Blake, Kaitlyn and Baleigh

Blake - had a small surgery to take out the infected tube where he gets his dialysis. 
I was already in the day surgery volunteering on Monday so I was able to pray with
Blake before surgery.  I am not sure what # this make for surgeries for Blake but I know
he has more than his share.  I saw the love from his mom and dad and the hint of fear in Blake.

Surgery went well and when he got in his room later that day I stopped by to see him.  He was sleeping
peacefully and his parents had a few minutes to get some rest. 

Blake needs a kidney.  We are believing he will receive one soon!  He is 17 yrs old and deserves to
live a normal life.  He goes to dialysis 3 times a week and is in and out of the hospital way too often!


Kaitlyn - I stopped by to see her Monday when I finished volunteering.  Oh she look so good!  She was
feeling so much better!  You always can tell someone is feeling better when the blinds on their door to their room are open.  Her teacher from Children's was there helping her with her school work so I think she was grateful for the break.  My friend Stephanie Hegar (also a Creating Heartstringer) brought me a bunch of bags of candy she made up and some Halloween things like Pumpkin Peeps, Pumpkin decorating kits and etc.

She has such a bubbly personality it's almost infectious!  So when she is down it's so hard to see because you know she is truly sick.

I asked Kaitlyn if she wanted me to get some things out for her two younger siblings... She said nah... it was kinda funny and the teacher and I laughed.  She did take something for her cousin who was coming to visit though :) .  Oh and Stephanie donated some great rings... I end up giving her 2 each time I come because it just makes her light up! 

Praying for total healing for Kaitlyn!  Chemo and rradiation is hard on her body. 

Baleigh -  I believe in my last post I mentioned she got to go home!  Right now she is still there but today she gave her mom a scare.  Her feet were turning blue and she was fussy.  She has had several open heart surgeries and Courtney (her mom) has been told she needs a heart transplant sometime in the future.

Let's pray  nothing is wrong with her heart and the blue feet was just non serious.  They have so enjoyed being home!

Kaitlyn

We need to pray for Kaitly n (Mrs Bieber).. She has had a rough week!  She was placed in ICU for a few days because her temperature got so high due to pneumonia.    She is back in a regular room but still not feeling well..

Blake- needs our prayers also. He has had infections in his line which has caused some bad reactions.  They are praying for kidney transplant to come soon!  He has been through so much!

Update

It's been a few weeks since I have updated!

Kaitlyn (Mrs Bieber) got to go home for a week ;) !  She needed that!  This week though she has
been pretty sick.  Her fever has been high and she just doesn't feel good! I hate cancer! Praying she feels better soon! 

Baleigh got to go home last Thursday!  A miracle for sure!  She has been in the hospital since day one!

Zikarryus (bone cancer) received our gift and his Mom said it made his day!  He is a Ranger fan and I looked and looked for something other than a t-shirt or hat.. well after two weeks I finally find a wallet and some speakers!  That is what the World Series will do for ya... get more products in the store!

Leah (heart transplant receiver) is doing very well!  I dropped of some goodies for her and I think she loved them!  Creating Heartstrings got her a soft blanket, itunes card (her request), a big puzzle and some things for her little brother and parents.  We saw Leah at the Fall Carnival and she looked so good!  When I had talked to her mom a couple of weeks before she didn't think she could attend but she did!

Creating Heartstrings set up a Candy Table at The Ronald McDonald House again this year!  It was so much fun!  I'll include pics later!

I'm creating this site to update our group and our new friends (you) on the different kid's we are loving on! Creating Heartstrings is a group that gives tangible hope to families that find them self in medical crisis with their kids.  We come across familes who find them stuff stuck here in Dallas for months! 
Our purpose is to bring some hope to these families!  May it be just taking them a snack bag to say we
were thinking of you today or to be that listening ear for them.  We love to find out what their child likes and suprise them with something special along with the family.  Our long term goal would be to help financially.  We are in the midst of fundraising and in the future will apply for grants to help these families!  We work closely with the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.. What a great place that is!!

So here are some updates of some of the kids we are loving on!

Kaitlyn (Mrs Beiber) was in good spirits today!  They are praying her blood count gets high enough so

she could possibly go home tomorrow or Saturday and then come back on Monday.  As of today her counts aren't high enough but lets pray they come up so she can have some home time! 

 

I believe we officially bonded last week ;) .  We got past that how are you stage to Oh My Gosh guess what happened to me!  She has told me of her most embarrassing moments at school which one of them I actually had the same experience...lol that is what bonded us ;)  Isn't God good how he brings a embarrassing moment when you in 5th grade to a bonding moment in your 40's...

 

I left a snack bag and some cool things for Kaitlyn... one item was some glow in the dark braclets... She activated them immediately (you know thost things you used to get at like six flags)!  I said you might keep them in the fridge so they glow tonight...lol

 

Kaitlyn is loosing more hair but she is still so beautiful!  It's amazing the strength these kids have!

