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March 21, 2009 Mikayla attended her grandma's 45th class reunion to meet the wonderful support group called "SOUTH DADE HIGH SCHOOL REBELS" who
took her into their hearts during her journey to getting a new heart. They really enjoyed meeting her in person this weekend.
The DJ, Tim, sang to her and she had her picture taken quite a bit.
March 2009 ~~ NO NEWS is GREAT NEWS! ~~
Mikayla is thriving!! Life is as normal as
it can be at the Trantham Home! Mikayla has been healthy. She has been participating in everything! - Spirit Week
at school - "Cowgirl Mikayla" She loves to take Bubble baths in Grandma & Papa's Bathtub!
January 30, 2009
We really enjoyed the holidays with
our little angel being home. She got a little bout of pneumonia during the break, spent 4
days in the hospital as a caution measure, missed two weeks of school, but is doing really good now. They cut her anti rejection
medicine down to only once a day ( which is good ). She still takes some twice a day. She and her little sister spent the
night with us this weekend-for fun. Everything is really great, she hopes to meet some of you at the Madison reunion on Saturday
around noon in March. I don't email much, because everything seems so normal, consider it good news if there is nothing.
We are going to try to keep the web site for a year. Love to all who are still keeping her in your prayers. We really appreciate
it. She visited the hospital during Christmas, and got to see some of the doctors and nurses. She visited with
a friend who is still in there. It was good for them to see her up and running around and laughing. The staff in PICU is awesome
and need to see the results of all their work and worry turn out wonderful. Her scars are beginning to get lighter and have
healed well . love to all, grandma carol
December 24, 2008 Christmas Eve ~ Mikayla joined the big girls as they entertained the family
in their annual Christmas Chorus. What a Joy...What a Blessing!
December
2, 2008 Mikayla started school on Dec 2, (officially)
at Bell Elementary, she is in Ms Dawn's kindergarten class. She loves it. Today, Dec 3, she rode the bus for the first
time. She fell asleep on the way home, you can see the look on her face that it was a very long day for her. She went to computer lab today, and loves the playground with the other kids. Her check up on Monday went well,
she asked the doctor if she could take a bubble bath now, YES. Mikayla met with another girl
that was in the hospital at the same time, her good friend Jori was there from Georgia for
her checkup as well. She also had lunch with one of her favorite nurses, Erin on Monday after the checkup. Well thats all
for now, looking forward to a nice Christmas with the family. Many Blessings this year for
us. Hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas.
Happy Thanksgiving We have MUCH to be thankful for! Mikayla spent her Thanksgiving at her Grandma & Papa's house with many family members. She is doing
well, feeling good and looking forward to (officially) starting school Tuesday December 2nd.
Mikayla really enjoyed trick-or-treating this year. Can you guess
who she was? Ariel, of course. She is doing very well and loving school, 3 days a week, still home
schooling with a teacher visiting the house. She went for a checkup on Thursday and everything looks great says the
doctor. We have much to be thankful this Thanksgiving. Thanks to all of you who keep tuned for updates. People
are just wonderful to care so much, our family really appreciates it. We are looking forward to meeting all of you someday,
if not, know that we are very thankful for all the prayers and thoughts.
October 17, 2008 **NO REJECTION** That was the result
of her test on tuesday. After all the Lord has done for her, we were completely confident that this would be the result
- but the doctors needed to confirm!! While she was there at Shands, Mikayla was able to go and visit her friends in
the PICU.
Mikayla is adapting to being back home very well. She was busy
playing and trying to squeeze in over 7 months of not being able to run around and play into the first day home. Mommy had
to make her take it a little easier. Dave and I babysat for her and Patricia on Saturday, her brothers had a football game,
and she could not go just yet. Dave made BBQ ribs for her (her favorite)and she and Patricia baked a heart cake with sprinkles
to celebrate her new heart.
Mikayla is doing really good and enjoying being home. Mommy still
has to make a trip twice a week to see the doctor and get blood work done. In about two weeks she goes in for her rejection
test on her heart. But I know there will be NO Problems. This weekend she helped me and her cousin Kelsey celebrate our birthdays.
