Goodbye to Michi - Anna's words

Last week Anna came home with her Language Arts Composition Book in hand. She has been writing each day as homework and I love to see the things she has written.  This year she has really been challenged by her LA teacher to dig deeper and to write from more difficult prompts.  This time she wanted to write something from an experience that had made her sad.  As I read her words tears welled up in my eyes. Anna doesn't talk much about her feelings.  This was the first time I had ever heard or read her perspective on the night the Meech left.  I told her about my blog and about how I write my feelings out whenever I am sad, angry or sometimes really happy.  I asked her if I could share her Journal entry on my blog and she said yes.

Anna Caito 10-18-2017

Goodbye to Michi

Sadness. Sadness is how everyone felt in our small van. Silence. We all just sat in our seats thinking of all the memories we had with Michi, my foster brother. I was remembering everything we had done with him.

 I thought about when I found him in a carseat in our house, not even knowing who he was yet. I remembered trying to say Demetrius (his name) and ending up calling him D until we found out his nickname was Michi . I remember thinking he was a girl when I first met him from his pretty eyes and long curly hair. I remember going to Disney World with him while he was dancing in the parade there. I also remembered how my mom had to put his hair in buns because it was so crazy and out of controlled so at Disney everyone called him a pretty princess.

As a quick tear runs down my face knowing that he will be happy with his grandma and will still get to see his brother. I also say to myself that it would be hard for the grandma if her grandkid was living with people she doesn’t even know, so it is a good thing he can be closer to her now. I look at Michi and think about how much me and my family had to fight for him to go to the right home. I had so many mixed emotions that day, but we all let him be with his family, even though we loved him. 

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My favorite line is "we all let him be with his family, even though we loved him". 

Here is a link to what I wrote the night he left... He is Gone

I love that she is finding an outlet in writing, just like mom...

Happy 10th Peanut Pie!

It is so hard to believe that our peanut is 10 today! This amazing little human that we created is double digits. 

We could not have asked for a kinder, better mannered, sweeter, happier kid than our little one. She is the best friend, sister and daughter and is always thinking of others. 

She has a great imagination, a zest for life and an awesome infectious giggle. From the moment she was born she has been a ray of sunshine. She is our sunshine baby. Coming before the storms of loss - the gift that kept us going during the hardest moments. 

In the past year she has been through so much and done so much growing up. We are so excited to see the person she becomes. This girl has a heart of gold and makes us proud every single day. 

For her birthday she requested a slideshow and in that slideshow it was very important to her that I include pictures of her hospital stay and the song "fight song". So along with many others, these are a part of her life and her story, so a part of her slideshow. 

So many changes and milestones. Hard to imagine it has been 10 years since she made me a mom. 

Here is to the happiest birthday and an awesome year ahead! We love you Peanut!! 

http://youtu.be/1FOrILZ1DmM

Blessed, beautiful girl...

Anna and I talk often. She is so far very open with me and I pray as she gets older our relationship stays this way. She often brings up and talks about the hospital. She remains very aware of the care she was given and the circumstances surrounding her stay. She remembers every little thing and likes to discuss it. We often talk about how we feel now compared to then and how things make us think of being there. Especially The Muppets Most wanted, which we watched over and over during her stay. 

Today she came home from school with her 4th grade pictures. I told her I loved them and asked her what she thought of them. She said "I love them, but I can't believe how good my eye looks. It is normal!"  I said of course it is! She then said- "the last time I had my picture taken in that dress was when I came home from the hospital. I can't believe how different I look. When I look in the mirror you can't even tell where my surgery was."

She is right. You can't. My beautiful girl has not even a scar from her surgery that was just over 6 months ago! Not a day goes by that I don't think of the miracles of medicine that were performed on my child that night in March. As we went back to see her in post op I remember the nurse saying that the stitch was a "plastic surgeon's stitch" and we wouldn't see where it was soon. I thought to myself, yeah right! But, she was right.

 Dr. Nerad not only took the infection from her body, but he did such amazing work that the physical evidence is gone. These gorgeous baby blues are as perfect as they ever were. Not a moment goes by that I am not thankful for the care that Anna was given.  Now as I see the joy she has because her eye "looks normal" to her I am even more thankful. I told her today she is probably the only 4th grader who had a plastic surgeon do her surgery. Blessed, beautiful girl.... 

A letter to Cincinnati Children's Hospital...

Dear Cincinnati Children's, 

Sometimes when a hospital is so large and sees so many patients, you may not realize how special you make them feel. Not only did you have an employee who recognized my child's illness on her own time, but she took the steps to get her proper care. This woman went above and beyond. Not because it was her job, because she cared.

When we were in the ER awaiting results, each person we came into contact with went out of their way to make my daughter comfortable, to explain things to her father and I. To make her smile. Not because it was their job, but because they cared. When we were put in our room and then rushed to surgery each person we came into contact with made those horrifying moments smoothly progress. They spoke to our daughter and to ourselves in a way we could understand without causing more fear. We were greeted beforehand by surgeons in the waiting area of the OR and kept informed during her surgery. When we sat in the waiting room scared for our child's life we were met with concern from employees. All of these things were not part of a job, it was because these people cared.

After her surgery was complete, we were met by two world renowned surgeons. They of course updated us on the procedure, but also on how our baby was and what we could expect. They answered a nervous moms crazy questions and hugged me without a second thought. Not because this was part of their job, but because they cared. As my daughter recovered and we spent a week in the hospital, each nurse, each nurses aide, each child life specialist. Each doctor, each fellow, each department we came into contact with. Every single person who we crossed paths with made this time more than tolerable. They made sure that my child was not just a patient, not just a room number, not just a surgery- she was Anna. Not because this was their job, but because they cared. With each follow up appointment, with each phone call from a frantic mother, with each question and concern, we were given kindness and treated with care. Not once did I ever feel like a nuisance or a pain, even though I may have been. We were helped through recovery with the kid gloves we needed. Not because it was their job, but because they cared. 

To the staff that cared for our daughter, she may have been just a patient, but the important part is, she never felt that way. We never felt to be "just anything". The Cincinnati Children's staff not only saved my daughters life, but they brought comfort and love to our family when we were in a very scary place. Not because it was their job, but because they cared. 

As she has made a full recovery and been given amazing opportunities through the hospital, we continue to see this care.

Through the Champions program, through the donations we have been able to give and the experiences Anna has been able to be a part of now.

There aren't many things in life where you can say you are completely happy with, but for us Cincinnati Children's Hospital would be it.

We are so lucky to live in a city with a hospital like this, a hospital that saves lives and makes individuals feel like individuals. Thank you CCHMC for doing things the way you do, not because it is your job, but because you care. 

Sincerely, 

Anna's mom 

Who Dey Nation

Last week we found out Anna would have the opportunity to be a part of the Cincinnati Bengals practice. She was chosen as part of the Cincinnati Children's Champions program. This experience is only given to 4 children a year.

Not only was Anna able to attend, but she got to bring mom,dad, Sam, Wy, Grandma and Papa. 

We were able to sit on the field and watch practice and Coach Lewis came to introduce himself and talk to us.

At the end of practice Wy and Anna were taken into the middle of the huddle by coach and Anna counted them down to a "break"!

After she was given a football and they all signed it! We were able to talk to the players and Daddy gave AJ Hawk a good ole "OH" and AJ replied with an "IO". Wy  told him that he wasn't as big as his Frank. I then explained that we told Wy the bengals would be even bigger than his favorite football player/cousin- Frank. Wy was apparently not impressed by their size. He was impressed with all of the fist bumps and handshakes he got.

We were all amazed at how friendly the entire team was and how awesome they were to our kids. 

T.J. Said one of his favorite parts was seeing Andy Dalton look over and smile at our kids during practice.

They were all happy to take time to make Anna and all of us feel so special. A once in a lifetime experience is putting it lightly! Anna sat and watched the practice and Wy ran on the sidelines. As always their personalities complimented each other and they helped to find a comfort level within one another. 

Anna was nervous and didn't want to wear the camera, so Wy wore a go pro and recorded the whole thing! He really stepped up and we are so happy he did! We are also happy the go pro survived Wy! 

Anna's story and our experience will air on the big screen at the game on October 4. We were also given 4 tickets for our family for the game with field passes!

The kids loved being on the field and Dad and papa loved it even more! 

I can't say enough about the CCHMC staff and the Bengals' staff that spent the day with us. They were amazing and made the experience that much better. 

We have always been Bengals fans, but this definitely took it to another level!

Looking forward to the game and so thankful for the opportunities we have been given. 

One of Ohio's finest....officially:)

A few months ago Anna was able to donate a truckload of items to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. We were so excited to watch her not only meet, but exceed her goals.  She was in the paper and on the news! Such a big deal for this little girl who really just wanted to help the kids in the hospital! 

In case you missed this part of the story, here is the link to her Challenge Story.

We hadn't thought much about this until last week when a large envelope came for Anna in the mail.  It was an award from the Ohio House of Representatives. 

As I read through the wording I had tears in my eyes ...

I knew right away that although it would mean a lot to her, it would mean more to receive it at school.  I called Mr. Conners and he was so wonderful to not only allow me to pick a day and time, but he also orchestrated the entire thing.  

This morning, in front of the entire 4th grade, she received her award.

  She had no idea why they were in the multi purpose room and was completely surprised! Mr. Conners gave a wonderful speech and brought Anna up to receive her award. 

Here is a link to the video- https://www.facebook.com/OakHillsLocalSchoolDistrict/videos/1060615723971529/

We are all so proud of our Peanut!

 Daddy, Grandma and Papa, Sissy and Miss Emily were there to be a part of it and document this experience for her too. 

So thankful for my little philanthropist and that she was recognized for her hard work! 

I can't even begin to describe the range of emotions I am feeling this weekend, as it is the anniversary of my brother's death, from the very disease that loomed over Anna as she was in the hospital.  I know her angels were looking out for her and the doctors who saved her life.

If you want to look back on Anna's Story ...  here is the link.  So incredibly thankful and so very blessed!! 

Anna's Challenge accepted and achieved!

Today was an awesome day for Anna! 

It was the big drop off day at Cincinnati Children's Hospital! 

She started this challenge with a goal of 100 games 

she ended it with 207 games,

$350 in I tunes gift cards,

 

26 toys and art sets and 25 puzzles 

 and 25 new Disney store stuffed animals~

We loaded Papa's truck with everything and headed to the hospital this afternoon.  

She was so excited when 3 news crews showed up with cameras!! 

She and Wy helped load the carts and we took pictures with the Children's hospital staff. 

We were able to take all of the games in and talk with the Cincinnati Children's Staff about her donation and take pictures. 

Then Anna and Daddy were interviewed for the news~

The outpouring of support for Anna, our family and this challenge have been amazing!! So proud of our girl for the amazing little person she has grown into! 

So excited for her that her story is now out there for everyone to see and hopefully be inspired to do good~ 

Here is the article written up and look for her on the news tonight at 10 and 11 on Channel's 9, 12 and 19! 

 http://www.wcpo.com/web/wcpo/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/annas-challenge-delhi-third-grader-donates-hundreds-of-games-toys-to-childrens-hospital

Here is a special little Thank you from Anna~  

https://youtu.be/_cy-8xoR7II

It's not too late to donate! If you would like to help Anna continue her challenge you can donate iTunes gift cards directly to Cincinnati Children's Hospital! Let them know you are donating as part of Anna's Challenge. 

Thank you all so much~~  


If you want to see where it all began here is the beginning of her journey...
http://emmandconnorpoems.blogspot.com/2015/03/brave-little-one.html