Hi, I'm Sarah

noreply@blogger.com (for Sarah...) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 16:35:00 +0000

Check out my story...

I am 15 years old and I live in Avondale, Arizona. I was a freshman at West View high school, living with my parents, doing what teenagers do, until May 10, 2007...

Thursday, May 10
Sarah, who has always been healthy, collapsed at school three times. Margaret and her husband Larry took Sarah to Banner Estrella. She was then sent by ambulance to Phoenix Children's Hospital with a diagnosis of restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Saturday, May 12
In the evening Sarah's heart started failing. Her heart rate was so slow the doctors had to restart her heart using paddles. After an agonizing 30 minutes or so, the doctors gave the thumbs up to let us know she made it through. During that time, those of us at the hospital stood in agreement before the Lord and prayed for her to be okay, and then praised God when she made it through.

Tuesday, May 15
Today at 4am Margaret called her best friend and could barely speak, "pray Rhonda pray, she's paralyzed, she can't say mom, she can't speak or move." Sarah had a stroke. She could not move the entire left side of her body. They took her away and Margaret was hysterical.

We prayed together for Jesus to heal her. I frantically ran through the house crying, searching for my things so Doug and I could begin our drive back to the hospital. Ten minutes into our drive my phone rang, it was Margaret, and as she cried and laughed, this is what she said "Rhonda He did it, Jesus healed her, He healed my baby. She's ok, she can say mom, she's smiling. God brought her out of it."

An MRI showed Sarah's heart was stirring up the blood and was unable to pump it out, forming blood clots, one of the blood clots went to the brain and caused her stroke. There was a procedure that Sarah was supposed to have at 7am that morning. The doctors told Margaret, after Sarah's stroke, that for the procedure they would have given her blood thinners - had they done this more of the blood clots would have been released. The result could have been major damage or even death.

Praise God, we so often don't understand why things happen. I am thankful I love and trust a God who knows all things, a God that always does what is best for me. Margaret is in awe of God's presence and all He is doing for and through Sarah.

Thursday, May 18
Sarah had surgery to place a defibulator/pacemaker into her chest.

Monday, May 21
Sarah's condition got worse, she was transported by air to Tucson's University Medical Center.

Tuesday, May 22
Sarah went in for a twenty minute test. Two hours later Margaret let everyone know the doctors said that "Sarah is now critical, the Cardiac Team is getting numbers for an artificial heart". We were told that Sarah was in grave danger, all of her organs were shutting down, her heart was not working. Sarah was rushed into surgery to place a ventricular assist device (VAD). The doctors gave Sarah a one in four chance to make it out of this surgery alive.

We were told this surgery, depending on how extensive, would last from 3 - 6 hours. After 8 1/2 agonizing hours Larry and Margaret were told things were not good, the doctor needed to speak to them downstairs. When Margaret walked down that hallway towards me, my heart cried out to God for her. I have never seen such sadness in all my life. They took us into a small family room and while we waited for the doctor the bible was read to give us all some peace.

When the doctor came in his words were heartbreaking. He said that two pumps were put in instead of one. Surgery began at 2:00, the pumps were done at 5:30 and the rest of the time, over four hours, was spent trying to stop the bleeding. This is one of the longest surgeries they have done - thank you God that they did not give up. He said all of Sarah's organs were shut down and her lungs had filled with blood and were now very hard. She was on full capacity with the ventilator. He said she is going down hill and almost at the bottom. He said it's not good at all. He said it's dark, very dark. He said they have done all they can for her, that sometimes we just don't catch these things in time. He said they would clean Sarah up and that everyone could come and see her once they started her dialysis. The doctor did not have one positive thing to say, not one encouraging word, no hope was given. After he spoke this doctor was told we believe Jesus will heal Sarah. He said good.

Everything this doctor said was confirmed by two other doctors that were also in the surgery. There was a beautiful moment when Larry told Margaret we have to have hope, faith. That's all Margaret needed to hear from her husband. From then on Margaret kept saying I believe, I believe Jesus will heal her. She went in to see her and prayed over her. She said Rhonda I prayed boldly and proclaimed the healing power of Jesus. Not long after that Larry and Margaret came out all smiles. Sarah was doing well.

All through the night, Nan (what Sarah calls her grandma Nolte), stood on the promises of scripture. She did not sleep, she vowed to be the night watchman and petition God for Sarah's healing.

Wednesday, May 23
Early the next morning, Nan was downstairs at the hospital, she received a call that Sarah was responsive, her kidneys were working and she wanted her Nan. By the end of the day Sarah was taken off dialysis, her kidneys were working on their own!

Thursday, May 24
Sarah was taken off the breathing machine and is talking.

Sarah's prognosis, in just 48 hours went from "grave" to being "literally pulled back from deaths doors" (quotes from Sarah's doctor on this miraculous healing).

We stood & are still standing on the promises of God.

