Cincinnati Friends

We have been blessed to know several families who live in the Cincinnati area.  Most we know through Reece's Rainbow and some we know through our Down syndrome support group, Life's Journey with Down syndrome.

In addition to the families we have known for quite some time, we have been blessed to meet a few families since we arrived in Cincinnati through Cincinnati Friends, the Cincinnati Children's Hospital colorectal families support group.

When we first arrived in Cincinnati, there were a few things we needed to buy since we could not fit everything in our bags for the plane.  My friend Jamie jumped right in and offered to take us to Walmart to pick everything up.   Thank you so much Jamie!!  Jamie and her husband are adopting sweet Eli and actually leave to go meet him TOMORROW!  You can follow their journey HERE!

Me, Jamie and Michael

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Once Michael got settled into the hospital, my friend Mary stopped by to have lunch.  What a nice visit we had!  Thank you, Mary, for coming and thank you for all your help as we prepared to come to Cincinnati.  You have made this trip much easier as you guided me every step of the way!! !  I know Mary through RR as she is a fellow adoptive mommy to many!

Me, Michael and Mary

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Then my friend Mary Beth stopped by with her friend Kathy and we all had the best visit about life, Down syndrome, horses, living in the country etc.  We all have children who have Ds as well as children who do not.  Thank you, Mary Beth and Kathy for coming to visit with us!

Kathy, Mary Beth, me and Michael
(Blurry, yes, but glad to have it ;-)

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We have one of the sweetest clinical instructor nurses on the entire GI/Colorectal floor.  She helps with all the student nurses and from time-to-time lends a listening ear to moms who are 1200 miles away from home!  Thank you, Michelle, for your compassion and listening ear on more than one occasion!!  She also has a precious nephew who happens to have Ds and I have enjoyed hearing all about him.

While posting on the CCH support group, Cincinnati Friends, another mom messeged me that I might know her sister as she is a clinical instructor on the GI floor.  No way!!  Could it be?!?  Yes, it was.  Michelle and Angela are sisters.  What a small world!  We were blessed to meet Angela and her sweet Adam the other day and they were so kind and brought Michael some new chew toys!  He LOVES them!

Angela, Adam, me holding Michael, and Michelle

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While coming out of the elevator one day, we were stopped by a mom who was with her little boy.  She said, "Hey, I think I know you from online!" and we talked for a minute and indeed, she knew me from Cincinnati Friends!  I'm so glad we ran into each other that day.  She and her son, Declan came to play one evening the day after Michael's second surgery.  Michael could not get out of bed to actually play but that did not stop the boys from playing!  It was sweet how they figured out how to play through the bars of the crib.  We hope to have many more play dates.  Shelly's younger son, Lincoln, is in CCH and will have surgery early next week.  Please remember him in your prayers!

Declan and Michael

God never ceases to amaze me at how He puts just the right people in your path at just the right time.  Thank you, Father, for taking care of us during this time!!  Thank you for placing just the right people in our path.