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nicole marie
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I will be praying very hard tonight!
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God Bless!
Wife to DH and Mommy to one DD  (07/28/06) and one DS  (11/26/08)!
Little Things
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joann10
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Praying....
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JennGM
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This is just heart wrenching. I'm praying!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Chari
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Praying hard!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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mariB
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Praying...
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marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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esperanza
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Praying for Natasha and her family.
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In His Peace,
Tammy Gonzalez in VA
dh-Johnny
mom to Tara-'85, Noelle-'88, Jeremy-'91, Elizabeth-'93, Emma-'96, Dominic-'99, Gabriel-'01, Elijah-03
and Jacinta-06
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Wendy
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Continued prayers for Natasha and her family.
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God bless,
Wendy
Wife to Chris
Momma to Grace, Sam, Ben, Maggie, Mary Cate, and Jamie
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jdostalik
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I just saw this and am storming heaven--is there any update on baby Natasha?
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God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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Lara Sauer
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My husband recieved this email from the family this morning. We are united in prayers with all of your for this beautiful and very inspirational family.
Dear Family and Friends;
The doctors were able to bring the CO2 levels down considerably and she made it through the night.
Your prayers are guiding the doctors and nurses every step of the way in navigating uncharted waters with Natasha.
So many people have written to us saying that they are praying constantly for our little angel. We are indeed blessed beyond measure to have family and friends and so many new friends who have not met us but who are praying with much more ardor than we every could muster.
God Bless
Zita and Colin, Aaron, Andrew, Marc, Katrina and Natasha
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You can take the girl out of Wisconsin, but you can't take the Wisconsin out of the girl!
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Eleanor
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It turns out that our Katie was in surgery at the same time as Natasha. We're very glad to hear that she's made it through so far, and we're still including her in all our prayers.
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Mackfam
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Just seeing all of this!
Praying for Natasha, and also for your Katie as well Eleanor.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Philothea
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Still praying for Natasha and Katie.
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KackyK
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This is an email I received from another prayer group of mine. This is a lovely lovely letter from Natasha's mother, Zita. It is kind of long but you'll find her to be incredibly faith-filled and loving and peace-filled. It's worth the read...
Dear Family and Friends;
Just wanted to share a few thoughts I had been jotting down about our beautiful gift of life - Natasha. I had started to write them during the weekend before Natasha's surgery - Columbus Day which happens to be the Thanksgiving weekend in Canada where I was raised.
Love
Zita
Dear Family and Friends,
Thank you so very much for all your prayers, love and tears throughout this time. Colin and I are truly blessed to be going through this whole process with such a wonderful family of faith. To all our many caring family members, friends and so many new friends we have come to know through all the emails and at the hospital and the Ronald McDonald home and to all those we may never meet now, but one day in Heaven, who have been with us in prayer for Natasha and us throughout the world - our deepest thanks!
I felt so strongly to share with you some my feelings and blessings that I have felt during these last couple of days. I started to jot a few of these on paper when Natasha's surgery began on Monday.
On Thursday night, prior to the surger, I called my oldest sister to let her know the date of Natasha's surgery and to ask her to pray for Natasha and us. Her family was about to start the Rosary ( a prayer said that recall's the life of Christ through the eyes of Mary) . She told me they were saying it and recalling all they had to be grateful for. She also reminded me that this weekend was Thanksgiving weekend in Canada --- since I was also raised in Canada it was also personally significant for me. Well, I went into the weekend thinking all the things I am so thankful to God for.
I am so grateful for the privilege of being Natasha's mom. It is the best gift God has given me. In order to fully understand this I have to backtrack and share with you what she meant when Colin and I found out that I was expecting our fifth baby. We were so thrilled. We were planning for another baby and were so excited to find out that it was another little girl. The boys were overjoyed to find out that they were getting another sibling. Katrina was so happy to have a baby sister.
The pregnancy was so easy, I was feeling more beautiful than I had ever felt in previous pregnancies, it was a time of anticipation and joy. My mother was so wonderful to come two weeks early to be with me during the delivery. What a blessing ! In the final days of pregnancy, my family and friends were calling to see if the day had arrived. At daily mass each day my friends were waiting for the day I wouldn't be present, knowing it would be the day the baby would be born and they could see this beautiful pink bundle of joy.
The day arrived on Aug. 29, 2007. A beautiful baby girl was born. She was named Natasha Marie deSa -- 6lbs and 11ozs. She was one of our biggest babies, only older sister Katrina was bigger. The delivery was hard but my gift from God had arrived. We spent our first night uneventfully, just Mommy and baby bonding and feeding time. Time together that you take for granted. Then the news of Natasha's condition started to unfold...... I wasn't able to take my baby Natasha home, the boys and Katrina were disappointed not see their baby sister (since she was taken to another hospital the day after her birth). Colin and I left the hospital without our baby in my arms, we home without our Natasha. It was a hard and painful reality. The tears were pouring out. Something I always took for granted in the past four arrivals of my children. But God is so good.... Natasha didn't come to our home but she came home to the hearts of many all around the world.
I had four perfectly healthy babies but it has taken an " imperfect' baby, in the eyes of the world, to make me realize what I really have to be grateful for.
Natasha 's eyes may not have clear sight, yet she has opened my eyes to see the outpouring of love from family and friends. The gift of family is priceless. My family and Colin's family have been so loving and supportive. Every step of the way their sacrifice and care has strengthened us, comforted us and has given a peace that is hard to put into words. Each one of them has dropped everything to care for our needs. No sacrifice is too big. Natasha has brought us even closer. I will be forever grateful.
So many family members from India, Canada, US and all over the world have been with us each step in prayer. How can we thank you enough? Then, there is the family in Faith - that is most of you, who have offered up all your prayers, words of encouragement, tokens of love that have nourished our bodies and souls. God has shown us the power of the communion of saints (all the prayers of the faithful in heaven, earth and in purgatory) in a profound way. It is so powerful to be witnessing this true reality in the midst of such a trial. Natasha's condition has given us the eyes to see the supernatural realities around us every day.
Each time Natasha breathes it is so difficult and so precious. It makes me realize more than ever that each breath is a gift from God. He sustains us. Our entire existence is totally depended on him. How humbling!!
Natasha's broken heart makes me so aware of how it is not broken at all but is torn between two loves --- Heaven and earth. Her whole purpose on earth is to win more souls for God and for her own soul to go Heaven. It is her only purpose for living --- not for material wealth, for pleasure, for comfort or for herself. What a wonderful purpose. A couple of hours after the first surgery, I was so optimistic that it went well, but then Natasha took a turn for the worst, the cardiologist came up to me ( I was by myself) and told me that Natasha was not going to make it through the night. It took the wind of me and I broke down and cried. Thanks God for putting a very comforting nun from the Sisters of St. Joseph (no coincidence there) right there by my side to comfort me and to allow me to pour my heart . I told her that I wasn't crying because Natasha would be taken from me (even though it would be very, very hard) because I know that she has accomplished God's purpose for her – to win souls for Him and reconcile so many who have drifted away from him. She has accomplished more in her forty days life then I have in a lifetime. Thank God that He did not take away then, her mission may not be quite done yet. We pray it is the mission of a lifetime.
She has made it a privilege and honor to be her Mother. She is my most precious gift. She has made me realize all that I have to be thankful for - so much that I could not express in words or to another soul. I couldn't care less if My Natasha is not made perfect….. she has taught me how to love, how to be grateful, how to love the most important things in live --- family and Faith. How could these tears not be tears of joy, love and faith. How can I express that these are not tears of pain but True Love. God is so good. He is molding me. I am the clay and He is the Potter. Sure the thinning out in different parts hurts but he is creating a more beautiful heart in me.
One of the most important person that I am thankful for is my wonderful husband, Colin. Colin's love for Natasha is so amazing. He has done everything humanly and spiritually possible to get Natasha to this point. He has never trusted in himself to do this impossible task, every step has been done with deep faith and trust in God. His example and faithfulness has been a source of strength to me and others. A father's love is truly powerful…. I am so blessed to have a husband and father who has the courage to love , his child and God.
Colin said to me : "Zita, if I was given the opportunity to have a perfect baby or Natasha, I would choose Natasha…..I love her so much. I would do anything humanly possible for her. Twenty years ago I came to the US with nothing, and I would be prepared to go back to having nothing if it would help her".
