Grace had a difficult start to her life. She was born at home on Easter Sunday April 4 ^th, 1999 at a gestational age of 27 weeks 4 days. Just moments after her birth, her heart and respiratory rate dropped so low that C.P.R. was needed to keep her alive. Grace weighed 2 lbs, and was only 14 inches long. Because of her size Paramedics had a difficult, but ultimately successful struggle with intubation and I.V. access.  After she was stabilized by the North Tonawanda Fire Department and Twin City Ambulance personnel, she was taken to Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo and placed into the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit. Her brother and sister were delivered by emergency C-section at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. All three were placed into the N.I.C.U. and placed on respirators, feeding tubes, and heart monitors.

At 3 days old Grace developed bleeding inside the center of her brain. The pressure created by this bleeding pushed her brain tissue to the inside of her skull. The doctors had classified it as a Grade 3 Intra Ventricular Hemorrhage. Dr. Li, a Neurosurgeon at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo met with Grace’s parents and explained that because of her brain injury, Grace would face significant developmental delays along with physical disabilities as she grew up. The bleeding had stopped and for the next 3 weeks her head size was monitored. Doctors also found a tiny hole in her heart and luckily were able to treat it with medication to help it to close.

At 23 days old, Dr. Li had advised that Grace would need brain surgery. As the blood in her brain was absorbed by her body, it blocked the small channels that re-absorb the cerebral-spinal fluid that the body manufactures every day. The fluid had no where to go and was swelling her head. Surgery was needed to relieve the pressure that was building inside her skull. This was done by inserting a McComb Reservoir. This would enable the doctors to remove fluid from her brain and would help prevent her head from growing to fast. Grace had complications during that surgery that resulted in a collapsed lung and pneumonia. Over the next 2 months fluid was tapped from her brain with a hypodermic needle almost every day. Grace’s condition improved every day also.

On June 26 ^th , Grace was 12 weeks old and just over 4lbs 5ozs and was ready to come home. She would have to be on monitors to keep track of her breathing and heart rate. The doctors explained that if there were a malfunction of her reservoir, having the monitors would give signs that there were problems. Eventually Grace was able to come off then and was adjusting well to the reservoir.

In July Grace and her triplet brother and sister (Colin & Elizabeth) would start receiving therapy through the Early Childhood Intervention Program at the Robert Warner M.D. Center for Children With Special Needs, formerly known as the Robert Warner Rehab Center. They had 3 therapists that came every week to work with them and their development until they were 3 years old.

When Grace was 7 months old Dr. Li performed another surgery to install a Ventricular Peritoneal shunt. This shunt allows the fluid to go from inside her brain down through narrow tubing under her skin and into her abdominal cavity where it can be re-absorbed. The surgery went fine and he monitors her progress on a yearly basis. Dr. Li is very happy with the results and just how well Grace has been doing each year.

Grace’s pediatrician Dr. Nicholas Aquino had been watching Grace grow over the years. He had become concerned with her growth rate and in April 2005 advised her parents to take her to the Endocrinologists at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo to be checked for her size, weight, growth rate, and bone density.

Dr. John Buchlis evaluated Grace with many tests and determined that she had growth hormone deficiencies. These deficiencies if untreated would eventually lead to a myriad of additional problems as she gets older. He started her in February 2006 on a hormone medication used to strengthen bones and help increase height and weight. Grace has shown solid improvement and her Doctors are happy with the results so far, and continue to monitor her progress.

Grace is 8 ½ years old, and is a very happy girl. She attends Drake Elementary School and is in 3rd grade. She takes baton lessons. She has been in Brownies for 3 years. Grace likes to dance, play, read, draw, ride her bike, sing, and go camping.

Grace has accepted her many challenges with a determination to overcome any obstacle that comes her way with enthusiasm. Her personnel strength, along with her positive attitude makes her an example to everyone who knows her. She is truly a miracle walking the earth.

Tom and Vicki would like thank the entire staff at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, the Robert Warner M.D. Center for Children With Special Needs, the North Tonawanda Fire Department, and Twin City Ambulance for saving their children’s lives.

With the continued support and caring of the Western New York community, Grace and all of Variety’s special children know that they will continue to grow and achieve all their wishes and dreams, today, tomorrow and always.