Hannah's Gotcha Video

Here is a link to Hannah's gotcha video. It's only taken me 2 year... better late than never!

Click HERE.

ALL things

We adopted Hannah in the spring of 2013. Hannah was born with an anorectal malformation that was repaired in China after several attempts. She was also born with a number of kidney defects that resulted in several operations in China. Each operation left Hannah with a complication and an infection, fighting for her life. She lived as an orphan in China for 3.5 years, and spent over half of that time in the hospital. Children born with anorectal malformations have complicated anatomies, and often need a collaborative approach to care. As you can imagine, most children born with this condition in China do not have access to the quality of medical care needed. These children are often very sick, and have a poor chance at having a high quality of life as they grow older.   

Hannah came to us with a colostomy that needed to be reversed and a non-functioning left kidney. We were prepared for these things, and had the right doctors lined up to care for these issues. The first few months home were a whirlwind of appointments with specialists. We learned that Hannah had a number of urological issues, and was living with only half of a functioning kidney. Her bladder was deteriorating, and her kidney was on borrowed time. I had so much to learn and at so many points in this journey, I felt completely overwhelmed and alone. I had no idea what her future would hold, or the quality of life she would have as she grew older. Not to mention all of the reconstructive surgeries she would have to endure to stabilize her body, and the long term care that would be needed to keep her healthy. We went through some pretty dark days in the beginning, and we shed many tears together. She had been through so much in China, and the road was going to be just as hard here. She had suffered greatly, and at such a young age. There was so much unknown that it was easy to be swallowed in fear. But, there was always this truth that I clung to…     

And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Big things.

Small things.

Happy things.

Sad things.

Scary things.

Exciting things.

Uncertain things.

ALL things.

What made this journey especially hard was that there was no one to talk to about it. It was so hard to go into detail with people that could never comprehend the anatomy of a child born with an anorectal malformation. As God always does, He led me to a group of women who are now “my people.” People who have walked this same medical path and can look me in the eye and say, “I get it, I know exactly how you feel and I am here for you.” We gathered for a medical conference the first weekend in June to learn from each other, and the world renowned surgeons who care for our children.

I walked away from this conference with an overwhelming feeling of hope and empowerment. Not one ounce of my daughter’s journey has been wasted. God is using her story, and the story of others just like her, to educate and provide courage and hope to people in the thick of it. I stand in awe of a God that can provide that type of redemption and grace.  

Our children’s stories started out so desperate.

Abandoned.

Fighting for life.

Multiple operations.

Post op infections.

Kidney disease.

Colons that don’t work exactly as they should.

Urological issues.

Complicated anatomies.

Poor medical treatment.

As parents, we have adopted these beautiful children, who are fearfully and wonderfully made, and we have often felt weak, alone, and frightened of the future. The pain and suffering these children have gone through with their bodies has brought us to our knees in tears. Many times we are left feeling hopeless and afraid. But God is using this for good.

With these beautiful children in our care, the road is still hard.

We travel to seek out the best specialists.

We learn about new medical procedures that are not heard of by most practicing physicians.

We sit through appointment after appointment, praying for good news, but often getting difficult news.

We go through multiple operations, with months of recovery.

We have to weigh the pros and cons of every medication.

When our kids spike a fever, or become unusually tired… we have to question the true cause.

When one thing is going well, something else will go wrong.

We worry.

But God is using this for good.

Jesus tells us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 
2 Corinthians 12:9

And I believe that he is also whispering these truths to us...

You know that orphan who was found abandoned, dying in a hotel bathroom? I am going to use her to bring hope. I'm using this for good. 

You know that orphan who was born with a sick kidney, and nearly died from infection and insufficient medical treatment? Well, I saved her, and I am going to use her to bring hope. I'm using this for good. 

You know that orphan who was born with a colorectal issue? One day I am going to provide the best medical treatment possible, and I am going to use him to bring hope. I'm using this for good.

You know that orphan who was so complicated, Chinese doctors wanted to give up? Well, I provided a way for her to live, and I am going to use her to bring hope. I'm using this for good.

These are the stories that we heard over and over again. We all came from such long, hard roads, yet here we sat together, providing hope for the future through the power of our testimonies. God has not wasted any of our hurt OR their hurt, and He is using it for so much good. 

Our children survived as sick orphans in China. Our children found the perfect doctor, at the perfect time, to bring healing to their bodies. Our children survived 12 hour reconstructive surgeries, went through months of recovery, and now run, jump, and play like every other child. Our children go to daycare, preschool, and elementary school. Our children swim, dance, play sports, zip line, ski, and rock climb. 

Our children grew up to attend middle school, high school, college, and medical school, living ordinary lives. Our children are providing encouragement for younger children still in the middle of it all. Our children are advocating for orphans in China with the same condition. Our children are connecting parents from all over the country so we can learn from each other. Our children inspired us to reach out to an organization in China to create a healing home for orphans with this medical condition. Our children helped to name this healing home. Our children are uniting together to make a difference for those living with this complex medical need. Our children inspired the top surgeons specializing in this condition to go to China to teach and train other surgeons. Our children are thriving. Thank you, Lord, for bringing so much goodness into our lives through these fearfully made children. Beauty from ashes, indeed. 

We stand in awe of how God can use ALL things to work for the good of those who love him.

HE who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"

Revelation 21:5