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
That's true.
Compare this little girl with someone like Michael Jackson who once had a nice face but destroyed his with plastic surgery. She's a better candidate for plastic surgery than all the normal faced people who turn to plastic surgeons because they're vain and never happy with their looks. She likely will cost less in surgeries than the typical Hollywood celebrity who runs to the surgeon every time a wrinkle shows up.
GOOD point
With that, I heartily agree. Every word. My first reaction to crushing personal setbacks (polite word) probably is NEVER what it should be. Nor my second, nor my third....
But Psalm 73 to me is one of those portraits of how a believer eventually needs to process this category of personal event. (There, though, the issue is the agony of watching the apparently smooth sailing of, oh, say, a Clinton, as contrasted with the hard life a genuine believer often has.)
Though those who insist on simply blaming God for not acting as they think He should, or denying His existence on that basis, like to present themselves as clear-eyed rationalists. Truth is, such thinking more often betrays laziness and arrogance, and nothing more.
Dan
poing
Granted it's part of God's plan which we will never fully know. I do believe that sometimes it is to see how those who claim to be Christians will act towards the situation.
Do we show the love of Christ to all or just toward those we approve of in some way?
It's just so sad. That child is going to suffer so much. It's one of the things that makes it hard if not impossible for me to have faith in a merciful God. But then, what choice do we have?
Yes it is sad.
I bet that child brings a lot of joy to a lot of people.
I am sure she is a fine person. I used to work in social services with people who had many ailments and disabilities, and they were wonderful people. They deal with a lot of pain and suffering.
Oh, I'm following the discussion, I read all your posts.
It appears to me that you want to just be contentious about some folk's faith.
take care
yeah, there are some really ugly comments...some have probably never been around people with deformities.
But it helps one understand how Hitler was able to start his euthanasia program, beginning with the retarded and the deformed. have you ever read the "baby knauer" story?
No, I've not.
I don't love facile responses on either "side"; but there's no call to be cruel.
Dan
Fair enough.
For every story like that, there are hundreds more of untold pain and misery. So they must live in pain and sorrow so WE can be inspired? How utterly selfish.
read this post started by Dandelion.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1293887/posts
If you do a Google search, type in "baby knauer", with the quote marks. It's who Hitler and his doctors started their euthanasia program on.
bumping your post
bttt
I suspect most of my detractors have not been tested by fate. Have you really been tested?
You haven't been around people with deformities, have you?
>" So they must live in pain and sorrow so WE can be inspired? How utterly selfish."<
Hildy, did it ever occur to you that inspite of abnormalities, people can live a productive, happy life?
-and before you respond to me, read this girls home page. She has the same condition. (treachercollins)
http://www.treachercollins.org/main.html
By the way, I have a friend whose face is terribly deformed.
One side of his face doesn't work, ear or eye; his mouth sags way down, and yes, he drools. In your eyes, he is probably a pretty miserable creature.
Yet he successfully owns and operates a beachfront motel, and has a heart of gold.
...and yes, he inspires me. How *utterly selfish* of me.
The next time you think you don't have anything to be thankful for - ping.Poor little thing.
I am betting that with current medical technology, though, the doctors can help her out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.