She really enjoyed playing with them and eating ice cream. She could not go in the pool but had fun throwing diving toys in
to the other kids. We are so thankful to have her home. God surely has blessed us with her.
**Mikayla is Home** She was all smiles and so was the family when she came
home today. Her brothers and sisters decorated for her homecoming. She climbed the steps to the porch and wanted to see her
room. This is the first time in 7 1/2 months since she has seen her home. Thank God and the wonderful people at shands for
taking good care of her, and the many, many, many people who have prayed for her and been there for her. We can't thank
you all enought. There just aren't words to describe the great feeling inside we have. Love to all, and God Bless, She
is just a great MIRACLE from GOD! LOVE, grandma Carol
Tuesday September 16, 2008 *~*~*~* Mikayla's coming home Today *~*~*~* 7&1/2 months in the hospital ~ 11 Days after her
heart transplant, she is finally going home!! WOW!! As
Mikayla aunt, I know just how amazing this child is and what an incredible journey it has been to this point. God has
an awesome plan for her life. God also knew as He was choosing her mom and dad, that they would need to be extraordinary
parents to endure this journey. And they are! LOVE has kept this family (nearly) sane. Mike and Tammy -
You guys Rock! Huge Hats Off to Dave &
Carol, they truly understand why God gives you children while you're still young!! lol You guys Rock too! Wendy, Mikey, Tyler & Patricia - You're Going
Home too!! You all have been so caring and understanding while you're sister has been in the hospital. I pray
that life gets back to (somewhat) normal.
Monday September
15, 2008 Mikayla is doing so well, she
walked 28 laps around PICU yesterday. One
mile is 13 laps, so she walked over 2 miles. Fantastic!!! The PICU
nurses
and staff are all happy for Mikayla. The word around PICU is she
may be coming home this week. Saturday, nurse
Stephanie and her fiance
bought Mikayla a 6oz steak from a local steak house, and she ate every
bite! Things are
really looking good, our family is so excited. Our
little Mikayla is a real trooper, I don't think I could be as
good a
patient as she is. We will let you know when she gets home. LOVE to all
our friends, family and wonderful
people who care.
Friday September 12, 2008 Mikayla is doing great! She walked 11 laps around the PICU floor
yesterday. She is
eating good and in a really good mood. She is getting
ready to come home. Mommy says she probably won't be able
to attend
public school for a while, probably January. She will be considered home
bound for studying. I guess
it is till she gets stronger, with her
taking the anti rejection medication, she is more apt to catch colds etc
with all the other kids ( I am no doctor, so that is just a guess). We
will be so happy to have her home again.
Wednesday Sept, 10. 2008 Today ~~ Mikayla removed the pic line in her ankle - Yes, I said Mikayla! She
removed the tape, put the cotton in place and pulled it right out, then applied pressure, until it stopped bleeding!
HHhhmmm?? Maybe she'll grow up to be a nurse! Tuesday
Sept 9, 2008 She has all the tubes
and lines out! Only pic lines left. She is up
walking today, eating and feeling very good. A nurse cleaned up all her
bandages, bathed, and combed her hair, and said you look like a new
woman. Mikayla told her, " I feel like
a new woman." how cute is that.
Sunday September 7, 2008 (12:00pm) Mikayla is doing good, with the usual problems related to major surgery. They are working
on getting her lungs cleared up, some gas problems in the stomach, and working on getting the drain tubes out of her chest.
She is still not eating yet, just intravenous. I am sending a couple pictures of our little one, she is such a trooper. Mommy
and Daddy are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as far as having their family back together again. Mikayla is looking
forward to going to school and riding the school bus with her sister and brothers. Take care and God bless you all.
Friday September 5, 2008 (6:50am) GOD HAS TRULY BLESSED US THIS DAY!!! OUR LITTLE ONE IS OUT OF SURGERY AS OF APPROX 4:15 AM, IS IN A
ROOM NOW. MOMMY AND DADDY ARE DOING GREAT-JUST VERY TIRED-THEY HAVE GONE DOWN TO THE CAFE FOR BREAKFAST. WE LOVE
YOU ALL, THANKS, THANKS, THANKS. PLEASE REMEMBER THE OTHER FAMILY WHO GAVE US THIS DAY THROUGH GODS BLESSINGS.
