My little friend, Adrianna, turned fifteen this past year; part of a year spent in Seattle Children's Hospital. At thirteen she was a healthy, normal teenager. Then she was diagnosed with systemic scleroderma and quickly dwindled down to less than eighty pounds, was confined to a wheelchair, and fed through a tube in her stomach. After chemo and other treatments failing, her family packed up and left the Los Angeles area for Seattle.
For a year, Adrianna has been confined to her hospital bed. She received two bone marrow transplants and now has Graves Host Disease, meaning her body recognized the transplant as a foreign body. She has had enough and is ready to 'dance with Jesus'. This is the letter she presented Friday to her team of Doctors when she refused to have her stomach shut off for good.
I am so proud of my little friend and for the way she has taken control of her life. As soon as they get her diabetics under control (another new diagnosis), Adiranna will be joyfully heading home with her mother and joining her step dad and two young sisters.
I am pleading for prayers for Adrianna and her mother Scarlett. Both have accepted the Lord since Adrianna's first diagnosis and are trusting in God daily for their strength. Pray they remain strong as they move forward in this journey. My heart breaks as much for Scarlett as it does for her daughter and I pray for comfort and peace over her, that the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard her heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Will you join me and lift them before our Heavenly Father?
On Your Heart Tuesday linky is now open. Please link back to this blog to help grow this community and take a moment to read a post or two. May God shower each of you with blessings.
Part two of this story is here.
When Enough Is Enough
Going Home
The First Week of Hospice
The Family
Dancing With Jesus
What a strong little girl!!! She is a true inspiration. Such an awesome list. I'm praying for her and her family.
ReplyDeleteoh. just oh.
ReplyDeleteWhat a strong voice God has given her! Joining you in prayer!
ReplyDeleteWow -- what strength emanating from this beautiful girl. I will pray.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing young woman this is, and knowing so much for her age, so sad that she has HAD to know so much in this way. I will pray for her.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you for sharing this! I have prayed for her & I will continue.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! Those are some really powerful words. I will pray.
ReplyDeletePraying with you for this precious girl and her mom.
ReplyDeletePraying now.
ReplyDeleteSo thankful that they know the Lord! Lifting up a prayer for her...
ReplyDeleteBless her brave heart. I pray life for her!
ReplyDeletePraying for Adrianna and her mom. Added their names to my prayer list. Patsy from
ReplyDeleteHeARTworks
What a brave young woman. Not only is she deciding to live well and trust God, but she is also standing up for what she believes when the medical community's instincts may well be to continue to fight the disease while running the risk of forgetting the person.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing young lady, she will be in my prayers x
ReplyDeletePraying for this amazing girl right now!
ReplyDeleteYes yes will pray. What an amazing young lady she is!
ReplyDeleteWOW -- so powerful to read her words. Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious young lady!! Thank you for introducing us to her! Praying!!
ReplyDeletePraying with you.
ReplyDeleteDear Shanda, Thank you for sharing this inspirational story. Praise God that Adrianna and Scarlett have come to know Christ! I'm praying for them both.
ReplyDeleteLove in Him,
Laurie
Love that letter. Her inner strength speaks volumes. Praying.
ReplyDeleteWhat a strong young woman! Very inspiring! Just prayed for her, her mom, and the medical team.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Laura
Oh. My. Goodness. The courage of this young woman astounds me! May the Lord show her and her family great mercy. Her letter has blessed me.
ReplyDeletewhat a brave young lady...only someone who knows God's love could see as she sees...lifting her right now in prayer...
ReplyDeleteBlessings~
It brings tears to my eyes to read all the tragedy this beautiful girl has been through. She is an inspiration to us all, and I join with everyone here, sending all my love and praying hard for both Adrianna and Scarlett. Thank you so much for visiting me at Erika's Wordless Wednesday, and alerting me to this very brave young lady's story x
ReplyDeleteWhat a fighter. As a mother it breaks my heart to see a child suffer. Please praying for her and her family. Please keep us posted on your blog.
ReplyDeleteWhat a strong girl! She will be in my prayers!
ReplyDeleteThis just breaks my heart! However, I want to respect her wishes - I won't be sad for her, I want to be glad that she is brave and courageous. Glad that she and her sweet mama have trusted Jesus as their Savior. I will be praying for them. Will also lift them up tonight at our midweek prayer meeting.
ReplyDeleteWow!! What a touching post. And I'm almost 100% positive that remarkable list echoes the thoughts of similar patients. What a brave young lady!!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! There is so much to learn from this young girl just in what I read here. Amazing. I will be praying for her!
ReplyDeleteJust came across this now....how is Adrianna doing? I hope she got what she wanted.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful, strong young lady! Prayers going up for Adrianna & Scarlett (and family).
ReplyDeleteI will definitely join you in prayer Shanda, thanks so much for sharing Adrianna's story and wishes with us. x
ReplyDelete"I am still in this to FIGHT, but during the fight, I need some LIFE." Praying for this lovely young lady and all who love her. Adrianna has become who her Heavenly Father created her to be on this earth.
ReplyDeletethat letter from such a beautiful heart,
ReplyDeleteso full of aliveness,
tugs at my heart so deeply
and urges me standing up on the inside
for LIFE.....what a gorgeous way
of seeing
and saying it!!!
Inspired I am
and I thank you,
Jennifer
she has a strong heart! praise God that she's a saved soul :) thank you for sharing this
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ReplyDeleteWhen I was diagnosed 4 yrs back they wanted to do the whole stem cell transplant. But I turned it down for several reasons. I have had great results using an antibiotic treatment. Look up Dr. Franko of the Arthritis Center of Riverside in California if you are interested. In the 4 yrs I have had sclero I've been though the whole hospital stays and wheelchair thing. I will be 27 this year and life is goin really well. Keep up the positive attitude! My thoughts are with you and your family. Ever Need to talk, feel free.
ReplyDelete