Little Larissa - please read

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Tue May 06, 2008 7:58 pm

Dra. Claudia Toledo wrote:Olá !
Hoje Larissa conheceu pessoalmente seu aparelho.Apesar de não entender tudo o que realmente estava acontecendo se sentiu feliz.Abraçou ,beijou o Nelson e o Galo ,dra Cacau.Ela nos recebeu um pouco tímida mas com grande carinho.A mamãe da Larissa também participou,juntamento com a enfermagem que estava de plantão e um de seus médicos Dr.Pedro.O momento foi muito especial,regado de emoção,alegria e o mais importante o AMOR.UM AMOR INCONDICIONAL E SEM DIMENSÕES.Hoje Larissa faz parte de minha vida e de todos nós que convivemos com ela todo este tempo.Larissa tem uma irmazinha mais velha do que ela, que esta lhe esperando ansiosamente em sua casa juntamente com seus avós maternos.OBRIGADA por todo carinho e atenção.Continuarei a mandar notícias de Larissa.Um beijo azul na ponta do nariz.
cláudia Toledo

(note: waiting for ozij to kindly and expertly translate the above for us. O, thanks in advance!)

Well, the very good news is that I can see from Claudia Toledo's post above that Larissa has loving grandparents and an older sister waiting for her with open arms! That is extremely good news to me.

And with a great sense of relief I think back to how this thread started. Brazilian originally inquired about a CPAP with EPR, and instead received:

1) a state-of-the-art BiPAP autoSV machine,
2) creation of a monetary and CPAP supplies donation pool,
3) advice from a doctor of psychology,
4) an inquiry about etiology and pathogenesis,
5) helpful comments from the manager of a sleep center in Connecticut,
6) an over-abundance of love and concern, and
7) an offer for adoption by a great family that I personally know

Just a tad more than a used CPAP with EPR I would say! So do you get the vague impression that forum members around here go out of their way to offer a helping hand?

Can't wait to see pictures of Larissa with her new BiPAP autoSV! And again, bless everyone down there who is helping little Larissa! Obrigado!
.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue May 06, 2008 9:07 pm

Nice job Banned and the generosity of Pulmonary Solutions, Santa Clara, CA and others, I just passed this story on to my friends at KCRA TV-3 Healthwatch, can't promise anything but maybe they will pick it up.

http://www.kcra.com/health/index.html

I also passed along with a link to this thread, they are a NBC affiliate and always looking for great stories to tell, this is certainly one.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Tue May 06, 2008 9:08 pm

Dra. Cacau wrote: Hello!
Today Larissa personally experience (met?) her machine. Although she did not understand everything that was happening, shrereally felt happy. She embraced and kissed Nelson, Gallo and Dra. Cacau.. She received us a little timidly but with great affection. Larissa's mother also participated, together with the nurse who was on duty and one of her doctors: Dr.Pedro. The moment was very special, filled with emotion, joy and most importantly LOVE. UNCONDITIONAL, UNLIMITED LOVE. Today Larissa is part of my life and of the lives of all of us who have lived with her all this time. Larissa has an older sister who is eagerly awaiting her at home along with their maternal grandparents. OBRIGADA for all the affection and attention. I will continue to give news of Larissa. A blue kiss on the tip of the nose.
Claudia Toledo

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Tue May 06, 2008 9:54 pm

Snoredog wrote:Nice job Banned and the generosity of Pulmonary Solutions, Santa Clara, CA and others

That would be "Sir Banned" in this real-life fairy tale!

.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Tue May 06, 2008 10:03 pm

Snoredog wrote: I also passed along with a link to this thread, they are a NBC affiliate and always looking for great stories to tell, this is certainly one.

