Leah has taken a turn for the worst and they have taken her off of life support. My parents were about two hours away from here on their way to bringing my brother to see her when they got the call. They spent the next hour on the side of the road while my brother made the decision not to try to get to her (it would take two days because we live on an island) and instead come home and say goodbye at her funeral. Thank you to everyone who kept Leah and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

No change

Leah with Josiah shortly after he was born

I wish I had some good news about Leah. The truth though is that there hasn't been much of a change these past few days. My brother is most likely leaving tomorrow to hopefully get to Montreal by Saturday night so that he can have a chance to say good bye. We are hoping that it would only end up being a chance to see her, but it is possible that it will be a good bye.

Apparently Ive got booty!

The Muddled Sage gave me an award! She had two on her blog and at first I didn't know which one she was giving me but after a bit of research I decided to take this one just because there are no rules. I gave most of my blogroll an award the last time one came around so Im not going to do it again. Instead, Ill just selfishly accept this lovely piece of bloggy bling and give nothing in return. Wow, that sounds bad! I promise I don't mean it that way. :)

Update

Leah isn't expected to make it.

On Friday, when I wrote my last entry, Leah had a heart attack. Her body is full of toxins because of the kidney failure, so they have some sort of tube in her stomach to help remove some of it. Other than that, we do not know anything else about her condition.

My mom went to talk with Leah's grandmother today and found out some more details that we didn't know before. Because my brother was so young they didn't want to tell him that Leah only had a week to live when she left for her surgery. It was to the point that they couldn't not do it because she was having heart failure every couple of days. Anyway, her grandmother today said that it looks so bad that we probably wont see her again before her funeral. As I write those words, Im just blown away by them. Not since I was a small child have I had one of my peers die and Im so shaken up over this. She is still here, and she is hanging on so we need to keep up hope.

My brother's boss offered to pay for a flight for him to Montreal to see her but my parents declined the offer because we don't know anyone there other than Leah's parents. With a dying daughter they don't need to be worried about my brother and where he would sleep and all that. So instead we are hoping that she will at least hang on until next week when my parents can drive my brother there. They leave on Sunday for their move anyway and planned to go right through Montreal so as long as she can hold on, my brother will at least get to see her one more time. Oh my God, One more time? How can this even be?

I remember when my grandmother died I spent a long time afterwards hoping that everything was a dream and that I would wake up and she would still be here (I was 8). I feel the same way now. Oh God, please let her come home.

We need your help

My youngest brother is 17 and is involved with his first girlfriend Leah. Leah has an extremely rare heart condition where only three people have been diagnosed with it. The other two didnt make it past the first few years of life and Leah wasnt supposed to either. Despite all odds she has thrived and led a mostly normal life.

A couple months ago, she flew to Montreal for some heart tests which revealed that she needed another surgery. Her pacemaker had to be replaced and there was something else too, but I dont know the details. Anyway, she flew back a couple weeks ago for her surgery and has been in an induced coma ever since. Her heart has just not been strong enough to handle waking her up yet.

Yesterday Leah's kidneys failed and he had to have her heart shocked three times last night. Her sister flew up last night as well to join her parents and be with Leah. My brother was just told this morning and I havent spoken with him yet. I know he loves this girl so much. Leah is just the sweetest most precious girl you could ever meet and this is really hitting everyone hard. We dont know if she will hang on much longer.

Please pray or whatever it is you believe in for Leah and her family. Pray that she makes it through and that her heart becomes strong enough to let her have a normal life again. Im just trying to believe and trust in God, but Im also feeling very low right now.

Those pictures were taken when Leah left for the airport to go have her surgery.

Christmas DVD Giveaway

This is again a shameless attempt at a second entry into Mommy Daisy's contest for a Jim Henson Christmas DVD. So everyone follow that link and go enter!!!! The contest closes tomorrow so hurry, hurry!

And the Winner is....!!!!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:4
Timestamp: 2008-12-03 04:22:33 UTC

Which means Astarte wins my PIF!!! SO Astarte get in touch with me at cherishblog@gmail.com with your address and Ill get it sent to you in time for xmas!!!