Posted on 12/12/2004 3:55:37 PM PST by AM2000
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- When most parents have a baby, they spend months dreaming about what their bundle of joy will look like. Will she look like mom? Will he have dad's eyes? But for one local Navy family, the birth of their daughter didn't give them the answers to those questions. Their daughter was born without a face.
When Tammy was pregnant, she knew something was wrong. At worst, they thought maybe their baby had a cleft lip.
So Tammy, and her husband Tom, went to the hospital happy, until the birth.
"The nurse is like, 'We got her stable, we need to rush her upstairs,'" explains Tom, as he recalls every minute of that day. "And the nurse asked, 'Do you want your wife to see her now?'"
Tom says he thought to himself, "Before she gets the shock I did, let me take a picture so she's prepared."
Tammy hadn't seen her new baby yet, because she almost bled to death during delivery. Tammy would be okay, meanwhile, dad went to take pictures of his new daughter.
But no matter what, these new parents had a wish. "That if there was something wrong, she wouldn't be alone. We wanted to make sure she felt loved," said Tom, as he began to cry. "She squeezed my hand."
Little Juliana is missing 30 - 40 percent of the bones in her face.
"She has no upper jaw, no cheek bones, no eye sockets, and she's missing the corner of her ear," explains Tom.
Her birth defect is called Treacher Collins Syndrome. Doctors say it's the worst case they've ever seen.
So, how do you get people to see past all the defects, and find her heart? For mom, it just hurts.
"I just wish people would ask questions. Don't just stare," says Tammy. "I guess the most hurtful thing came not long ago, a little girl said she was disgusting."
Juliana has to eat through her stomach, and she has a trach to breathe. Already, less than two years into her life, she's had 14 surgeries. Doctors say she could need at least 30 more.
Every time she goes to the hospital, doctors make a mold of her head, and then reconstruct her skull to figure out the next step.
It's a life-long process that's draining for Tammy and Tom. Even still, they're thankful and full of love for their sweet child.
"God never gives you more than you can handle. I figure she has a lot to show everyone... to show the world," says Tom.
If you are interested in helping the Wetmore family, a savings account is set up for donations at the Vystar Credit Union in Middleburg.
Donations can be made at ANY Vystar Credit Union to Juliana Wetmore at member number 2102465.
Direct donations can be sent to:
Juliana Wetmore
3018 Hickory Glenn Dr.
Orange Park, FL 32065
What is your solution?
I have no quarrel with you, my friend, I just know that I would want to Live, if I were in her shoes. Of all the Blessings ever Showered upon me of any kind, none came as a result of my looks; my looks were irrelevent.
You're right about that. We are, and have always been, a very diverse group.
"God has never lied to me, but I have seen my most trusted companions break all trust"
Frankly, that's cause god has never said anything to you ever, at all. Unless he's making personal deals with you and you are talking to him.. hahah.
Your witness of your own problems overcome can be a comfort to those in need of hope. I pray your perseverance will be rewarded and that the love on display by this family, whose daughter must face adversity from birth, will be an example to those of us blessed in life who grumble over quaint matters. A few scriptures of comfort from God's Word:
Psalms 28:7
The LORD [is] my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalms 42:11
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God.
2 Corinthians 4:8
[We are] troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair;
Psalms 18:6
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, [even] into his ears.
2 Corinthians 1:4
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT BEING TRACHED. We are talking about a little girl with no face, can't eat or breathe on her own. Who has to go through a life of painful surgeries. I guess it comes down to what we believe a compassionate life means. And if it makes you feel better to think that my point of view is not valid because I never gave birth, than I guess no man on this board should have his opinion counted either.
I would not have allowed any life saving measures.
What is your solution?
She is pretty clear on this. Just kick em to the curb, why not they do this in Communist China everyday. Hildy, if you watched the video (which I am now convinced you didn't , and therefore didnt see this little girl sprinting around her house) you would have known the miltary is paying for it. Yes, I realize this comes from taxpayer's money. I don't have a problem with that. I am a pro life Catholic. I don't have any other choice then to believe this little girl should have the right to live.