This may not be sexy enough to qualify as Soup de Jour for the media, but it is interesting. Starting on an obscure CPAP internet blog, from a simple request for a CPAP machine from an unknown, uncommon man in a developing country, to an offer of adoption of a poor, frail child, with the opportunity for dual citizenship, paid medical care, education, college, career and 'Uncle Steve' (who knows his way around a BiPAP ventilator), you may say to yourself, "Why not just go to an orphanage?" I don't think frail children in an orphanage get adopted. Thanks SWS, you took this blog to a whole new level.

Banned

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Tue May 06, 2008 11:11 pm

Sir Banned wrote:"Why not just go to an orphanage?" I don't think frail children in an orphanage get adopted. Thanks Steve, you did take this blog to a whole new level.

Well, as it turns out this family in the Chicago suburbs is already on a waiting list to adopt through an agency. And they are willing to take a special needs child. Regardless they would have gladly taken Larissa, if she did not already have a loving family waiting for her. I did relish the thought of watching Larissa relish a hamburger on our patio at one of our family cookouts! And I would have undoubtedly been highly involved in her doctor visits as well!

As for Uncle Steve? Well, he was never one to hold anything against highly unorthodox solutions. And this situation seemed to stand at least a chance of being just that---for two parties whom I have come to maintain only the very best of hopes!

But I am very glad--relieved even-- that Larissa already has a loving family, waiting for her to return with a brand-new, state-of-the-art BiPAP machine! And that's one very happy ending thanks to Sir Banned, Sir Brazilian, the great doctors, and plenty of others around the world!

And the best part of this blog-style thread is yet to come! We get to see pictures and a movie of one happily-rescued three-year-old princess!!!

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Thu May 08, 2008 6:09 am

It is amazing how when the chips are down and our fellow man needs help, there are wonderful people that come to the rescue.

This is off topic but shows how compassionate most people are. We have a little girl (approximately 9 years old) that needs an operation to help restore her sight. Since the operation is experimental it is not covered by insurance. Our rural community raised $50,000 for her operation.

This forum is a group of strangers, pulling together due to a common interest. Yet, we are not strangers but a group of caring dedicated souls that are compassionate, caring, loving, sharing, and wonderful bunch!!!! It is amazing -- this goes to proof there really are ANGELS here on earth!!!

May Brazilian, Banned, SWS, SAG, and others be blessed many times over!!

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Thu May 08, 2008 5:53 pm

-SWS wrote: And the best part of this blog-style thread is yet to come! We get to see pictures and a movie of one happily-rescued three-year-old princess!!!

Agreed!

But, I'm still mulling over the gravity of SWS's offer.

The happy ending would be the sustainability of the health of this child. If she is currently looking at a full recovery and the ability to live her life as a normal, happy, healthy, Brazilian child, then I say, "All's well that ends well".

On the other hand, if her health not headed in that in that direction, than irrespective of all the Latin family love that can be bestowed on a child, Brazilian has thrown Larissa a life-line, and in turn, SWS has thrown Brazilian a life-line.

The bleak reality is that when Brazilian stops traveling out-of-country to receive material to hand-carry into Brazil, it's over. Unfortunately, customs in Brazil is the most restrictive in the entire world. It has been, is currently, and will continue to be prohibitive to ship material into that country.

Sometimes the best family love is the love that says, "Sweetie, we love you, and with that love we are sending you to a country where you have the best opportunity thrive.

Banned

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Thu May 08, 2008 11:13 pm

I absolutely agree with your sentiment of concern for Larissa, Banned. I so very deeply respect and admire your concern for others!

At the same time my friends will not violate the sanctity of any loving family. Nor would they violate the sanctity of any sovereign nation or its social customs. And so it would seem that kindred spirits travel together in both friendship and values. For that is exactly the way that I feel as well!

With a great sense of guilt I felt compelled to test my own friends today. I explicitly asked them if they would be willing to fly out next week to adopt Larissa if that was somehow required of them. I simply had to be sure, for the sake of both Larissa and her family. You see, my obligation to any vulnerable three-year-old child lying in a far-away hospital bed is even greater than my obligation to my friends of twenty-five years. I was relieved to hear that my friends were serious enough to fly out next week if that was required. As it turns out the offer for adoption is very real.