WE ARE SO VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE PRAYING FOR OUR LITTLE ONE. WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS I HEAR,
I AM GOING TO TRY TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER I GET THE OTHER KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING.
Thursday Evening September 4, 2008 (10:30pm) As some
of you have already heard, Mikayla is getting her new heart tonight. She went in for prep around 7:40 PM, and Mike called
around 9PM and she was in surgery. The doctors say it will be approx 15 + hours of surgery. So I do not know what time it
will be over. Everything looks good, please keep the doctors, nurses, all of us and of course the other family in your prayers
tonight. This is such an awesome thing for all involved. Mike and Tammy are on edge and very nervous tonight, I can't
be with them as I am taking care of the other children. Tammy's family is there tonight. God is with them through the
entire procedure. Mikayla was in good spirits around 6PM when I took her brothers and sisters up to visit with her for a while
after school, she had not eaten since last night, as they heard about the possible doner this morning. So many things had
to match. Well I will keep you posted when I hear more. Thanks for the prayers and thoughts!
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| Mommy & Mikayla = BFFs |
Mikayla has started school at the hospital, she is
excited with a new backpack, new lunchbox, and a new computer donated by her Aunt Maddie and Uncle Jeff Williamson. She is
keeping busy with puzzles and working on her school work. She is gaining weight and getting stronger every day. She is feeling
very healthy, the Berlin machine is doing its job. It is 5 months now and everything looks clean and healthy. It is so hard
to believe the difference it is making in her life, supporting all her organs etc. If she didn't have the machine attached
to her body you wouldn't think anything was wrong at all.
Update July 5, 2008 Our
little angel is doing really good. She is eating wonderful, gaining weight, joking with the doctors and nurses, she paints,
works puzzles, walks the hallways and visits with the other children waiting on hearts and lungs. She says she is important
because she is the only one there with the Berlin Heart machine, but we all know she is important because
she is much loved. She wonders about the tubes in her chest, and says she hopes they put her to sleep when they take them
out. It is amazing. She knows most of the medicine names she takes and what they are for. She can tell you the procedures
being performed on her regularly. She is 5 years old going on 20. She says her doctor is handsome. She got to go up on the
roof to watch fireworks and loved it. This past weekend she had lots of people stay with her, I stayed with her Wednesday
night and Thur afternoon. Mikayla's little sister got to spend the night Thursday with her for the
first time in 5 months. They watched spongebob and ate popcorn and had a great time. Debbie Nichols on Friday & night,
Dave and I on Sat our regular visit-we took ribs and strawberries, Grandma Suzanne stayed Sat night and Sunday. Mike &
Tammy and the other kids enjoyed some much needed family time. Carol & Dave and family
Update June 16,2008
Many thanks to Debbie Nichols, Tyler's first grade teacher, for spending the night with Mikayla on Friday
night (Pajama Party), and to Ms. Tiffany, Mikayla's nurse for spending the night (off duty) on Saturday night. Mikayla
is doing fine, just waiting on a heart, but she is ready to get out of the hospital. She had fun on Saturday with her little
sister playing with a kitchen set the hospital provides for the kids in PICU. Dave had quite a scare on Saturday when one
of the hoses suddenly blew out of the Berlin Heart machine. He plugged it back on in .82seconds and ran to get the nurse,
who said his face was white. But there was no harm done due to his quick actions. They checked everything out just the same.
Never know how fast you can move till you get the old adrenaline going.
Happy
Anniversay Mom & Dad!!
Mike & Tammy celebrated their
20th anniversary this weekend. They needed to get totally away and rejuvenate themselves in order to keep up the strength
needed on a daily basis to keep going.
