:big_hug: ...my long lost twin...:D Sammi, you have opened your soul and shared a very personal story with all of us. You are such a special person and I'm proud to be your friend.

Chachi...I am so sorry for your loss. Losing a child has to be difficult and is something I would never ever want to experience.

Along with Sammi and Chachi, and I'm sure many others, Emma's story has tugged at my heartstrings. My granddaughter, Ainsley, has multiple birth defects and has been through many surgeries in her 1 1/2 years and faces many more in the future. Some may question her quality of life...NOT ME...she always has a big smile for grandma and I can't imagine my life without her.

:hug:

:ittysm: ! !

Thank you, you are a dear!

Do you have any glasses with that view...uh...rose colored? I really want and need some. :D

Hugs.

My blessings...for your strength and courage. May Emma have the chance to prove that she is worth it. For pity sake she's a puppy, she needs help...and Dena has offered to do it. I don't really know too many people that would put their entire lives on hold to care 24/7 for a defenseless, innocent living creature. Emma will pull through this...she will get the medical attention she needs...because she already has the love of a very special person...and others, like you that do care so very deeply. My hat is off to you...for being the person you are...a compassionate, caring, comfortable in your own skin human being. Now let's pull together, pray together and work together...I offer my support...because I care.

Sammi...thank you so much for sharing your story. It really touched me...I'm sure it touches everyone who reads it, whether they respond to the thread or not. :love: :rose: I love that picture of your daughter - I think she's beautiful!

I was born with a cleft palate - not lip, just palate. I had an incredible surgeon who is still my dentist today and even though I don't remember what he did for me, I am so grateful for him and I love him. I, also, had to have many surgeries on my ears, though those are over with finally (knock on wood), and I have very poor - almost no - sense of smell. I have a very slight speech impediment (on my r's), it used to be horrendous though - I was in speech from before I could even talk. But it could be so much worse and I'm so thankful for my dentist/surgeon (and my parents' patience) and that everything turned out well for me.

So again, thank you so much for sharing your story.

I truly pray that Emma gets the help she needs and she will be able to live a normal, spoiled life. :)

Sammi I am just seeing this now. That was such an touching post and it was unbelievably sweet of you to share that part of yourself with us. You might not view yourself as a saint but you are obviously a very strong and loving woman and were even before you were a woman chronologically . Your daughter is absolutely beautiful. She has a light in her eyes that just seems so full of love and joy.

She is gorgeous!!

Wow Sammi, you made that verse so real: we can do anything with God who strength us:hug:

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I just cant even imagine what you have gone through and you are such a good mother and I honestly just do not know what to say but your story touched me. I just want to give you a big hug :hug:

I couldn't have said this better:thumbup::thumbup:....

I know that was a hard hard post for you Sammi and I'm proud of you. You went thru so much at such a young age and I love how you stood up for your baby. ROCK ON WOMAN ! You're my hero

It took me until today to read this thread. I knew it would open some of my own personal wounds, but I finally did it. :) Sammi, you are an inspiration to a lot of us. I cried reading your story, but I'm so glad I did. Thank you for sharing something so personal. God Bless you and your daughter.

I have not posted to this in a while because I have been so busy with Emma's site. I think I am done for a few days, and it has come along well. It begins here: Emma

Meagan:

My heart was completely yours while I was reading your post. So you have deep, personal knowledge of how difficult it was for my daughter. This birth defect is not an uncommon thing even though lots of folks aren't aware of that. I suspect my daughter's was caused by Darvon. I had really bad headaches from childhood and I was taking the Darvon when I didn' know I was pregnant. Just a suspicion of mine, though.

I am so thankful that you have had such a good surgeon and dentist to help you with all of this. It makes a very big difference, doesn't it? Hugs to you, girl! Lots of 'em.

Nikki+2:

I think your heart is very like mine, girl. Just full to overflowing with compassion. I see you. :p It shows more than you may know in most all of your posts.

Grannyb:

That sweet baby is so blessed to be loved by so many peole. He has a lot to go through, but when you have someone who loves you taking the journey with you it is so much better. God bless him! Give him hugs and kisses from me. And God bless you!! He will give you just what you need exactly when you need it to help this little person along.

Villette:

Thank you so much! I hate to tell you this, but my hero days are over. :( I got to looking the other day and that big ol' W(onderwoman) that used to be on my chest has faded away and I have nothing left but age spots now. :D I am seriously looking for my rocking chair these days and the one requirement for that chair is that it fit at my computer desk. :D

Hey! You know I love ya, girl!!

Sookie:

I don't know what your personal wounds are but I do know this....all of us humans have had and will have many more times, our own personal crosses to bear. Some can be so heavy we feel that we must surely collapse. I know I have felt that way more than once. But He always gave me the strength to go on.

