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
You should refer to a specific post number because folks are going off on a tangent due to not reading all the "to's and fro's".
The "to 27" at the bottom of my post would be the clue....
As I said you have not been following the discussion at all!
I'm really not interested in seeing you try to squirm away from a disgusting comment.
What disgusting comment? Do you think I was referring to the unfortunate child as "tripe"?
No.
I was referring to your rather presumptuous comments regarding whether God hands out more than people can handle. I'm not interested in seeing you try to talk your way out of it.
Good enough! Take a hike!
That's true. It's also not prayer. To transfer your experience onto everyone else is childish. Frankly, my experience with prayer has not been anything like what you describe. Real prayer should be, and for many people frequently is, a very intensely personal, real, two-way exchange with their Creator. It really doesn't matter that their experience does not convince you. If the time comes that you are humble enough to truly pray, you will experience the communication for yourself.
I have it bookmarked.
It looks like some day I would cease to be amazed at the power of God!
He is an awesome God!
I saw the same show about Treacher-Collins on Discovery. It was amazing how brave these kids are and how much can be done by the plastic surgeons.
What was even more incredible was the little girl who had enough plastic surgery and while she would have been in her rights to want more, was happy with who she was and how she looked.
Well said, my friend.
This is a concept that baffles so many people because it can't be proved, only felt, and only felt when we completely and totally humble ourselves at the feet of our Creator.
Direct donations can be sent to:
Juliana Wetmore
3018 Hickory Glenn Dr.
Orange Park, FL 32065
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holy crap
I agree.
I notice you've gotten beat up through this whole thread. I believe in God but if this happened to me I'd be lying to myself if I said Praise Jesus! Thank you for giving me a badly deformed child etc. etc. etc. Sometimes people can get very wrapped up in their religion or their zeal to prove how godly they are and forget we're human beings.
How true, you can sense it by the many hearwarming wishes conveyed by the public. Yes! these tragedies will occur and it is only our deep love of God that helps us to transfer that love to all human beings. One can now understand God's plan.... "Love one another as I love You"
I hope you're right :(
hearwarming= heartwarming
"I am drawn to them."
So am I.
They're God's special people.
Gob bless this little angel and her parents.
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