Mikayla got a little too daring on her tricycle, scared her doctors, and
they
took her bike away. The good news is she is feeling great! She walked the
entire PICU ward, the nurses had
a scavenger hunt for her. She is getting
stronger every day. She is ready for the operation. She has no feeding tube
or oxygen in her nose now. She is eating good, enjoying all the toys
she received for her birthday. AGAIN, thanks
so much for all the cards, it
really was awesome so many cards, and a lot were from children in classrooms
and
churches. She loved them.
One of the nurses asked Mikayla for some of her chocolate, and Mikayla asked her,
"Did you eat?" I guess that is what Mommy asks her before she can have candy.
Her room is decorated
like home, with a disney tv/vcr from one of the doctors,
balloons, and mermaid curtains.
Update May 5, 2008
Saturday Dave and I stayed with Mikayla for the day while Mommy took a little break and went home. We really enjoyed the
day, she was able to go outside the building to a little park area at the hospital. She got to see the squirrels play and
just to sit in the sun for a while. She isn't eating really well yet, so they are trying to cut down her feeding tube
so she will get hungry. They brought her chicken while we were there and she didn't like it, and didn't like the choc
cake, which I have to say is not like her at all, she loves choc. But they are feeding her pedisure by tube so it is no wonder
she is not hungry. She put puzzles together, colored,danced, squirted the nurses with water, threw a fake bug on one of her
favorite nurses to harass, David. She also had a race in the hallway with other patient. (of course she had her personal pit
crew to help)I don't know who enjoyed it more, Mikayla or the nurses. She is still taking breathing treatments 3 times
a day to strengthen her one lung that is working. Mikayla is getting stronger and I hope she gets a new heart soon. The nurses,
doctors, and respertory persons in the PICU at Shands are really awesome. They go above and beyond for our little angel Mikayla,
and we love them. Thanks for all the caring from all of you receiving this email.(see the new photos) We love you, Carol
and family
Update April 30, 2008
Mikayla ate her first real food yesterday since entering the hospital on Feb 1, 2008. She had green
beans, sweet potatoes, and chicken with gravy. She also had a Frosty from Wendy's. She really enjoyed the frosty. She
has been standing a little with the nurses help, and she talked to me on the phone, she still whispers, so it is hard to understand
her sometimes, but I did hear the "I LOVE YOU". Thanks again for all of you wonderful people who are praying for
her.
Update April 27, 2008
WOW! the breathing tube is out and has been for more than 24 hours, wanted to wait and make sure
before I emailed everyone. She is doing great! Dave and I spent the day with her yesterday and I actually had her laughing.
She can't have any food until Monday, so I told her to tell the doctor she wanted greens (she loves them), chicken, mashed
potatoes, etc. and she started laughing. We just melted to see that. She is sitting up quite a bit now loves to play uno with
people. She is getting stronger everyday. We just want to thank everyone for being so wonderful, and thanks for the nice things
said on her website. I am coping them for her and putting them in a notebook for Mommy to read to her. Yesterday Mommy did
her nails and hair. We love you all, Carol and family
Update April 25, 2007
I
will give more details after we visit on Saturday, However, the tube is out,
and so far she is doing much better, from
what Mike says, being pretty
naughty and rude. Feisty is a good word!
Isn't She Entitled?? ~ this child
has been so tolerant for so long!!?
Update April 23, 2008
Dave and I went to the hospital
and stayed with Mikayla today-Mommy had
to do some shopping for the boys. They have grown out of school clothes,
with 6 weeks left, go figure. The good thing was we got to see Mikayla
up sitting in a wheelchair and go around the
hospital. That is the first
time she has been out of her bed, except for surgery, since Feb 1. I
think she was
a little scared, but she did fine. We also got to see her
play uno with her siblings, and paint, and color today. She
is looking
much better. They are going to try and take out the breathing tube again
tomorrow, she has been doing
breathing exercises to strengthen her
muscles. One lung is still collapsed, and she may not be able to use
that
one until after a transplant. She really looks much better, I took
some more pictures and will send them to my daughter
to put on the web
site. LOVE TO ALL OF YOU, Carol and family
P.S. They are now changing her bandages
every-other day instead of everyday.
That's good - because it really hurts when they take off the
tape! So she is healing nicely!
