48 hours to go

Lilly's latest hospital room. It's not too great, but the staff seems knowledgable.

She loves to fling herself back from a sitting position. We do this alot!! It's her favorite game!

Trying to catch a smile- Daddy missed it. She has alredy learned to say "uh-oh" when she throws her toys down- which is often! She also says mama and dada.

Daddy got the smile just lost some of her head! She's such a happy, active baby, and she is sick. I can't wait to get to know her when she is healthy! I can only imagine how much fun she will be!

This has been a most difficult journey that God has called us to. Never did we imagine that Lilly would be so sick. God knew though, and we believe that is why He worked it out for us to come on May 11. Only God knows if Lilly would have even been alive on May 21 which is when we would have gotten her had we not traveled until May 18. At best, she would have been much sicker had she stayed in the orphanage for an additional week.

I spoke with Dr. MAcpherson this AM. Again she said Lilly's special need, VSD, did not cause this. Her lungs are what are so sick and of course that puts much added stress on her heart causing it to enlarge. Dr. Mac said once her lungs are well, the enlarged heart condition is reversible. She said they watch kids with VSD for years until the kids outgrow it. Another Echo was done yesterday. The equipment looked very "American" and the technician was an instructor because she had a roomful of students. The echo only showed VSD, enlarged left side of the heart, and slight increase in pulmonary pressure. This was such a relief because we were afraid that either she did have another defect that we had not been told about by the orphanage or that she had suffered permanent heart damage as a result of this long illness. Respiratory illnesses are rampant in CHina due to the poor air quality, etc. In one hospital room there were 3 kids and they had pneumonia too.

Despite our suffering, we know that God has been with us each step. It is only by His presence and His grace that we have survived thus far. Let me share some of our praises to our God:

1. God sent us to Lilly when she needed us most and in time to hopefully save her life.
2. That I am a nurse and was able to pick up on the fact that she did need medical attention.
3. That we were given the wisdom to find a new hospital last Fri. because the first one was awful

4. For Mei Sun and the doctor "professor" who were so kind and helpful to us at the hospital in the last city, Changsha. This woman was an angel of God and I shall never forget her. They were the first to treat her heart issues. And for Kathy who just happened to be in the same city where we got Lilly. That is amazing to me. China is so big and yet He put Lilly and us in that city!!! God knew ahead of time that we would go through this and He put us in that city so Kathy could be an invaluable source of info. and support to us.
5. That Lilly was stable enough to travel by plane to this new city.

6. That we found a decent hospital here and that we brought enough money to pay for all of this. You pay before you are treated.

7. That Lilly's heart is stable now. They have taken her off of oxygen and the monitor machine.

8. That we have the Barbees who have cared for Shelby and KAtie.

9. That we have an ICU nurse in our group who will also be with us on the plane ride home.

10. That the latest Echo showed nothing alarming. The only other Echo was done at the awful hospital back when she was 10 months old.

11. That we have so many wonderful friends, family members, and complete strangers praying for Lilly and for us.

12. That Lord willing we all will be home in less than 48 hours.

13. For Shelby and Katie who have been so understanding and patient during this extremely difficult time.

14 That Lilly did pass the exam to receive a visa to enter the US. We will receive that tomorrow.

The doctors do not feel that the pneumonia is responding to the Rocephin so today they will be starting a new antibiotic. Pray that this will help begin the road to healing in her lungs. Dr. Mac. is thinking of any medicines we may need for her on the very long plane ride home. Please pray that the doctors here will be understanding and allow us to purchase these meds. Please pray that Lilly would continue to improve and that the plane ride would not set her back too far.

Dr. Mac is contacting Dr. Ozzy Shuler who is Lilly's cardiologist. When we land, we will be heading to Richland Memorial to be admitted there. Although it won't be home, it will be such a relief to be in America.

Thank you again for lifting up this precious child and our family. We love and miss you and thank God for all of you. Thanks for the comments. They have helped us so much.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, The Bryants