Elise's "Gotcha Day" is today, May 15th. I remember this day last year so clearly. I had quit my job the day before knowing that her birth parent's were planning to sign relinquishments the next day. I had us all packed and ready to go. We sat and twiddled our thumbs without a phone call until that afternoon. My stomach was all in knots! At about 3pm our social worker called and said we were clear to head down to Birmingham to meet our daughter!! OUR DAUGHTER! I was all smiles although in constant prayer for both Elise and her birth parents since although it was a joyous day for us, it was not so for them. When we got to the NICU we were met by some very confused nurses because they had only minutes before been told that there were prospective parents waiting in the wings. We were finally allowed back to see her and WOW! I didn't know baby's could be so small. And then she opened her eyes and looked at us. We were from that first look, forever hers.
We praise God for bringing Elise into our family to fill the space He had held only for her. We thank God that He protected and healed her tiny body and that He continues to do so daily by bringing us the information for the right doctors and the support & knowledge from other OEIS/CE/BE families. We thank God that he placed us back in our hometown 5 years ago knowing that we would need the support of our parents. We thank God for the relationship He has built between us and Elise's birth family; in what could have been a very difficult situation He has brought comfort and love. We thank God for Elise; for every inch of her perfect self! We love our daughter!!!
We ask for LOTS of Prayer this upcoming week. Elise has spinal surgery to detether her spinal cord up at John's Hopkins on Monday May 18th at 7:30am (6:30am Central.) She will be in surgery for at least 5 hours and will remain at the hospital at least 5 days. Please pray especially for her neuro surgeon, Dr. Ahn, that his hands would be steady and that there would be no nerve damage. We know she's tough and God has her in His healing hands! Thank you!
