Happy 19th Birthday Kirsten!

April 2, 2009 - HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY! KIRSTEN KIMBERLY ANN GUPTILL

The smilebox below is our tribute to our daughter Kirsten for her 19th birthday!

It's hard to believe that 19 years have passed! In some ways it seems not that long ago. Then there are times when it seems like it was forever ago. A lot has taken place in her 19 years.

Kirsten's life has been an adventure! We have grown a lot in taking care of her. She is a sweet princess. Why we were lucky enough to be chosen to have her is beyond me. We were green as green in taking care of a special needs little girl. Her family welcomed her with open arms. They love her tenderly and warmly.

Kirsten is a full trisomy 18-Edwards Syndrome and one of a very few living in the USA. Kirsten was born 7 weeks premature and was in the NICU for 3 weeks and then in the intermediate nursery for 3 more weeks and then came home. At birth she weighed 4 lbs. 2oz. and was 17 inches long. When she came home at 6 weeks she weighed 1/2 an ounce under 5 pounds. At one year, she weighed 7-1/2 pounds. At two years, she weighed 10 pounds. Those first 2-1/2 years were quite a struggle. We almost lost her 3 different times. Kirsten fought hard! She had congestive heart failure, a stroke, pneumonia twice. Not fun times. At age 3 she was the weight and size of an 18-month old. We literally had a baby for 3 years!

Kirsten had corrective eye surgery when she was 5. Both of her eyes were crossed. She had C-Diff really bad and was hospitalized 6 times over one year in 2002. She had a G-tube placed to feed her nourishment. It's been 7 years and she still has it. Five years ago she had her first VNS implant. Vagus Nerve Stimulator for her Myoclonic seizures. She is now on her 3rd battery. She had drop seizures so bad that they debilitated her and she lost over 1/3 of her functions. Two years ago Kirsten had brain surgery, a corpus callosotomy, and no longer has drop seizures. Unfortunately the functions she lost will never come back. Once she walked with a walker and independently around furniture and rode a special trike. Those are now in her past.

Kirsten is so courageous! She never whines or complains. She takes illnesses as if they were just part of life. She is such an example to her family. She has such strength. Kirsten loves to laugh! She has her 'silly' moments! She has giggle jags and we have to tell her, "Kirsten come up for air!" Kirsten has the sweetest smiles! We love to see her smile! She has a very 'special spirit.' People are always drawn to her. As her mom I cannot stand to be away from her for very long. If I am running errands while she is at home with her papa, I can hardly wait to kiss and hug her when I get home. She gets bushels of kisses and hugs on a daily basis.

God allowed her to come to us and she has taught us many things. She is a gift from Him. We tell her that when she is ready to 'go home' to please 'put in a good word for us!' :o) Right! She has her salvation assured. We have to 'work out ours!'

Here's to you Kirsten - a sweet daughter of God. Our little princess! May He always bless you and keep you close in our hearts forever!

WE LOVE YOU SOOOOO MUCH! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO