Ella’s China Blog

An Excellent Day!

August 6th, 2009

It has been such a good day here with Ella.  I sit here typing this positively amazed at what she has accomplished today.  Her strength is amazing!  She was in her stroller this morning and she started to slide down and she was able to pull herself back up into the position she wanted.  This has never happened before!  She kept pushing down with both feet against the foot of the stroller and sitting herself up really tall and straight.  I yelled for the other kids to look so that I had someone to back me up on this:)  They were so excited.  She is just holding herself up so much more than before AND she is doing so good with her therapy!  The little smartie participates fully after only a couple of reps with her arm and leg excercises and she giggles and smiles the whole time.  She takes my hand and moves my hand in the direction she is to go, it is so cool.  I believe she is finally getting back on Iowa time.  She slept longer last night and is just now napping at 2pm so am hoping she will take a shorter nap today and be ready for dinner time with the family and more of a normal bedtime tonight but today has been much better schedule wise.  Another note…..the silly faces just keep coming especially at meal time!  It really is hilarious and some of the new laughing is just hysterical!  I tell her to open wide and she bugs her eyes out and bobs her head forward and opens her mouth huge and then laughs.  What a character!  She is also using her right hand all of the time even to reach out and grab toys, etc…it is much more relaxed.

I wanted to take some space on this update to thank some very special people………..

To everyone at Beike for all of your hardwork and research.  You give families like ours hope.  Thank you for providing Ella with these amazing stem cells and also thank you for answering all of our questions prior to our decision to come to China and also for all of the help with travel plans,etc…We cannot possibly say thank you enough!

To the doctors, nurses, translators, therapists and other staff at Chengyang People’s Hospital in Qingdao.  You were super!  Thank you for taking such good care of Ella during her treatment.  The nurses went above and beyond to make sure Ella was comfortable.  You were so kind and your care will never be forgotten.  Thank you for helping Don and explaining everything so clearly to him.  Also,  thank you for the transportation to and from the airport and the help in tracking down Ella and Don’s care package:)

To our new beloved stem cell family.  I cannot express to you enough how much your support and care meant to me during Ella and Don’s time in Qingdao.  Even though I have not personally met any of you I feel so close to each one of you through Don’s stories, “meeting” you via Skype and now by emailing back and forth.  No one clearly understands what a personal journey this is to China unless they have gone through it themselves.  We now have this amazing circle of friends who know what it means each day to have a child with special needs or a loved one trying to overcome some type of struggle.  We can now lean on each other even after this journey to China has come to an end and know that we will always be friends.  We wish all of you wonderful results and continued blessings.  I am counting on the stem cell reunion…….and please know that you always have a place in Iowa now to come to:)

To the wonderful people of China.  I can’t count the amount of times that Don shared with me a wonderful, touching story of someone coming up to him commenting on how beautiful Ella is.  You were so kind and sweet.  You saw our beautiful little girl, not a disability.  You treated her with compassion and respect.  I love my country, don’t get me wrong however everyday here people only see a child struggling with a disability not just a beautiful, loving child.  If I could change one thing among our society it would be for people to be kinder to those with special needs, they are human and have feelings just like you and I.  Sometimes just a smile means the world. Also, don’t forget….just because someone cannot communicate fully with words does not mean that they don’t understand.  Nothing frustrates me more than Ella being ignored even among those who see her often because she does understand everything and if people don’t communicate with her she will never know their voices or be comfortable with them.  She is a smart little cookie, please remember.

To my sweet little Ella.  Thank you for being such a good girl for Daddy and for being so brave and strong throughout your journey to China.  I am so very proud of you and you are my light.  My world changed the day you were placed in my arms, you have taught me so much and opened my world to so much more than I ever thought possible.  I am a stronger person because of you and I will move mountains to give you everything possible so you may have a full and wonderful life.  You stay strong and we are going to work hard to help those stem cells grow!

To my amazing husband Don.  I won’t get too mushy:) Thank you for going on this amazing journey half way around the world with our daughter all in the name of stem cells.  You are the best father and husband and you amaze me everyday by your strong character and sincere kindness to others.  I know you helped other families in China by being such a good listener and giving advice when needed, I am proud of you.  You are the best!

Please keep checking this blog for more updates on Ella’s progress!

God Bless,

Tanya

P.S.  A big oops for omitting a name earlier…..to Katie Corkern thank you thank you thank you!  You held my hand all the way from Louisiana to Iowa throughout the planning of this trip.  I could not have done it without you!  I wish you and Connor and the rest of your family all the best.  You have a friend for life in Iowa!

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