But the thing, is, she WASN'T dying. You are suggesting that her and I guess anyone else who may need life sustainning treatments be euthaunized.
WE were in Adam and Eve literally in the form of tiny
neutrons and sub-microscopic material, WE and the whole
human race.
Who knows why God ordered Adam & Eve not to eat of that
fruit? Perhaps it was food specially designed for other
species or angels.
Researchers have discovered that the death of the cells in
our bodies is caused by an ENZYME! Could it be a FRUIT
ENZYME that was foreign to our bodies that we CHOSE to
injest anyway in spite of the fact that our Creator put it
in a convenient place for those who needed it and TRUSTED
us (as a part of Adam & Eve's bodies) not to eat a fruit
that would kill us? Oh, we participated alright! We are
not innocent!
I am not saying EVERYONE. We are just talking about this case. This particular case. The choice has been, and absolutely always should be the parent's decision. I am not positive about this, but I would bet at some point the parents were asked if they wanted to take her off life support. That's the point of compassion I'm referring to.
This argument is going no further on my end because you simply do not have the facts and are misrepresenting the scenario to further support your highly unethical position. The child IS breathing on her own, through a trache. Her lungs are fine, her airway stops at her throat, but she is otherwise breathing on her own. In the video, she was shown running around. She has a feeding tube which is not the worst case scenario and many infants experience this for one reason or another, especially if they are preemies. She looked happy and it is not a futile existance. Shame on you, really.
Look, it's beyond obvious that we're not going to agree on this and I have taken the unpopular position. And I stand by it. By the way, you have a beautiful daughter. You look like a very lucky lady.
"Frankly, that's cause god has never said anything to you ever, at all. Unless he's making personal deals with you and you are talking to him.. hahah."
Strange you should ask - yes, He makes personal deals with people, and we talk. It's called prayer...
Sounds strange, doesn't it? But I've heard stranger from people who claim to not believe in prayer, but who still believe that God is cruel...
You have access to the same personal deals and talks, you just choose not to use them, but that's a choice you like to make. I believe that you made your choice for a reason that's very important to you, and I won't deride it. If you choose to deride me for my personal experiences in life, then you obviously are very mistrustful of people in general. I'm sorry it's been that hard. I've been there too.
It's hard to judge Someone you've never talked to - perhaps you should talk to Him first, and then make up your mind. I'm talking to you, aren't I? And I don't even know you... but I won't make up my mind until I do find out more about you.
"Frankly, that's cause god has never said anything to you ever, at all. Unless he's making personal deals with you and you are talking to him.. hahah."
Strange you should ask - yes, He makes personal deals with people, and we talk. It's called prayer...
Sounds strange, doesn't it? But I've heard stranger from people who claim to not believe in prayer, but who still believe that God is cruel...
You have access to the same personal deals and talks, you just choose not to use them, but that's a choice you like to make. I believe that you made your choice for a reason that's very important to you, and I won't deride it. If you choose to deride me for my personal experiences in life, then you obviously are very mistrustful of people in general. I'm sorry it's been that hard. I've been there too.
It's hard to judge Someone you've never talked to - perhaps you should talk to Him first, and then make up your mind. I'm talking to you, aren't I? And I don't even know you... but I won't make up my mind until I do find out more about you.
By the way, she has a feeding tube because she has NO MOUTH to eat with (I know I should have stopped at the last post).
No, this was your comment:We snatched the life and death decision from Him the minute we invented life sustaining machinery. You are not talking about this one case. FTR, people still die on vents all of the time. God still IS making the decisions. I've had enough of this. good night.
Good night.
Prayer is a one-way road. You talk to 'him', and he either answers or doesn't. If you get your pray, wow.. He listened. If not, it's one of those mysterious things.
Asking into the mist for things and sometimes they come true, sometimes not, is not an example of real communication.
Thank you. I though my photo wasn't up on the profile anymore, is that where you saw it? I am sorry I am railing on you pretty hard, but as you can see, I am the mom of (two) beautiful little girls and would give anything and everything for them. My heart aches for that mom literally, and I just can't comprehend your position. I guess we will agree to disagree and no hard feelings. I really reserve this side of me for the demilibs on the aol boards, so my apologies to you.
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