Madison's Story

Update

Madi is out of the hospital ahead of schedule; yeah!!! lots of appts. and xrays today and Monday and they MAY let us leave for home (and lots of rest) on Tuesday.
She slept til 10 am. a personal record, today. (me, too!!)
They put us in the apt. bldg. next to R mcD house because she cannot do stairs and there is an elevator there, very sweet of them since these apts are in very high demand.
You can call us at 412-362-3400 ext. 46. If we are at the hospital for an appt. just leave a voicemail to make us smile:)
Miss friends and family VERY much. She just sobbed last night that she wanted to go home and sleep in her own bed:(
Still on strong meds for pain and still smiling that big, lovely smile. She is quite the popular gal on 10N. Some poor boy around 12 had a similar surgery and SCREAMED when they made him move or walk. Madi would go by his door and his Father would say "see that little ? she had a bigger surgery than you on the same day and she is walking all over the place. You are a wuss." I tried to explain that all people handle pain differently, but he wasn't too interested in listening!
If you have cards, I would say send them to 205 Colorado Ave., Watertown at this point...otherwise they will probably come on Tuesday and trust me, we will be packed and outa here if we get the go ahead.
Grampa has been truly wonderful...he has had to move ALL of madi's stuff three times on his own now and is quite the talented taxi driver!
Special thanks to Dawn for all the help with Izzy this week. She really did not want to leave Pittsburgh and Madi (and maybe, me).
I hear my Senior company is practicing and keeping the studio going strong. Love you guys beyond words...you are such a wonderful gift to me:)
PJ and Carrie, hug Taylor BIG and tell her that Auntie Rhonda will be around to spoil her very, very soon!!
Phil, your post on the veptr site made me cry...thank you.
Madi's webkinz name is Calla97...thanks to those of you who sent her yours. Perhaps tonight she will feel up to going online...I am not certain, tho. Sitting is still questionable.
Again, thanks for the love and prayers and well wishes. We miss you all so very much...we are blessed to have so many people who care for Madi!
-Rhonda

posted by Rhonda Foote @ 8:29 AM 1 comments

Update

Hi all...Madi's surgery is tomorrow around 11 am. It has been a VERY long week. Genetics on Monday went about three hours. I cannot put into words the pain of having your daughter stand stark in a room of three doctors who start at the top of her head and proceed to her pinky toes listing everything different or 'wrong" with your child.
Painful beyond words...especially watching her face as she listened intently and took in every word they said. My heart is still breaking.
They are 99 percent certain that my instincts re: Conradi Humerman were correct, so we will go from there.
Dr. Deeney thinks her skin is still too tender to do the full rib insert we had hoped for. Instead, he will do a rib to rib/two if possible, on the right and an expansion on the left. This is still much more detailed and involved than any of her surgeries in recent history.
We have been knitting, scrapbooking and tonight visited her favorite Pittsburgh restaurant for a Valentine's Dinner...all in between massive appointments and tests.
As usual, Madi is still finding a way to smile and keep the rest of us going. She is certainly nervous and prone to tears, but overall is as amazingly upbeat as always.
I am one lucky Mama!
-Rhonda

posted by Rhonda Foote @ 4:56 PM 5 comments

Flyaway by Madi

Flyaway

by Madi Draper (age 9)



Flyaway, fly into the sky

like the most beautiful, most beautiful bird in the world.

Fly into the sky to the heaven's above

Fly, Fly, Fly, Fly

Up to the sky

Fly up above the world and soar up to the sun.

Take to the moon and you'll be one

so

Fly, Fly, Flyaway and ride on a shooting star

You'll have so much fun

You won't even know you're gone.

Gone to this world.

Fly, Fly, Flyaway.



Surgery is 2/15...

I think perhaps this is Madi's way of telling us...something.

Thank God she has...God.

-R

posted by Rhonda Foote @ 6:23 AM 1 comments