Holding Strong! - July 23

From mom Jennifer:
Nurse Jane arrived and was able to get Brianna feeling better and now appears to be resting comfortably. She was running a high fever and vomited twice. We cooled her down with cold towels and her morphine, ativan (anxiety), and robinal (congestion); then her breathing slowed down and she went back to her staggered breaths. Wonderful Maria came to help Jane give her a bath and change her bedding...Kaitlyn is showing unbelievable compassion and is gaining valuable nursing experience.
Brianna had family visiting her all day long!! As you already know, she has a huge family with both Matt and I being remarried with supportive extended families....
She opened her eyes a few times, moved her right hand a few times, and also made a few sounds all of which we believe shows she is hearing everything we are saying. She is holding on strong as everyone floods her with kisses and showers her with their love.
Nurses Jane and Robin spent the entire day helping us make 3D hand sculptures of each of us holding Brianna's hand. Bob and I made Eric and Haley's last night and for our first time they turned out...Robin is the expert so we are looking forward to seeing how the 7 others turn out! Brianna has perfect hands, fingers, nails...at St. Jude she received compliments every day on her nails because they are so beautiful. Thank you Jane and Robin for spending the day with us and taking the time to make such special gifts for each of us.
Thank you for all of your messages. I am taking the time to read your notes as it has been our source of strength to now we have so many people who love and pray for Brianna. Many of you have praised us for instilling such a deep faith in Brianna. We can take no credit as we have learned everything from her.
When I was a single mom with two toddlers, people kept telling me if you take them to church they will get used to it and will learn to behave. They were always so naughty in church. I would be kneeling for communion and they would be hitting, biting, pulling each other's hair, and kicking each other. I would leave church in tears.
I spent most of the mass every week begging God to give me the strength to get out of there without incident. After the girls realized I was not going to give up, they did in fact learn to behave in church. We started out sitting in the last pew and as they slowly learned to behave we would move up a few rows. We made it to the sixth pew and decided that was close enough. Who knew at the time Bob's parents and his brother's family sat two pews behind us! Brianna has been the only one of our kids who never complains about going to church...now they all accept it and appreciate it!!
I am sleeping with Brianna tonight and will continue to pray. I wanted to share the story with you so you all know Brianna has taught me a lot more than I have taught her.
She is going to finish strong!!