The Bartlinski Bunch

" Teresa "

" Teresa "

Teresa "Fang Fang " Bartlinski

Teresa was born on December 25, 2006 in China. She was born with a very complex heart condition. In July 2010, GOD added Teresa to our family through adoption. We have been blessed with 9 wonderful children. Gods grace has woven us together as a family. Upon bringing Teresa home from China we unfortunately learned she not only needed a heart transplant but also a lung transplant. Her doctors feel she would not survive this operation. Please help us to pray for a miracle for Teresa's heart and lungs to be healed. She is a very special little soul who has touched so many lives around the world ...
I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!

Friday, June 21, 2013

Day 3 on ECMO

You Know that feeling when you first wake up and your mind is not fully awake.   For a moment you think all is good and then you are hit with the reality.  This is what has happened for Ed and I every morning.  We do not wake to the sounds of the birds singing or girls laughing.  The sounds here are much different.  Beeps, alarms and children crying.  We pass other parents in the hall.  Their faces tell their childs story.   No words, just a  head nod is all.  We all can feel each others pain.

We sleep and eat out of necessity.  We want one of us by Teresa's side at all times so we can comfort her when she awakens for short periods.

This morning she is stable and resting.  Her blood work and gasses look good.  We are praying that her creatinine (kidney function) will plateau today and start trending down.   She is very swollen , so praying that she will start eliminating  more fluid.  Her liver is very hard and enlarged.  Praying this will reside.

 We play all of Teresa's favorite Disney princess songs for her to hear.  Even though she is sedated , when she awakens we know she can hear them.  She signed that she wanted a drink.  Poor baby is so thirsty and she hates all the tubes in her mouth.

Her nose and eyes and mouth continue to bleed a lot.  ENT is coming today to have a closer look.  Her nose has been packed but this just makes the blood come out other places more.

As one person so kindly wrote ,  we know we are praying to the same God that created Teresa with her little broken half heart.  Her response to people when they ask about her arm , she always told them ,"this is how Jesus made me".  And she is right , this is how Jesus made her .  With half a heart and a little arm.    In this little broken half a heart HE gave her more love for others, life and GOD than any other person I know.  Yes, God created her this way for a reason.  She has defied all medical odds, surviving  birth, life in an orphanage for 3 years and no medical intervention to repair her heart.  God loves Teresa far more than we ever will.  This is all Gods will for Teresa.     She spreads Gods love to others by the endless hugs that she gives to others.  She loves to hug.   She also loves to talk about heaven and all the beautiful flowers you can pick there.  She loves rainbows and the beautiful colors.   God gave her incredible strength and a magical personality.  Through her life HE has touched thousands of lives around the world.  She has inspired others  to adopt, become organ donors and love God.  Hearing her story has given others strength to face struggles in their own lives. 

Gods plan for Teresa's life has been incredible.  She has touched so many lives in 6 short years.

Father Whatley reminded us that yes Teresa will have her miracle.  Every part of Tersa's life has been a miracle.  Her last miracle will be for God to heal her heart here on earth or HE will heal her heart in heaven .   
When we adopted Teresa we wanted her to know the love of having her own family.  How long God would share her with us was unknown.  She wanted a family more than any other child.  At three years old when we adopted her  she knew she did not have a family and this was all she wanted .  She was so happy to have 8 sisters and brothers. 

We are praying that God will share Teresa with us for a very long time.
Please also pray for all of the children here in the CICU and Teresa's heart HERO.






22 comments:

Laine said...

Praying for Teresa and you all....thank you for sharing her with us, she is such a treasure!

Unknown said...

Love to you all! Amen, and amen!

Annie said...

Continuing to pray for darling Teresa!!!!!

ginny & Polly said...

God Bless.................

Unknown said...

So amazing to be able to feel her magical, Godly spirit through your words and her pictures. Fighting through 30 minutes of CPR and still being able to sign for a drink of water is a miracle in itself! Believing a child with the will to fight through that can fight through anything with Jesis whispering in her ear. Lots & lots of prayers from Texas!!!!

Barbara said...

Teresa has been blessed with a wonderful mother who is preserving her story in this blog. Thank you for sharing your daughter's life with us. Continuing in prayer for the healing of this precious child and all those in ICU.
Barbara

Katie(Columbus OH) said...

Continuing to pray for your sweet little Teresa!! I hope that her swelling goes down, her kidney function improves, and that her little body handles the echmo until they take her back to surgery on Monday. I pray that her Heros heart is able to be repaired and you get to see your daughter smiling, laughing, dancing, and playing with all of her friends again. Keeping all of your family in my prayers and may you be surrounded by love and peace. Keep the faith...Princess Teresa is doing all she can to fight for her life here on earth. Keeping you all in my prayers during this most difficult time. Be the Boss Miss Teresa. You deserve to have this miracle come true sweetheart!!!

