[Mom2BabyNatalie]

Hi everyone!

First off, thanks for the information about The Mosby Foundation... did you guys read his story?? I bawled for an hour.....

I did contact "Mr. Grouch" <<grin>> but not to ask for financial assistance.... I feel like with everyone's help, we are doing pretty well with raising funds for Emma's care and treatment..... so I don't want to take away from another family with a little furbutt who may not be as lucky as we have been with support for Emma.

But I did ask that they might befriend Emma and share her story via a link on their website for a little more exposure to Emma's plight, inadvertantly assisting us with her financial needs in that manner.

I'll let you know if I hear anything back....

There has been a press release go out re: Emma's story.... I can't post it here since it does mention the "D-word" with links, but it seems to have raised even more awareness of Emma's plight!

I even had a contact regarding someone doing a children's book about baby Emma!! (a fun thought, but don't put much into that - it wasn't a "validated inquiry", just a brief mention...)

Emma is doing very well with having started on "real" food..... the 8 french tube is WAY too big for her and I'm not able to pass it.... the food mixure is too much for the tiny 5 fr tube we're currently using.... so I've cut the 8 fr tube down so that I can insert it into the mouth, wayyyy to the back - bypassing the cleft and drizzling the a/d mixture in drop by drop down her throat.

It's working alright... she's a little wiggle worm, so it makes placement of the tube in a manner that will not induce the gag reflex, leading to choking - a bit tough.... but, she's getting it - and the extra caloric / nutritional intake should be providing a marked improvement in her overall condition.

I'm still seeing some issues with that lil' eye.... but today it seems a tiny bit less irritated. I'm continuing with the ophthalmic ointment... Doc Ellen bumped the dosage up to 4 to 5 times daily.... as well, we've added a once daily dose of atropine for pain.

Since I am always with Emma, I don't always notice the many changes that occur in our girl on an almost daily basis..... so every time I create a new video of her - and go back over her images and less recent videos.... I am SO AMAZED!!

She has come SO FAR from that delicate little pup I brought home.... helpless and struggling..... growing into a spirited, independent young girl!!

I've said it a hundred times... and will continue to believe..... that our Lord has been with Emma from the moment she was born - - - - I am grateful to all of you who acknowledge my efforts here - and I too, give thanks for all of YOUR efforts!!!

Again and again I say - it's Emma and God who are doing the work!! I feel blessed and honored to know them BOTH!!!

God lives in us... works and heals through us............

Someone posted this on Emma's thread in another forum.... it certainly tells of truth!!!

Have a beautiful day everyone!!! Thank you for helping to MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley


One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…”
I made a difference for that one.”