Jesus loves the little children of the world!

I wanted to give you an update on Alana Feliciano since a sweet reader wanted to know! I thought I'd give you a little update myself, and then copy/paste for you the most recent update her mom had left on their website. First, Alana's small bowel transplant took place a couple of months ago. There were many details involved and it can only be summed up to say, God's hand was in every bit of it. There were many struggles along the way as Hope (Alana's mom) would mention on their site, but God has surely sustained them and continues to do so. Alana was in the New York hospital with Hope for about 2 months. They are now allowed to be back home in Connecticut, however, she is still closely monitored via weekly hospital visits both in Connecticut and New York for any type of rejection and other lab work as she is on 20 different medications that can affect various parts of her little body. I know they would still covet your prayers for her complete healing! Here is the latest update from Alana's mom (yes the adoption went through without any problems and Alana is officially there's!)

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From Hope regarding Alana:
This past Thursday I met with two representatives from PSA HealthCare, which is a pediatric private duty nursing program. The women were very informative about the company and what to expect. I had many questions for them. My questions were all answered to my satisfaction. The company is asking the insurance company for 56 hours per week. I'm not sure if we will get the hours or if we will need them all. As a family we are discussing what times would be best and most beneficial to Alana and the family. I am starting to get excited about getting some help. Her care is tremendous and tiresome. After meeting with the two women on Thursday and getting to see a little how our family functions, they believe they have to perfect nurse for Alana. I hope they are right. I have been praying that the Lord send the right person to our home. Hopefully all the details will be ironed out in the next week. Please pray that all works out well. Alana has been doing pretty well. She still continues to cry a lot. Not sure what the issue is. Hopefully there is nothing wrong with her blood work. Any little decline in her labs can affect her in an adverse way. I do look forward to Mondays because she gets her blood work and I can see if she is doing ok. I get a little apprehensive between Monday and the next Monday. When she was in the hospital she had labs done everyday. So, we also knew right away if something was not right. This is the one thing I have had a struggle with, not knowing how she is doing inside her body and having to wait a week for the answer. Patience and trust has been the lesson for me. God knows what work needs to be done in me.

You can follow Alana's updates at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/alana_kay

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Today is the second of a few more appointments Ethan will have to have to mark his ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY since his cord blood transplant last August. I'm still have moments of shock that it's been almost a year since we were admitted into Boston Childrens Hospital for what would be 7 weeks of Ethan's transplant round of treatment. I'm sure I'll reflect more on that in a few weeks once we hit the actual anniversary date, but back to what I was saying.... Every year around Ethan's transplant anniversary, he will have to have several things checked to make sure no long term damage has occurred from the intense radiation treatments and chemotherapy he endured prior to the cord blood transplant. So he's already been to the dentist to check his teeth and bone structure, and all was well. Today he goes to have an echo done on his heart to ensure all is well there, and I'm confident it is! And in the next week or two he'll have an eye exam to check for cataracts or glaucoma (which are possible long term side effects). And he has his routine monthly blood work again on August 4th, up in Boston. We're already in prayer that those platelets are UP in number this time as opposed to last time. But really, all in all, from what we can tell on a day to day basis, ETHAN IS DOING GREAT! He's a 1 1/2 year old that DOESN'T SLOW DOWN! I'm telling you, I can barely keep up with his energy levels throughout the day! Wait, that's a lie. My energy level is no match for his! He's walking, babbling, understanding us, plays hard, eating better, loves to climb, loves music, gets into trouble, throws tantrums when he doesn't get his way, rules the roost, and still has a laugh and smile to melt your heart! So you see, he's your typical toddler!

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Who just so happens to be a cancer-surviving miracle....

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Ethan is precious.

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God is Amazing.

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And we're ever so thankful!

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Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world.

Red and yellow, black and white,

They are precious in His sight!

Jesus loves the little children of the world!