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Faith is 11 1/2 # as of last Saturday night. I got a phone call an hour ago asking if I could watch her till 4. 😍 ❤️ Here are a few pics I just took.

Our Pastor read this in church 2 weeks ago. He said it was perfect for Brandi, Deryk, & Peanut. He is right......

Faith was 6 mos on July 15th, that’s a 9-18% survival rate for trisomy 18 babies. Faith will defy the odds and keep proving that there is power in prayer!

You’re welcome! We were told today that Faith Marie is 10 1/2# & 24” long! She grew 2” since last month!!

Here is the article that was about Faith and the Daisy Award winner Nikole Kessler. This was when Faith Marie was 3 months old. Yes, I’m late with it. ********************************************************************** We are truly privileged to congratulate our most recent DAISY Foundation winner: Nikole Kessler, RN, of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at PH DuBois. Nikole helped to care for infant Faith Marie Spicher, who was born with Trisomy 18. Many babies born with this chromosomal condition do not live beyond their first few days or weeks of life. Faith, however, grew strong enough in the NICU that she was able to be discharged and go home with her parents. This week, Faith turned 3 months old. We are honored to share the beautiful words of Faith’s mother, Brandi, who describes the experience and how Nikole went above and beyond in caring for Faith during her time in the NICU: “Faith Marie Spicher was born on Jan. 15, 2019. She was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, incompatible with life. We knew that Faith would be cared for at the NICU after she was born due to her diagnosis. What we didn’t know was how much she would be loved and cared for by the staff. Faith was placed on a ventilator by Jan. 17, 2019, due to episodes of apnea, and had more wires, tubes and monitors than could be imagined. It was hard to deal with; it was difficult to see our baby going through so much. But what wasn’t difficult to see was the compassion and love she received from the nurses and also the huge impact that this small life had on them as well as us. We will never forget the NICU nurses and all the memories we had with them. They will always be a part of our family and we are forever grateful for them. Nikole Kessler cared for Faith through the best times and hardest times. She laughed with us, celebrated with us and even cried with us. She was able to look past all the wires and tubes and only saw Faith. You could see a connection growing between the two. She not only took care of Faith as a nurse, she cared for Faith as if she were her own. She wasn’t afraid of Faith’s condition, as a matter of fact she took it on as a challenge; Faith would beat the odds and be her “feisty spice.” She made sure that Faith received the best care and all the snuggles she could give. Nikole walked with us hand in hand through Faith’s entire journey in the NICU. On Jan. 19, 2019, Deryk and I had to make a heartbreaking decision to discontinue the ventilator. We couldn’t have our baby live on a vent for the rest of her days. Nikole stayed with us, even off duty, through that difficult time. She took a turn holding her and cried right with us as we thought Faith’s time here on Earth was over. Nikole even handmade a wooden plaque for this day, “Too Beautiful for Earth, Faith.” As the minutes turned to hours and Faith amazed us all with desire to live, breathing on her own, Nikole shared in our tears as they turned from heartache to tears of joy and hope. The following day, Nikole checked on Faith as soon as she came into the NICU to make sure she made it through the night. She kept us updated through her entire shift and shared in our joy and relief as she continued to report that Faith’s vitals were stable and she was not having any episodes of apnea. Nikole made sure we didn’t miss any special moments. She carried the camera in her pocket and was quick to capture every significant second – the first time we fed our baby through her og tube, her first outfit, first bath. She filled two photo books and ran the printer out of paper just so we had every memory of the beginning and, what we thought, would be the end of Faith’s life. Nikole continued to be there for Faith even on her days off of work. She made the trip into the hospital and spent hours with Faith just to hold her. Finally, the day came when Deryk and I were able to take Faith home and Nikole was there to do her discharge. There wasn’t a dry eye in the NICU, especially Nikole’s. She even escorted Faith out of the hospital just so she could soak up every last moment with her. To this day, Nikole continues to be a part of Faith’s life, keeping up with her and all of her firsts and celebrating with us every time Faith defies the odds. Nikole is more than the NICU nurse that cared for our baby, she is part of our family and we know Nikole will forever be a part of her life as long as Faith is with us on this earth.” Please join us in thanking Nikole. We are so proud of her heartfelt dedication to caring for our littlest patients! Follow the link to read the very touching words Brandi wrote about the other members of Faith’s NICU nursing team as she said she wanted to recognize each person that was there fighting for Faith, caring for her and, most of all, loving her! http://bit.ly/Baby-Faiths-Story

She is 9# now. I forget how long she is, but she is getting longer by the week. All the prayers have been working. The holes in her heart (3) have closed up, the apnea has gone away, & there was one other thing but I cannot think of it right now. Faith Marie still needs prayers as she needs to build up neck muscles & other problems. 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻

Why are you taking my picture grandma?

Faith Marie’s 1st Easter!!

Today? I didn’t see it!! Brandi sent it to me.

Papa with Faith Marie, Faith smiling, Faith Marie imitating Muhammad Ali, Brandi reunited with Faith after work.

Her Papa taught her that, ☺️

I don’t want to post to much because some complain.

Today Faith Marie is 3 months old. She is 8# & wearing 0-3 mo clothing.

She is finally getting, 😂, to big for her premie outfits!! 🎉 Hubby & I bought her 2 outfits that are newborn size from WM. They are an inch longer than the premies. I didn’t get to take them up to her today, but will tomorrow!! 😁

Brandi took a pic of Faith Marie from about a month ago & put it side by side with her 1 month old pic. ❤️

This was her Valentine pics her mom sent us yesterday. ❤️❤️❤️

Today Faith Marie is 1 month old. ❤️ 🙏🏻 ❤️ We are told that her odds of making it to a yr old go up if she made it to a month old. I say she has the same odds as the rest of us. When God calls us home, we go.

You can see Midgy better in the first pic I posted. It was taken at a straight on shot.

That’s a loveseat, lol. Both her babies are with her in that pic 😆. I did write on one & sent it to her father & Brandi, lol.

Not daddy, he has experience. He is an awesome father, very hands one!!

You are so right, they are superb!! Our son was in the NICU from Sunday till Tuesday here, then Tuesday till Saturday at Children’s in Pittsburgh. The care they gave Faith Marie was amazing!! They cried with us, laughed with us, took care of us also. All of them were wonderful including Dr Hassen.

She is still 4# 8 oz. but she is filling out nicely in her cheeks!!

More from last week.

Pics from the week Faith Marie was brought home.