Saturday, May 31
Sarah is listed as the #1 patient on the heart transplant for the West Coast.

Saturday, June 2
Sarah is up and walking

Thursday, July 5
Doctors have been waiting for the perfect heart... today is the day, the family has been told the heart is beautiful. The surgery went perfectly - there was nothing but praise from all of the staff.

Friday, July 6
Through tears Sarah's mom Margaret gives an update, Sarah has had a stroke, she is not moving the left side of her body

Saturday, July 7
Margaret could barely speak as she told her best friend that doctors think Sarah had another stroke or a seizure. She said Sarah reached out and grabbed her shirt, she arched her back into the air and stopped breathing. They took Sarah away again. After a CT scan, doctors determined it was not a seizure or a stroke - a blod clot had broken loose into her lungs. Sarah went in for surgery to put a filter in her lower body to keep the clots from going to her brain.

Sunday, July 8
Sarah is doing well but still can not move her left side. She gave a wave and the peace sign.

Tuesday, July 10
Sarah has not eaten since July 4th! This is a huge concern for Margaret and Larry. A nurse has tried unsuccessfully several times to get a feeding tube in. Margaret met a doctor at UMC that once told her if there is anything he can do for her to let him know. Margaret grabbed his hand and reminded him of that. She said today please feed my daughter. He told her today she will be fed. He is on it. They took Sarah down to insert the feeding tube. At 1:15 Sarah was being fed.

July 11th Sarah is still not able to speak. She is still paralyzed on her left side. She is unable to pass her swallow test to have the feeding tube removed. She must pass this to be able to eat on her own. Sarah has lost a total of 17 pounds since July 4th.

July 12th Sarah's progress once again amazes everyone. Sarah says "ah" and counts 1,2,3. Later on this day Sarah stands with help and turns her body to the left.

July 14th Sarah is speaking more, she says thank you and I love you.

July 17th They have found more antibodies in Sarah. Her body is trying to reject her new heart. The doctors had to put her port back in. Sarah will begin a treatment called plasma pheresis. This will take the antibodies out of her blood. This treatment leaves Sarah in a lot of pain, as it also takes the pain medication out of her body.
Sarah semi passed her swallow test. She can now have pureed foods.

July 18th 7:20AM. Sarah is taken in for surgery to have a heart biopsy.

July 18th 11:00AM. Results of brain MRI reveal no right side damage from stroke. Left side damage the same. Doctors say Sarah will talk and laugh again. Blood clot on brain that caused stroke is gone..

July 19th Sarah is losing blood they had to give her 2 units. Doctors are not sure where the bleeding is coming from.

July 20th Results of heart biopsy show rejection in Sarah's heart. Doctor's start high doses of medication and continue Plasma Pheresis.

July 26th All test canceled Sarah has developed a fever due to an infection somewhere.

July 27th Fever went down just after the pic line and vaz cath were removed.

July 28th Dr. Nolan performed a genetic test that shows Sarah has a condition called thrombosis - an increased tendency to form blood clots - which can lead to stroke.

July 31st Sarah laughs out loud for the first time. She takes steps with help. Larry and Margaret receive a visit from The Center for Disease Control. They determined the infection Sarah had was introduced into her body. YIKES!!!

August 1st Test confirm Sarah's bleeding has stopped. Still not sure where it was coming from but it is now gone.. Thank you Lord.

August 2nd Sarah passes her swallow test. Her feeding tube is removed. She ate her very first soft taco since July 5. Sarah's doctors are amazed at her progress considering everything she has been through. They tell her she will soon be able to move from ICU to the step down unit. Sarah must go there before she can be moved out of the hospital to a rehabilitation unit for intense therapy.

August 6th Sarah is moved to the step down unit... No more ICU.. Mom and dad say they are half way home. Sarah continues to make great progress. The left side that was once completely paralyzed continues to get better and better.

August 8th Sarah is able to walk again. Her trainer Rob has her up and on the treadmill with his help. She is literally a WALKING miracle.

August 14th A day long waited for. Sarah is released from the hospital. She is now at Health South - a rehabilitation center in Tucson.

August 26th Sarah is doing so well she is released from Health South, on an outpatient basis.

Sarah's progress has amazed everyone. She still continues to struggle but knows with God all things are possible.

The family has been informed that Sarah's medical insurance will no longer cover all that it has up until now. They will now have to pay out of pocket for some of the expenses including the apartment in Tucson. Sarah at this time needs more rehabilitation... Never fear God is near.. He always provides.

Let us look back over the last 4 months and praise God for His mighty hand upon this family. Let each of us not ever forget the miracles He has done in and through Sarah. Let us praise Him no matter what this life brings our way. May each of us know and love Him in a way that is pleasing to Him...

Thank you for reading the beginning of my story!
Click here to check out my blog and get caught up.

Pray4Sarah - Created & Updated by Sarah's Friends

Hi, I'm Sarah