| Helping this beautiful, happy little girl, her loving grandmother and their family get through the most difficult time of their lives. |
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serenasmileorg@yahoo.com
| 07/17/2007 |
Hello everyone, it's time for a update on Serena. She has been doing very well at home. She has started smiling and laughing, must be she's very happy to be home with mom & family again. She recently had surgery on her elbow due to contraction of the still healing skin. It went well & she is of course back home again after a few more nights in the hospital. More surgery is projected in the not to distant future for treatment to her burns. Also, hopefully by fall, she will start receiving much needed intensive therapy, physical, hearing, sight and brain therapy. She has come a long way but still has a very long and hard road ahead of her. Mom Erica has been doing a wonderful job of taking care of Serena at home. She has her hands full, but Serena comes first. More to come as it happens. P.S. If anyone wants to see perhaps the most beautiful headstone ever made, visit Linda at Irondequoit Cemetary on Culver Rd. She is right in front and of course it is a Butterfly. Just put in place last week. |
| 03/20/2007 |
Hurrah-Hurrah, yes, it finally happened. On Sat. March 17th, Serena was finally sent home after nearly 7 months in the hospital. She appears to be in good spirits and actually seems alive again. Certainly a blessing to be home with mom and family again. Welcome Serena, to your new home and may God bless this new place to rest your weary body. Serena is expected to go through much therapy in the coming month's, not to mention much more in the way of surgeries and who knows how long all of this will go on, but things are looking up for little Serena. Kudo's and thank you's to the Dr.'s and nursing staff at Strong Children's Center, especially Katie, Julie & Kara for the special treatment they have given Serena. It has been a long journey and certainly not over yet, but Serena most certainly has a special Angel watching over her. We will keep the site updated as Serena progresses. Thanks again to 1 & all. |
| 03/01/2007 |
We apologize for the lapse in time between updates lately. Reason being, Serena is at a point now where there is not a lot to report because her burns are substantially healed and right now it is a matter of waiting between surgeries & skin grafts.
Her last surgery in late Jan. went well, although not giving all of the desired results, which means her face will still require more surgery to prevent healing contraction which is a big concern for her eye & mouth.
She is still subject to infections, but is monitored very closely for them. As far as being responsive, she is not where we would like to see her, but we still hold hope for the future.
The good side is that she grows stronger & healthier w/ each passing week and once she is taken off all medications for a while, we will know a lot more, but no date yet as to when she may be sent home.
Erica is training with the hospital staff to prepare for that day so that Serena can receive the care that will be required.
Our last benefit, Casino night, Feb. 17th, went very well. We had a great turn out & all had a wonderful time, even if they did lose some money. Thanks so much to everyone. Funds will soon be used to purchase a hospital bed for Serena, which they say is not required & will not be covered, but imagine spending your days lying flat on your back for God only knows how long to come. We want only for this beautiful little girl to be comfortable. It's the least she deserves after what she has been through & has still to go. Thanks again to everyone, for everything. |
| 01/30/2007 | Serena pulled through another surgery last week without a hitch. She's back in PICU while she recovers but she's doing well. The best part of this one, it's hopefully her last surgery before they let her come home!!! Keep your fingers crossed. |
| 01/08/2007 | Serena is doing well. After months of having a feeding tube in her mouth, it has finally been removed. She still has the feeding tube but its in her stomach now. So her mouth is free and clear to move and won't be uncomfortable anymore. |
| 12/30/2006 | Serena has been transferred out of PICU again, back into a private room. They are holding off on any more surgeries for a while so they can slowly take her off all pain meds. They want to clean out her system and see how responsive she is both physically and mentally. Meanwhile she seems to be doing as well as can be expected. |
| 12/19/2006 | Our apologies for the gap in time here. Over the past couple weeks, Serena was taken out of ICU. Unfortunately, it didn't last long, she has had a few more surgeries which required she go back in to ICU. They plan to just keep there for a while longer rather than move her back and forth. The surgeries have been going good though. All of her grafts continue to take and she continues to fight off infections. |
| 11/30/2006 |
Yesterday we lost a daughter, a sister, a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a cousin, a friend and a HERO. Linda passed away shortly after 7 AM. If you happen to recall, it was exactly the time when the skies cleared and the sun came out (in Rochester at the end of November?). It 's
amazing how bright and warm it is when those pearly gates are open. Calling hours are Sunday 1-4 at Bartolomeo & Perotto. Her body will be layed to rest the following day. "Have a safe trip. We'll miss you until we meet again. We love you!" Serena is doing good. She continues to have scheduled weekly surgeries. We'll keep the updates going. |
| 11/22/2006 |
Linda is having a tough week with complications and infection. She's in a scheduled surgery today. Hopefully all goes well.
Serena pulled through another surgery without a hitch yesterday. She'll be monitored in recovery over the next few days. Overall, she's doing well. |
| 11/18/2006 |
Linda has had a few more surgeries since our last update. Her surgeries seem to go well but she keeps having to fight off infections pretty regularly. She's been doing her part so far, just pray for her to keep up the good fight.
Serena has had a few minor surgeries over the past week. The plan of sending her home has changed for the time being. She'll be in next week for another scheduled surgery. |
| 11/08/2006 |
Thank you to everyone who came out and showed their support this past weekend. The event was a tremendous success!!! Check out the pictures in the gallery.
Our girls are doing good. Linda has fought off infection for the time being and Serena is adjusting well to being off of the morphine. |
| 11/03/2006 |
Linda is holding up okay. There is suspision that she may be developing another infection right now but it's not confirmed yet. She's being watched closely.
Serena is in good shape. She has to have a couple minor things done with her fingers and toes to start them moving properly again after being in the same position for some time. But it's minor and she is doing great! |
| 10/30/2006 |
Linda started to come around a bit after her last surgery and was able to acknowledge her visitors with her eyes this weekend. She smiled hearing of all of the support and events that have been going on and will continue. She'll be heavily medicated again for some time now but it was nice to see emotion in her eyes.
Serena is doing good. They have stopped pumping her full of morphine now. She will start to come around very soon. And will hopefully be out of ICU shortly. |
| 10/26/2006 |
Linda had a bad week. Infection got the best of her good leg and a portion of that one had to be removed now as well. We really need a turn of good fortune for her. She's doing her part in the fight, she deserves some good luck on her side.
Serena will be in for surgery again this week. It could be her last graft before they take a break and let her heal for a while. |
| 10/23/2006 |
Linda didn't have any big changes over the weekend. Pretty much the same. She'll be back in for surgery again later this week.
Serena is not out of ICU yet. They want to wait a little bit longer. But, she is still doing well. |
| 10/19/2006 |
Linda had a successful surgery yesterday. Her grafts look good and seem to be taking much better now. They continued work on her back, which will still take some time. She's recovering today. No good or bad news on how her leg is adapting. Keep your fingers crossed.
Serena is in surgery today. She is doing well, in fact, they may take her out of intensive care this Friday. The idea is to let her heal more before doing additional surgery (her face and revisiting grafts). Let's hope this is the case! |
| 10/16/2006 |
THANK YOU EVERYONE for making this past weekend a HUGE success!!!
Our girls are doing well. We just wish they were awake to be able to show them the pictures (check em out). They have both been stable over the weekend and will be in for more surgery again this week. We'll try and keep things updated more regularly now. The last couple weeks were pretty hectic. Just know that you are all appreciated and our girls will be in high spirits when we are able to tell them all about the support you have all been giving them! |
| 10/13/2006 |
Linda made it through another surgery. They completed (at least for now) working on her legs and have started on her back. Her vitals are strong but she has a long way to go still before she is in the clear.
Serena also had another round of surgery. She's still doing well and all of her grafts seem to be taking quickly. See you all tomorrow at the fundraiser - RAIN or SHINE! |
| 09/12/06 - 10/12/06 | |