I am sorry I made you cry. I know how hard it is 'diggin up bones'...I resisted writing this post for a couple of days but I was so affected by little Emma's plight that I felt compelled. I will admit I was sorry as soon as I hit that submit button. But you know...it really hasn't been all that bad. You all are so wonderful and kind, it makes me feel sorta glad in my heart. So thank you!

wemple2:

Thank you so much! I have certainly become so aware of compassionate hearts by all of this. I am thankful. May He richly bless you for having such a caring heart.

Shanatink:

Thanks for the hug! I love hugs. Now bring the baby to me because I really love baby hugs the best! I absolutely adore babies. They give love so unconditionally! She is certainly a beauty. I have to smile every time I get a glimpse of her. :)

Panama69:

Thank you girl! you are so right you know! I am a walking testament to His love. I am thankful that His mercy is new every morning.

MyPeanutAbbyGra:

:hug: Thank you ever so much! Here's one for you: :hug:

MissPinkBarbie:

Thank you for your kind words. I truly do appreciate them. :)

__________________________________________________ _______

I surely hope I didn't miss anyone. You guys are the absolute best!!

Hugs to you all.

Sammi

What a beautiful story of the love you have for your daughter.:cry8: You have touched my heart with your words and emotions like never before. You are an inspiration to many with your story of unconditional love for your beautiful daughter.

I somehow missed whatever drama has been going on with poor baby Emma. :rolleyes: All I can say is Dena is doing a wonderful job with little Emma.

It is a very sad world that we live in when people feel the need to be hateful and cruel to the ones that are trying to make a small place in their world a better place.

Thank you for sharing your heart touching story. :hug:

Thank you. She is the only child I have had so she has my heart, that's for sure. And those grand kids of mine, too. Thank you for your kindness to me.

It's a good thing to have missed all of that drama on Emma's thread. I was the first one to post to the original and so was there from the beginning. It was rather like being on a roller coaster :( and I hate roller coasters!

Emma is a little doll. I am so glad she was rescued. It takes someone of fortitude to take on such a large task. Poor Dena is so exhausted! I believe there is a reason why she is the one that has that baby. I admire her for her strength and courage and the heart that she has for that wee one. Baby Emma is in the best of hands.

Blessings to you!

Sammi

Well I am speechless.. first off admiration is all I can say about you... making such a personal thread to help a puppy... your daughter is really blessed..

I saw this thread and read your post.. I could not figure out the why's, I was not only sitting here with a huge beating heart for you, but felt you like I knew you for a long time. As I am reading all the posts.. I am slowly figuring out what was going on.. and I am sorry but I must go and find this thread if it is still around.. I cannot imagine anyone putting dena down for trying to save a puppy.. although I know that to many.. there is no person at the ends of there posts.. they are just going to cyberspace somewhere.. and for this I have to say is really sad...sad that people do not think of themselves as human, caring, or still vulnerable in their lives to maybe yet go through such trials and tribulations as you have gone through.. or dena for trying to save a puppy called emma..

I am so glad I found this thread.. have seen people be so human as everyone is being that have posted.. and that there has been no negative here.. It saddens me..

I have gracie and although gracie did not have huge issues.. she was born tiny and was not strong enough to suckle.. so at midnight I was given a refresher on how to tube feed.. I was so nervous and so scared for her.. I did it.. should I say we did it. my hubby and I tube fed her together for two weeks.. yes it as only two weeks but we were about exhausted.. from lack of sleep or stress of losing her.. maybe both.. but she survived.. and I can still hear my husband when he was first to the bedroom she was in.. he was so happy for she was suckling on her own..Dena will become attached as we did with Gracie and no one would have been good enough to have this baby.. she is now two and has to be cuddled in our arms like a baby when she is tired.. she has a whine that only comes out of her mouth at this time of need..
I need to find more of what has been happening on emma..
I have been away a lot this summer.. we have been doing major work.. so I was lost on this..

again thanks.. your special..... anne

Just seeing her picture - tell that beautiful girl I WANT HER HAIR !:D

Sammiz, I knew just from your posts that you were one of a kind. You were very brave posting and baring your heart and soul. I trully commend you on not just what you went thru with your daughter and what you are doing for Emma but for the compassionate person you are. I think all of us should always be careful what we say and how we act to others, because we dont know what their hearts have endured. Theres alot of good in this world and alot of love. When I was a young girl I babysat a little boy with a cleft lip and palate, I know what heartache the family went thru and how strong it made that lil guy. Hats off to you and tell your daughter she is one beautiful young lady.

Eeeeekkk! I can't tell her anything about this. She would kill me!! Ssshhhhhhhh.

That girl does have some nice hair, though. Thanks!!

ok now i am at work crying my eyes out and ppl are looking at me!!
Thank you so much for sharing!

My dear friend Sammi... I'm sooo sorry I didn't see this heart wrenching story back in August... I can't talk right now. :cry: I'll get myself together and PM you. Bless your heart. Denise