Unknown said...

We all continue to PUSH for Teresa (Pray Until Something Happens)!

Lorraine, AKA Forever Blessed said...

Oh, Ann, I just cannot even explain how much Teresa reminds me of Chrissie. There are just too many similarities to count, but every time I read your words and read about Teresa's personality, her longing for a family, her joy, even her bossing her heart, I am reminded of Chrissie. They were even adopted at almost the same age (Chrissie turned 4 while we were in Serbia adopting her). Chrissie so very badly wanted a family to adopt her--more than anything else in life! And, we, too, adopted Chrissie not knowing how long she would be with us, but trusted God's plan. Every single day with Chrissie in our family was a blessing. Not one day went by that we regretted. Not one. I know how much of a blessing Teresa is to your family because we experienced that level of joy with Chrissie. There truly is something magical about these two princesses, both created by God in His image.

I think it's so crazy that our non-profit ministry to help orphans in memory of Chrissie is www.BossYourHeart.com!!! BOSS YOUR HEART! Two little chosen, treasured, and adored princesses who both love to be the boss, but do it in such a gentle and joyful way, that no one else minds--in fact, everyone else LOVES being bossed by these beautiful princesses. Both who have bossed their hearts. Both who shouldn't have survived but a couple of days past birth.

Countless people have shared with me how they believe Chrissie has been coaching Teresa from heaven. I'd be curious to find out if Teresa visited heaven during her 30 minutes of CPR, and if she talked to Chrissie. I wouldn't doubt it for a second!

I hope the Boss Your Heart shirts arrive soon. Teresa is continuously on my mind and in my prayers. Please tell her we're praying for her, and we are begging God to heal her heart on this earth. And, if Teresa happens to see Chrissie at any time, please ask Teresa to tell Chrissie how much we love and miss her and look forward to being with her in heaven again one day.

Praying, praying, praying for Teresa's HUGE miracle!!!

Tasha said...

Praying each day for sweet Teresa! Her story has touched the lives of so many all around the world!

Holly said...

That was beautifully expressed. Still praying for Teresa here.

Sarah said...

Oh, this post has me in tears. Such a precious, precious girl! Praying for a miracle!!! Our God is able!

Aus said...

Oh Ann - there just aren't words...hugs and constant prayers...

aus and co.

Anonymous said...

I found your blog thru a friend and have been following Teresa's story and praying for her and the rest of the family as well.
But I must tell you, when I first opened your blog, her picture struck me. She is so BEAUTIFUL! Yes, a princess fits her well.
God does answer prayers and he still performs miracles.

LA said...

HI Ann and family,

Yes, like the Father said, Teresa is a continuing miracle of God. She has defied all odds. God has used her in so many wonderful ways already. We will pray daily and nightly that He will continue to use her to inspire people on earth for many more years before He takes her home.

God bless you and your family and prayers are being said for Teresa and all of you.

Dear Lorraine, I don't believe in coincidences. I truly believe the ministry you set up in memory of your daughter Chrissie is a sign from God. God bless you too and comfort you always.

Lee Ann

Amy said...

Love Wins...Every Single Time!...Oh, how He loves Teresa and continues to show His love through her.

Ann, your baby girl has been on this family's hearts and in our prayers for three years and will always be. Teresa was chosen first by God and then by you. How blessed we all are because of this. Thank you for sharing the miracle that is your precious daughter, HIS precious child. We do believe!

With Love and Prayers from TX,
The Chapman Family

Anonymous said...

Heard about Princess Teresa thru a friend's blog. Please know that though we've never met, I'm praying earnestly for your sweet baby, as one heart-mama to another. May God hold her close and do all we cannot! Waiting for this miracle with you-
Kelly in Charlottesville VA

TEG said...

Just checking in for any updates! I'm so excited for Monday to come when sweet little Theresa is well enough to have her surgery and then we can watch the miracle of her new heart working just fine! God answers prayers!

Kendra said...

We are continuing to pray for Teresa. Amelia R. is praying that Teresa will be able to come to school without her oxygen, and get to stay all day at school with her friends!

mothercristina said...

I know that this little angel is a fighter, I wonder if she feels too much burden to make herself get better that she is not able to let her body rest and recover. I know that when I am stressed I actually become weak. Of course, she is going through something so traumatic. I have six kids and surgeries and special needs but I know that Teresa's battle is bigger than this. I hope she knows that when she is too tired to boss her heart to work, that she can rest in Jesus' arms and he will boss it for her. I am praying for you and Teresa every day. Much Love

Anonymous said...

Praying for your sweet little angel and that God will heal her, so that she can spend many more years with her loving family here on earth.

Anonymous said...

You can't live in this area without having heard of your daughters courageous fight. We are all praying for Teresa and your family as well as the donors. May God hold you all in loving embrace through the Weeks ahead. .....Lisa