In the meantime let's lighten up and enjoy whatever levity, pictures, and great news our friends from Brazil may have to offer us. They are guaranteed to do what's best for Larissa, whether my friends are selected to play a role or not. Those are genuinely kind souls down there looking after Larissa. And that is good enough for me...

But I do hope Larissa can attend a family cookout at our house this summer, if that's what her family, social advocates, and doctors agree is in her best interest!
.

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Fri May 09, 2008 1:04 am

sleepycarol wrote: This is off topic but shows how compassionate most people are. We have a little girl (approximately 9 years old) that needs an operation to help restore her sight. Since the operation is experimental it is not covered by insurance. Our rural community raised $50,000 for her operation.

That is exciting news, sleepycarol! Is there a surgery date scheduled yet?

We'll certainly keep our fingers crossed that the experimental surgery restores your little girl's sight!!!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri May 09, 2008 4:18 am

I wonder how Larissa is doing after a night or two on her new machine. Claudia? Brazilian? Can you let us know?

O.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Fri May 09, 2008 6:14 am

SWS

The community has been told that it should happen in the early part of July. The family was hoping earlier in the summer but the doctors are extremely busy. In the meantime, the are updating Savhanna's records with new CT scans, etc.

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Fri May 09, 2008 7:44 am

sleepycarol wrote:SWS
The community has been told that it should happen in the early part of July.

We'll be waiting and watching, Carol. Hopefully you'll report back to us with great news following the surgery in July. Good luck!!!

ozij wrote: I wonder how Larissa is doing after a night or two on her new machine...

The original topic is back on track thanks to ozij!

At this point the subject of my friends and their kind adoption offer must take a permanent absence from this thread IMHO. Brazilian and others know how to reach me if they decide to make contact with this family. From this point on, that offer can be discussed completely behind the scenes---if anything does manage to come of that offer.

I hope to sit back and passively watch any news about the BiPAP autoSV or Larissa that our friends in Brazil wish to convey! Indeed, I hope that Larissa takes well to her new BiPAP autoSV. However, the hospital staff might still be in "training mode" with that complex machine (before having a chance to try it with Larissa).

Hopefully the learning curve and setup of that machine does not seem too strange. If so I would think Respironics tech support would be one very good option. Then we also have some great professionals and even knowledgeable patients on this site willing to help...

ozij wrote: ...Claudia? Brazilian? Can you let us know?

And with that I hope to return the main (and most important) flow of information in this thread back to Claudia, Brazilian, Gallo, Dra. Silvana and all the other good people helping Larissa in Brazil!

Obrigado!

brazilian · Post by **brazilian** » Fri May 09, 2008 9:46 am

Bom dia, caros amigos!

I am in an incredible hurry, my work is behind schedule, due to an unplanned trip to Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, that is why I have not posted yet.

Gallo should be sending me some photos tonight, then I will post them immediately.

Dra. Silvana had to undergo a serious surgery yesterday, and is away from the process from now on. We expect she recovers well, Claudia will visit her tonight and bring us news of her.

Claudia is arranging a meeting with Dr. Pedro, now in charge of Larissa, and the hospital psychologist. We have to discuss two topics: the effective beginning of Larissa's treatment with the BiPAP (I have just finished studying the Provider's Manual), and the adoption offer.

I would kindly ask we put the adoption subject on halt by now, and concentrate on the beginning of Larissa's treatment with her BiPAP.

I understand we are all excited and anxious for news, but things do not move as fast as we wish, and each one of us have its domestic and professional issues do deal with, so I ask you a little patience, and assure you all I will keep you informed of every step.

Obrigado a todos!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri May 09, 2008 10:26 am

Thanks Brazilian.
I promise to wait patiently for future info. And, curious as I am to see the pictures, they can wait too.

I hope Dr, Silvana will heal quickly!
O.

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Little Larissa - please read

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