your baby has been recently diagnosed with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia or you know someone who has gotten the devastating news, please know you are not alone. Yes this is a very serious, life threatning birth defect yet there are those that do survive... Please let Ava give you Hope.

If your baby was born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and has recently reherniated (the diaphragm needs repaired) I have experience with this as well. Stay strong as this too is a very tough fight.

Ava's journey has been quite the ride. My Hope is that you find comfort knowing that not only do CDH babies survive but they can also thrive even after all the obstacles their bodies are put through.

"Carry Hope with you ALWAYS!"

~ Terri L. Helmick

What is Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia? (CDH)

A diaphragmatic hernia is a birth defect in which there is an abnormal opening in the diaphragm, the muscle that helps you breathe. The opening allows part of the organs from the belly (stomach, spleen, liver, and intestines) to go up into the chest cavity near the lungs. Also forcing the heart to move.

A diaphragmatic hernia is caused by the improper joining of structures during fetal development. As a result, the abdominal organs such as the stomach, small intestine, spleen, part of the liver, and the kidney appear in the chest cavity. The lung tissue on the affected side is thus not allowed to completely develop.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is seen in 1 out of every 2,500 live births.

Ava's Fetal MRI Results (May 2006)

Fetus is 23 weeks, 6 days and an estimate weight of 638 grams. Amniotic fluid is 21.2 which is in upper range of normal. Fetus has Left Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia containing the stomach, intestines, and a relatively large portion of the left lobe of the fetal liver. Heart is moved to the right. The calculated lung to head ratio is 1.3-1.4 after multiple measurements of the right lung. The best measurement of the right lung is 1.6 x 1.7 x 3.9 cm, with a volume of 5.5 cc. A small portion of the left lung is identified within the left apex and measures 1.9 x 1.4 x 0.8 cm with a volume of 1.1 cc. There is no other fetal anatomic abnormalities.

"My CDH Journey"

I've been told I'm a brave little girl. God has blessed me and my family beyond measure. My Mommy feels lucky that I'm still here with them. I hear I have touched so many lives.

This is my story. I am told I am a Miracle. I am!

(My mommy loved this song as a child. She told me it fits my story.)

"I'm something Special I'm the only one of my kind God gave me a body and a bright healthy mind. He has a special purpose that he wants me to find so he made me something special I'm the only one of my kind."

I would be honored if you read my whole story. You can find it at http://www.carepages.com/ avahelmick. Hold on because it is filled with ups and downs. Mom and Dad says it was quite the roller coaster. I not only survived CDH once, but twice. Thanks to all who read my story. God Bless.

~Ava Elizabeth

Welcome to Our Life with CDH.

Our daughter Ava was born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. CDH is when (inside of the womb) the diaphragm does not form properly. The abdominal organs move up into the chest cavity, compromising the heart and lungs. Fifty percent of CDH babies die. Sometimes with proper diagnosis and treatment, the babies have a better chance at birth.

We held our First Annual, "Ava's Awareness Walk" on March 27, 2008. I was so touched at how many family and friends came out to walk for CDH Awareness. I held back tears as I spoke about Ava's friends that have died fighting this birth defect. I played the song, "Little Angels" that Tamra (my sister) and I created for all the CDH babies. After walking around the beautiful lake we had a balloon release. I did it to remember all the precious angels that had been taken, far too soon, from their Mothers arms. They will forever be in our hearts.

My goal is to educate and provide valuable knowledge and information about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. I want to let as many know of this deadly birth defect as possible and to share HOPE.

Miracles DO Happen!

Faith and Trust in God.

I was comforted many times by Bible verses.

"In ALL thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." -Proverbs 3:6

"We can do all things through Christ." -Philippians 4:13

"All things work together for the Glory of God."
-Romans 8:28

"Unto thee oh Lord do I lift up my soul." -Psalms 25:1

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28

"I truly believe we are handed things in life to make us become better and stronger people. I have learned more about life from little Ava than I have in all my years. I adore all my girls but I will always thank God and Sweet Ava for making me appreciate life to it's fullest!" -Terri Helmick

Hope for CDH.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Snow Day!

4 comments: