Michaela, who was born with spina bifida, has made it through dangerous spinal surgery to correct a severe case of scoliosis, much to the delight of her parents.

Feb. 21, 2008~

Remember me?

If not, I'm Ellen Hackensack. I live in Elmira, New York. I have a thirteen-year-old daughter, Michaela Renee', who was born with spina bifida.

In her brief life, she's had many hospital stays, many surgeries, most of which to correct the problems associated with her disability.

She recently had surgery to straighten her spine. Her spinal cord was becoming tethered (twisted); she was starting to develop severe problems with her breathing. If she didn't have this done, doctors said she was going to die.

Well, Michaela had her surgery (last week), and she's just been moved out of intensive care. Her spine is straight again, and she's been breathing much easier, much to our relief.

The surgery she had was long (over eight hours on the operating table) and extremely risky. All sorts of frightening complications could have set in; however, none did, which has been nothing short of a miracle.

Michaela will probably remain in the hospital for at least a few more weeks, which means rushing to the hospital after work, so we can see Michaela until visiting hours are over; then we go back home.

Since the surgery, Michaela has gotten her spunk back. Before the surgery, she was fighting to breathe, was always in pain. It hurt us to see her suffering.  When we looked at her crooked spine, it made US hurt! 

Now the hump she had had is gone, her spine is straight, and she can continue to recover.

Michaela is eating again, laughing, joking with us (and her nurses and physicians); it is good to see her sunny personality emerging again!

Our most fervent prayers have been realized; we can't be more happier than we are right at this time! God has delivered His miraculous touch upon Michaela once again!

I will write again later down the road; have to get our other child, 8-year-old Maddissen, ready for school. (Maddi is healthy, and loves her big sister very much. They're like two peas in a pod; when Mackie isn't sick or in the hospital, they're always together.)

Take care and God bless! He's certainly blessed us by getting our oldest child through a horrible surgical procedure! Now it's time for her to recover, time for her to get back to living once she's able to.

~Written by Ellen W. Hackensack, Elmira, New York (mother to Maddissen and Michaela).

God is so good! :)