Little Larissa - please read

Hi everybody,
I´m Larissa´s doctor, Silvana Simão. I couldn´t read all the posts, but i noted that you all look with attention,concerns and passion this little girl case. And now she will be able to go home and live with her parents and family. I mean,some time ago, who could imagine this? Thanks to you folks(not just NELSON,BANNED,CLAUDIA- angels sent to Larissa- but all of you at the forum sleepycarol, dsm, padacheek, sws and others ), Larissa will now live an almost normal life at least.
Its with great commotion that in name of the medical team i would like to thanks for this lesson of love.

God bless you all for what you did and are doing for this girl.
Dra. Silvana Teotonio Simão CTI/CGP

PS.: I will post some photos of Larissa in action with vent machine soon,if possible.

DraSSimao wrote: Its with great commotion that in name of the medical team i would like to thanks for this lesson of love.

Olá, Dra. Silvana Teotonio Simão!

I think a little lesson in love and humanity has just spread around the world, thanks to Larissa. And what a delight for all of us to feel that excitement in our hearts!

Welcome to this message board, our compassionate friends and healers from Brazil! Welcome, indeed!!!

Dra. Simão, we all send our best wishes to little Larissa -- and to you and your staff for what you are doing to help her get better.

We will look forward to seeing more pictures of her! Someday perhaps she'll know what a celebrity she has become in the world of "cpap users."

Olá Banned!
Gostaria de informar a todos que a pequena LARISSA esta muito bem.Ela foi extubada na quinta feira no final da tarde.Ontem passei algumas horas com ela,cantamos e conversamos muito.Tirei alguma fotos mas não sei como enviar vou pedir ao meu amigo GALLO.NELSON(Brazillian) já está no Brasil.Vou mante-lo informado de tudo ok.
Um beijo azul na ponta do nariz.
Que DEUS abençoe a todos.
CLÁUDIA TOLEDO DRA CACAU

hi, angel friends all around the world...
posting this while i await for my flight to BH....

1. no problems with customs... !!!! huuuuuge queue, then no inspection at all.....

2. you may notice that I have edited all previous text pictures where Larissa's full name was shown, to protect her privacy (thanks for the sensible advice, ozij!)

3. Dra. Silvana told me that Larissa has had an episode of pneumonia this week, but one medicine she took did a miracle - the news of her own BiPAP...! (besides the constant visits and care of Dra. Cacau). You can read Claudia's report on that, thanks to ozij.

4. Just FYI, these are common power sockets in Brazil:
-

But I fully agree with Banned regarding the H/H, paper clips, other children and so on...

5. Yesterday's pictures, sent by Dra Cacau Clown:

It is truly amazing what can happen when our group pulls together!!

Although we are, for the most part, a group of strangers we have become a very close knit community. We are compassionate, caring, and willing to go that extra mile to help others. You see it time and again on the forum and it is amazing.

Thanks for those lovely pictures, Brazilian. And now we know why the kisses are blue!

If Larissa's nose is sporting a bandaid because of her mask, then padacheeks paddings - or Mack's silicone putty ear plugs may hopefully help that too.

If big plastic boxes with coverrs can be found in Brazil, maybe the machine can be put in a box like that every morning.

Once Larissa comes home, I suggest her siblings are all introduced to the machine, shown how it works, given explanations, and if possible even a chance to touch things. Once their curiousity is satisfied under adult supervison they will be less likely to test it unsupervised. Of course, medical considerations (concern about infection?) should come first.
O.

Considering the gravity of Larissa's situation, I don't think we have to worry too much about her siblings tampering with her equiptment. In Latin countries the culture is very traditional, the children respect their elders and family is of the utmost importance.

Her family will be so overjoyed about this equiptment and the fact that the child can come home that it will be made very clear no one is to touch the equiptment except adults and the children will respect that, I believe, even down to the smallest child.

I form this opinion based on my experience living with two Costa Rican families for extended periods in the mid 90's. And I have had Brazilian friends here in the states and got the same impression regarding the importance of family from them.

I thought I would mention this in case anyone was seriously worrying about this. I have seen sick children in Central America and they are treated like Royalty by a very large extended family. This adoration of children, which I believe is prevalent thoughout Latin America, is the reason Larissa is still in the hospital despite its expense. No one would even consider sending her home without the proper equiptment despite the expense of the hospital stay. I was not shocked to hear of this at all. Hospital staff may not have had the means to get the proper equipt to send home with her, but they do have the means to provide care.

The state of family in the parts of Latin America that I experienced, is very much to be admired and envied compared to the way families fragment here in the US and children are raised by strangers instead of their own mothers. Our way (here in the US) is not always the best way. Money can't buy family values.

I hope that reassures you all. I believe Larissa is in very good hands. With ourselves as support and Brazilian as our interpreter, her family will take the reins and Larissa will do very well at home.

Jen

ozij wrote: Once Larissa comes home, I suggest her siblings are all introduced to the machine, shown how it works, given explanations, and if possible even a chance to touch things. Once their curiousity is satisfied under adult supervison they will be less likely to test it unsupervised. Of course, medical considerations (concern about infection?) should come first.
O.

I should mention to our friends in Brazil that ozij is one of our forum's PhD's in psychology. Dr. ozij probably has a pretty good understanding of curiosity in children.

Hmmm... no wonder she understands many of us so well! I have to go play with my CPAP machine now...

LOVELY PICTURES!

Dra Cacau - Silvana,

The photos are beautiful, what a sweet child! And in a very caring environment! Tell Larissa I have the same sore on the bridge of my nose (from switching masks) so she has lots of company with that little ouch!

Brazilian,

That must have been one whirl-wind, long and tiring trip! I'm sure you thinking in class, 'Let this be over and let me go home!" I doubt you have had much rest in the last 2 weeks. It's great customs let you walk-on-by!

socknister,

Thank you for your re-assuring words on Latin family culture, family members with medical needs, and the patient care system. Famiy culture, family members with medical needs, and the patient care system in the USA should take a lesson from our friends in Brazil!

Banned

Hello friends.

My friend Nelson (Brazillian) arrive in Belo Horizonte city. We had a really good talk by cellphone. Tomorrow I have a metting with my friend and Claudia to makes an arrangement about Larissa visit.

I think to create a short movie and put on (upload) YOUTUBE.

The great day is coming soon.

God bless every angels. God bless Larissa!

Regards.

Gallo (Mineiro)

Hello all, I have not been on here in a week, due to a severe attack of bronchitis. I am just in awe of how special this thread is! Many thanks to all of the loving and generous people here, with special attention to Brazillian, Banned and DSM, SWS and Ozij.

I had not had the opportunity to read all 8 pages until now, am in tears, tears of joy and happiness that little Larissa has gotten what she needs from all the generous and loving people on this forum.

This is the most incredible story, and filled with love. Isnt it amazing what love can do.

I may not be able to help very much, but I will indeed offer a monetary gift to help out. Again, I want to offer my love and support for this little girl. I too am standing in this big long line of people who care....... Thank you Brazillian and DRA Cacau Clown for the beautiful photos.....

Many thanks for the delightful pictures. Such a pleasure to see.

One thing that does stand out in this thread is how caring we all are about the vulnerable & young ones among us. That caring really is universal and a delightful human trait.

Banned has really impressed me with his reaction to Larissa's plight and it has been wonderful to be part of what Brazilian and subsequently Banned, kicked off.

DSM

Amigos,agora que acabei de ler as oito páginas e foi muita emoção para um só coração.Obrigada por todo carinho.Hoje estive com LARISSA no período da manhã fui levar fraldas descartaveis para ela e contei para ela que seu aparelho acabava de chegar ao BRASIL de avião . Ela deu uma longa risada ,seus olhos eram puro brilho uma alegria que não da para descrever.Larissa é um anjo bom e muito iluminada um grande exemplo de garra de vontade de viver.Todos aqui aprenderam com a LARISSA o verdadeiro significado da palavra AMOR.
Obrigada!Um beijo azul na ponta do nariz com todo a meu amor.
CLÁUDIA TOLEDO-DRA CACAU