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Update March 22, 2008
First of all I want
to thank all of you for your prayers and
thoughtfulness. Dave and I and our family are just overwhelmed at the
wonderful
people that are a part of our life. Our little Mikayla is
scheduled for the 'Berlin Heart' surgery on Monday
at 4PM. With this she
will be able to have the tube taken out of her mouth after recovery and
begin to go through
rehab. The doctors say this will give her body the
ability to gain strength for when a heart becomes available for
transplant. We feel this is a positive move, because her body is having
such a hard time right now, every time she
has a bout with fever it puts
extra stress on her own heart. Yes, it is a very serious operation, so
please continue
to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. We love you
all. Dave and Carol
Update March 07, 2008
Mikayla is holding her
own and getting stronger. She is a canidate for
the Berlin Heart, which may be in the next week or so. This will enable
her to have the tube out of her throat, no kidney machine, and be able
to do rehab while waiting for a heart transplant.
She actually smiled
yesterday when mommy and her shot a nurse with silly string. This made
everyone very happy.
Today they took her off the kidney machine and are
giving her other medicines getting her ready for the Berlin Heart.
(you
can look this up on the internet). We appreciate all the prayers and
gifts from everyone, please continue
to pray for our little one. She is
a very tough little girl and so beautiful. Thanks so much. love to all,
Carol
Update Feb 27, 2008
Day 27- This was not a good day for Mikayla. She gave us all a scare. The
call was made to PRAY, so we did. Here are a few scriptures that were given to us.
John
11:4 When Jesus heard that, He said, This sickness is not unto death,
but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Mark 12:27
He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living, ye therefore do greatly err.
Never Underestimate the
Power of Prayer!!
Update April 18, 2008
Today has been a good day.
She sat up on the edge of the bed with the
help of nurses, and exercised her legs and pushed down with her foot.
She shot
the nurses with silly string, colored, and painted. The breathing expert
gave her some excercises
to strengthen her lungs. She has not been strong
enough to expel the co2, so the breathing tube is still in. They
took out 2 of the
drain tubes, and she is doing good. We still are hoping for a miracle that her
heart will
be healed, but will accept it if it is not meant to be. The picture is of
her getting the nurse's attention.
She bangs on the metal with the sponge
stick that she gets a little water and ice with. Thanks for all the love
from
everyone.
Love to all Carol & Dave and our family.
Update April 10, 2008
Today is a
good day, they started weaning her off the air tube
yesterday, from midnight to 8am she was on the air, this morning
they
turned the air off again, as of 5pm she is doing fine.They moved a pic
line from her leg/groin to her arm,
the goal is to have her up walking
as soon as the tube is out. This little girl is so strong. She gives the
nurses
the thumbs down when they hurt her, and thumbs up if they do ok.
I am sending a pic of her for you all to see.This is
after the Berlin
Heart, you can see the pump at the bottom, the lines are covered by the
bandage. This is saving
her life right now and helping her to get
stronger for the transplant. Love from all of us to you all! Thanks
so
much for caring.
Update April 7, 2008
Well we are back on track, she had some blood clots in her chest and
they cleaned them up and everything
is ok. She is awake and looking good
again. This is her fourth surgery, and she is a tough little cookie. She
had
such a great day on Saturday before the trouble, and we are looking
forward to another great day. The tube is in again
and will stay for a
while. She just needs to get stronger, she is really alert and knows an
awful lot about what
is going on. Too much really. She understands a lot
of the conversation from the nurses and doctors, because she starts
to
cry when she hears them say the bandages need to be changed, they hurt.
She tells the doctors and nurses to
leave by pointing to them and then
at the door. If a nurse asks her if what they did was ok, she usually
gives
them the thumbs down if it hurt. God has given her a great spirit,
we lean on it sometimes. If Mikayla can handle it
then we sure can. Love
to all and thanks so very much for all the prayers and love coming
through to us. love
carol and family
April 6, 2008
Mikayla is back in surgery to
stop some bleeding - Surgery after the berlin heart went well, but after trying to remove the breathing tube, there were some
complications.
March 25
Mikayla had 3rd major surgery to install the Berlin heart.
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