 

Baleigh is 5 months old and has been in the hospital from day 1.  She has a heart problem and will at

some point need a heart transplant.  Adriane Brown met her mom, Courtney (who is 19)  Sunday night while we were there cooking and found out she is from Midland, Texas. Courtney has been in Dallas by herself  most of the 5 months.  Her mom and family have come here and there but most days she is alone without a car. She told me she gets creative on making things last or doing without stuff till someone can take her.  Her mom happened to be here on Sunday and told Adriane that Courtney has been so depressed being here all alone.  These are the people we want to minister too!

 

Baleigh had surgery on Friday and did very well.  They are praying that she could ultimately start drinking from a bottle (she has been on a feeding tube since day 1) or if not have a g-tube placed in her stomach.. Right now the tube goes through her nose and it BUGS her!  She has pulled it out 15 times!  She might be able to go home in a month or so....  After that it will depend on her heart  how long she gets to stay home.  Praying for total healing!  She is in ICU and will be moved up to the 8th floor in the next day or so.

 

Pray she can eat normally and that her heart gets strong enough not to have to have a transplant.  Some of you may remember Shyanne a baby I talked about getting to go home a couple of months ago...Baliegh has the same thing as Shyanne just a bit worse.  Praise report on Shyanne- she is eating on her own (had a feeding tube) and is sitting up and crawling! A miracle for sure!  They also told her she could stop therapy because she was doing so well!  Today was her last day!

 

I left them a snack bag and some first words Winnie the Pooh flash cards for Baleigh!  I also happened to have some individual tide detergent which Courtney seemed greatful for... it's the little things in life that makes us smile ;)

 

Kevin- we met Kevin's grandparents Sunday night.  I'm not sure what kind of surgery he had.  I went by today to see him.  He was in ICU sleeping peacefully.  He and his mom and dad (Mark and Dala) live in Greenville, Texas along with his big sister.  Today his mom  was there and some long time friends from Springfield, Missouri.  I didn't' ask alot of questions  (since they were there) but his mom did say they would be here a while... months.  I left them a snack bag and some things Kevin can play with while in the hospital which included a flash light... every boy needs a flashlight, right!

 

I believe he has pfeiffer syndrome (his grandma said..and yeah..i had to googled it).  He has had many surgeries just not sure what he had done last Friday. pray healing for Kevin!

 

Brentlee- A friend of Adriane who has joined our group (yay!) told us of her cousin's baby Brentlee.  I went by to see Brentlee but they had stepped out and were not there.  I will check on them next time.  Brentlee is 6 weeks old. 

 

Brentlee was recently diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis. This condition involves infection and inflammation that causes destruction of the bowel (intestine).

 

They were just told they will be at Children's till at least Christmas which was hard for them to hear!  Brentlee's mom and dad are Tommy and Amber and are from Athens, Texas.  I left them a snack bag from us!

 

Catherine- a friend of mine told me about a 8 month old who is in ICU.  Her mom doesn't speak english.  I went by today but no one was in the room.  I will check back.

 

 I had gone to see the little girl Catherine who wasn't in her room and decided to text my friend to see

if the mom was in the hospital somewhere.   So I sat down in the lobby seeing if she would text back. I looked around and saw a lady I met at RMH months ago.  This lady we have seen many times at RMH.  She was talking to someone and then she said Hi!  Her son Blake who is 17 has been waitng on a kidney transplant.  Last Friday something went wrong and they had to care flight him from Oklamoma City to Children's.  When I saw her she had just had a bad experience with a social worker and was frazzled.  Blake's heart rate had also just dropped close to 40!  I prayed with her.  

 

Blake is on the top of the list for a kidney.  The last 3 kidney's that had come up wasn't a match for him.  Let's pray the perfect match comes available.  This has been along road for them!  I will check on them by phone the next few days.

 

When I walked away I thought that was a God thing that I saw her.... she even said I can't believe we ran into each other.

 

Leah- We met a lady Sunday night named Katie who has a daughter named Leah.  Leah is 4 years old and just had a heart transplant 3 weeks ago!  I gave Katie one of our new cards and she emailed me today!  I emailed her back and I got all kinds of ideas of things we can bless them with!  Leah was given a ipad so I picked her up a itunes card so she can download some games.  We will also load them up with snacks and some other special things!  Leah has a a brother named Jacob who is 2 1/2!  I'm sure we will pick him up something fun to play with! 

 

Leah can't have any vistors due to she is in isolation (because of her transplant) at the Ronald McDonald House.  They have 4 nice large rooms (almost like an apartment) that have very good ventilation and etc for transplant patients...almost a germ free zone!  So we will drop off our goodies with her mom!

 

One more.... I know this is getting long!

 

Zikarryus is 10 years old and has bone cancer.  Zikarryus his mom and little brother are staying at RMH.They are from the East Texas area.  Zikarryus loves the Rangers and Cowboys!  He was wearing a Ranger hat and shirt scooting around on his walker that has a seat on it..  he was moving around fast!

 

Let's pray healing for Zikarryus!  I've been looking for the perfect gift for him.... I will go and visit them the first of next week