For those of you that follow my twitter feed, you know that we were in the hospital last week with this girlie.
Five years ago, on Feb 9, she was burned terribly (3rd degree burns) on over 20% of her body. She was in the ICU for two weeks in an induced coma. They put her in that coma because the pain was too great to stand awake. When they put her in that coma, they told us that there was a chance she wouldn’t wake up. For two weeks we weren’t sure she would live through, and in spite of, her injuries.
But she did.
Two long months spent in the hospital, through countless surgeries, and she lived.
Our lives were changed forever the day her t-shirt caught fire. We live with those changes everyday, and we will for the rest of our lives.
Six years later, and her suffering still isn’t complete…she had to go in for an armpit reconstruction last Tuesday. The scar tissue in her armpit has contracted to the point that she can not lift her arm to even a 45 degree angle. It had to be released and reworked. We were in the hospital through the end of the week and spent most of this weekend sleeping it off. Thankfully, her skin “took” to its new location and she is already able to move her armpit more.
Today she woke up, found me, and proclaimed, “Mom! I happy! I better!”
So we are on the road back to normal.
xo
Tara
edited: I did my math wrong in the original post. Her accident was Feb 9 2005, which makes it five years ago, not six.
Wonderful news! On the road of life…. the road to recovery is always the best destination :)
Tara, I feel your pain. A mother’s child in pain, is a mother in pain. Bless her heart and yours. Feel the love,Kelle
am so happy to hear she’s feeling better. poor peanut! it’s so hard to watch a child struggle but she is very lucky to have you for a mom!
great news! i’m so glad she’s feeling better!
Hello fellow hospital go-er. I just wanted to let you know your family is in my thoughts and prayers as you ALL recover from the accident 6 yeas ago and the daily tribulations as well. We also spent the weekend in the hospital. Our son in Stanford ICU for a significant decrease in pulmonary function due to Cystic Fibrosis. Looks like today will be significant for us as he is placed on the double lung transplant list. I look forward to our Joshie saying something similar as your girle did: “Mom, I happy, I breathe, I better”.
:)
I’m so happy that she’s feeling better and recovering well.
So happy you’re home now, T. Love you guys.
So glad she is feeling better. Our thoughts and love have been with you. Let me know if you need ANYTHING.
have been following your journey on twitter– im so glad she is on the mend! :-D
Soooooo happy she’s feeling better!! Sending warm and happy thoughts her way :)))
Glad she is feeling better.. Give her a big squeezie hug from us over here.
what an amazing child you have tara. you are an amazing woman. jeff is an amazing man. i am always inspired by you. that sounds like such crap, but i really am. i sometimes forget to look at the big picture. thank you for reminding me.
Those must have been the sweetest words you have heard in a long time.
God Bless!
Such good news to hear. So happy for healing in your family.
i read the blog post from five years ago. i can’t even imagine. i can’t even imagine. i just cannot imagine.
that’s so terrible.
thank God she’s okay. thank God you’re okay. wow.
sweeter words have never been spoken!
Now that is a post that would fill any mama’s heart with joy. Awesome news!
that makes me so happy!!!!!
so good to hear you are home and things are getting better. i sat here with giant tears rolling down my face…although on a much smaller scale, we too have a burn experience that haunts us, involving our 2nd son when he was 2 yrs old. I was cooking macaroni and he was standing beside me…I turned for what seemed 2 seconds, but it was long enough for the pot of boiling water to cover his little body. As he lay on the floor screaming, I ripped his shirt off, which completely ripped all his skin from his stomach along with it. My story is similar to yours -screaming, shaking, 911, ambulance, etc. Our healing was quick though…you have had such a hard and long road. Again, you are such a wonderful Mama. I love you generous and loving heart. Thank you for always being so willing to share it.
having a dughter who has had numerous surgeries i know exactly how it feels to finally be home and know that the procedure was successful. i’m so happy she’s happy. :)
xo
so thankful for the healing that is already taking place. i just read the post you wrote in 2006. so beautifully written. what a nightmare you’ve been through. it’s wonderful to see McKenna smiling!
Such good news! So glad she is doing well and really feeling better!
So glad to hear your baby is doing better! Hope the way from here will be sweeter everyday!
Good news, hope she recovers well.
So glad she is doing better! I hope she continues to recover successfully :) Thank you for sharing!
Blessings to your girl and your family. You’ve been through a lot!
Amen!
I can only imagine how awful that must have been! It hits close to home though-my mom was about 3 when she climbed up to the stove to stir the pot and her pajamas caught on fire. At almost 48, the scars have faded and the pain is gone but it changed her family forever. Just last Thanksgiving, a 3yo child we know fell into a fire and spent a couple weeks in the hospital. He is healing well but I’m sure he will be having similar surgeries over the years. I’m so glad to hear your daughter is recovering and healing and that you are all able to hug her and have her in your life!
Such great news! I’m so glad Mckenna’s operation went well! She’s a little miracle :) Thinking of you and your family today….
What a sweet face she has, so glad the surgery was successful. Sending healing and loving thoughts your way.
That is awesome! Great news.
I teared when she said, Mommy I happy I better! A few of the things you want most for your children is happiness and good health. What a blessing.
Truly wonderful news…. xoxo
That is awesome! Great news.
I teared when I read she said, Mommy I happy I better! A few of the things you want most for your children is happiness and good health. What a blessing.
how hard on a mommy to see her baby in pain…I’m so glad she is doing better!
you got me in tears girl. soooooo very happy that she is ‘happy & better’…!!wow
What a perfect morning greeting, for anyone really. Love and kisses to you all.
so wonderful! glad to hear it!
I am so very glad to hear this!
Blessings to your family, your sweet little girl and your brave momma heart.
So happy to hear that she is better. Sounds like she is a fighter!
phew. thank goodness.
tara, your family-your story is an inspiration. so happy to hear your sweet girl is “happy and better!”
love to you both….
Oh sweet baby girl I´m so happy you feel happy and better. I know how it is to have a girly in hospital for surgery. DD had just had her 9th surgery this weekend. I so feel with your Tara. And hope your little girl will be home soon feeling so much better. Big hugs from the other side of the ocean.
xx
Living with the changes, well said.
Breathing in moments more, and living because in the blink of an eye our very lives can be altered.
I am happy your family is doing well.
Best,
Lisa
I happy- I better… Brings tears to my eyes. What a sweet and brave girl.
Glad to hear she’s ok! She’s adorable:-) Sometimes these things can be blessings in disguise, and make us stronger.
Best wishes!
~Tamara Nicole~
What you have been through! So glad that the surgery was successful and things are looking up! Hugs to you all.
Such wonderful, wonderful news. I don’t know you, I just read your blog regularly, but I know McKenna is a special little angel who means the world to you and your family. So happy to know that everything is okay. :)
you’re a great mom. what a happy ending! here’s hoping she’ll stay well.