This has truly been a weekend of Thanksgiving and God's continues to pour out His gifts of Faith, Hope and Love to me though Natasha and all of you.
For that I will forever thankful,
Zita
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KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
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nissag
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I have no words... Thank you so much for posting this letter.
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Nissa
Deacon's wife, mother of eleven, farmer, teacher, creator, cook.
At Home With the Gadbois Family
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Philothea
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Continuing to pray for Natasha.
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Chari
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Lovely faithfilled words from Zita........thank you for sharing.
Any news about Natasha?
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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cathhomeschool
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Texas Bluebonnets
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It is a beautiful letter! I cried as I read.
I would love news too.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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KackyK
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| Posted: Oct 29 2007 at 8:48pm | IP Logged
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Hi all...
This is the latest update I received from my prayer email loop, it came this evening...
From Colin DeSa:
Dear Family and Friends;
Natasha's doctors tried taking her off the ventilator this evening but she got upset again. They don't think it is caused by her heart or lungs but because she needs to gain weight and build endurance. It is still a little less than 3 weeks since she had major surgery and her fever also weakened her. So they have decided not to try to take off the ventilator for the next one to two weeks to allow her to rest and gain weight. She is on very low ventilator support settings and is doing most of the work herself, so they are a little puzzled as to why she got upset but decided it was a matter of building up strength and endurance.
Monday is an important day for Natasha. The cardiologists will be talking to the opthamologist to determine the next step for her eyes. Please pray hard that the meeting goes well. The cardiology team sees no risk in doing the cornea transplants, but it is opthamologys' call as to whether to do them or not, so please pray that they agree to do so.
We were able to spend time as a family today. The sun came out in the afternoon after several days of rain and we had a picnic lunch and a lot of fun at a park a few miles away The fall colors were spectacular. The kids enjoyed themselves and were happy to spend time with both of us, its been a long time since we were able to enjoy the outdoors together. Things we took for granted before.
Thanks so much for your extra prayers and concern these last couple of days. We'll let you know when they decide to try to take the ventilator off again. Please remember her especially on Monday.
God Bless
Zita and Colin, Aaron, Andrew, Marc, Katrina and Natasha
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KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
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esperanza
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More prayers for little Natasha, her doctors and her family.
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In His Peace,
Tammy Gonzalez in VA
dh-Johnny
mom to Tara-'85, Noelle-'88, Jeremy-'91, Elizabeth-'93, Emma-'96, Dominic-'99, Gabriel-'01, Elijah-03
and Jacinta-06
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KackyK
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| Posted: Nov 05 2007 at 7:54pm | IP Logged
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Another update about Natasha...St. Lucy pray for her!
The cornea specialist/chair of Opthamology finally arrived today at 6:15 pm. He examined Natasha's eyes and basically told us what we already knew - that she would need a transplant and the reasons why. He however cannot do it until the following week because he has to get a procedure done on his knee on Tuesday. He will let us know more about scheduling Natasha in for surgery by Wednesday. He would rather do the eyes separately, it would be a one hour surgery and she would not have to be on a ventilator. He felt that doing the other eye two weeks later would not compromise her vision. The reasoning behind doing the eyes separately is to decrease the chances of infection and lost of vision if the transplant is not successful.
The procedure is commonly done, but very rarely done on infants. This specialist does about 6-7 a year on infants.
We stressed to the doctor that we want to give Natasha every chance of vision and hoped that delaying the cornea transplants does not compromise her sight due to the time factor. He tried to reassure us that would not be the case.
We are so grateful that this cornea specialist is taking her case especially since other opthamoligists would probably have denied Natasha a chance.
We ask all the saints in heaven and the holy souls to intercede for us, since this month is dedicated to them. We ask their intercession to help the doctor make the best decision for Natasha and give her perfect vision in both eyes soon.
Thanks for all the Masses, prayers, sacrifices and concern. Our prayers are being answered.
Love
Colin, Zita, Aaron, Andrew, Marc, Katrina and Natasha
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4Real Forums : We Pray to the Lord
Topic: Urgent prayers for Natasha - Final Update
