I should be getting out of the hospital today or tomorrow, and mom and dad say either way we should be back in Charlotte tomorrow.  The therapy people came by today and built a small wooden leg extension to support my left leg and cast when I use my wheelchair.  I will need it when I start school next week.

I will see everyone soon at the Greek festival, and I will be hanging out in my dad’s Greek Pizza booth.

Thank you for your prayers and your nice messages.

Julia

Thanks to everyone for your love and prayers.

Julia

Love,

Julia

It is hard to believe it has been over a month since my surgery. I am so happy that it is behind me now. My walking is getting better but I still have a hard time standing up straight. I can walk short distances on my own now. My left leg still has numb feelings and I hope Dr. Campion can help this improve. I get stronger every week. I cannot wait to go to school soon next year. I have been home schooled for my 8th grade year up to now, and I miss my friends and the teachers at Jay M. Robinson. I thank my parents so much for how much help they have been, they are very supportive and they encourage me each day. I am blessed because they are the greatest parents I could ever ask for. I love them very much.

Julia

JULIA

Over the weekend I did get out of the house to go to Nicholas’ basketball game and out to eat with my family.  We also went to Target to shop some for Christmas.  It was nice to get out and around.  I get around with my wheelchair and that isn’t all bad.

On Saturday I had a big surprise.  A large envelope came addressed to me from UNC Chapel Hill.  I was nervous when I opened it with my parents.  Inside was a letter from UNC and a picture from Tarheels Coach Roy Williams that he signed for me.  Coach Williams wrote “Julia, Please get well soon.”  I was shocked.  I am a big Tarheels fan so this was a big excitement.

Today I had a doctor appointment with one of my specialist doctors.  This doctor is the one who helped me gain the extra 10 pounds before my surgery.  He told me that I could have my TPN pik line taken out of my left arm.  This is where I get some special fluids fed into my blood for twelve hours every day.  My parents took me to Presbyterian Hospital and they removed the pik line.  This pik line was about one foot long and it was hard to believe it came out of my body.  Now I do not have to worry about the line being pulled out or leaking, and I can finally wear long sleeve shirts.

I promise I will write again tomorrow.  My dad is going to help me post some pictures also.  Thank you again for ALL your prayers.  Luv ya.

Julia

The past two days I have been tired but do spend my day reading, watching tv, walking in the house, playing with my dog and playing a few video games.  My dog Buddy has been real excited having me around.  He always wants me to play with him and he licks me a lot.  I will write again tomorrow to tell you how my recovery is going.

Julia

We have packed everything and my dad has loaded the car.  Right now it is 8:30pm and I am eating at Wendy’s in the hospital with Nicholas and my parents.  I wanted to eat at Wendy’s before leaving the hospital.  My dad says I will be home by midnight.  I cannot wait to see my dog Buddy and sleep in my bedroom.

Good bye Chapel Hill.  Hello Charlotte.  Good bye and thank you to all the doctors and nurses who helped with my surgery and recovery.  Good bye Dr. Campion and Dr. Alexander, I will see you after Christmas.  Good bye Dr. Lisa in PICU.  All of you here at UNC Children’s Hospital are the greatest.  Somehow I actually enjoyed my recovery time here at UNC.   I will be back to visit you next year.  THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR ME!  You all are so nice, and I will miss you.

Thank you for all your prayers to help me heal and bring me home.  I love you all!

Julia

We went to the teen playroom again today.  It is only open from 2-4pm on the weekends.  My dad and mom played pool and air hockey, and Nicholas played a video game.

Dr. Campion who is my surgeon will come see me tomorrow.  He has to look at my back and also check my left knee because it feels numb.  I hope he says I can go home.  I really miss home.  My parents think I might get out of the hospital in one or two days.  On Tuesday it will be 2 weeks since I came to Chapel Hill for my surgery.  It has been 11 days since I had my surgery.

I am very sad to know that Micah died.  I did not meet him or his family but I knew about him from my parents.  My parents told me that a lot of people on my blog site were praying for Micah.  That was very nice.  He was down the hall from my room in ICU.  It is just so sad that he died because he was too young.  I feel sorry for his parents and his sister and I will pray for them and I hope you will too.

I have to go to sleep now.  Good night.

Julia

Harry (Julia’s father)

I watched football games with dad tonight.  We were not happy that Clemson beat South Carolina.  We are big fans of the Gamecocks.  Right now we are watching the Tarheels basketball team and they are playing BYU.  I hope they win.  The Tarheels’ guard named Ty Lawson got hurt and is not playing.  He is one of their best players.

I am feeling a little better now but I have nausea a lot.  My back hurts a lot but they give me pain medication every 4 hours to help the pain slow down.  My left knee feels funny too and the doctors are checking that.  I did have some of my favorite pizza today for the first time from my favorite restaurant Franklin Street Pizza.  I could only eat half of one slice.  It is really good pizza so if you ever come to Chapel Hill you should go eat there.

I spoke on the phone with my Yiayia and Gampi (my granddad) and Mr. Chagaris who is one of my dad’s good friends.  Some friends of my dad sent me a new PSP, Playstation Portable, game.  I played it for a little while but got tired.  I miss Charlotte, my dog Buddy and my friends.  I am hoping I get out of the hospital on Monday but we have to wait for the doctor to tell us.  I will write on my blog again tomorrow.  Sorry I wrote late today but my dad and I were busy all day.  Thank you again for thinking about me and writing such nice things.

Good night.     Julia

Thank you so much for praying for me.  I know many people have helped me by praying to God and Panayia and different saints like Saint Nektarios.  All this has helped me make it through my surgery and get better to get out of PICU and it will help me get home.  You are all nice.

I am still not comfortable with the surgery to my body but I am getting through it.  My mom and dad have been here taking care of me and helping me get better.  Thank you mom and dad.  You are wonderful.

Thank you Dr. Campion for helping me.  You are a nice doctor and I am glad I had you for my surgeon.  Thank you Dr. Alexander for helping Dr. Campion with my surgery.  Thank you Dr. Lisa and all the nurses and doctors in the PICU.  My mom and dad told me you took care of me and helped me recover from my surgery. I do not remember anything when I was in PICU so I am sorry I may not recognize you when I see you.  Thank you Gampi, Gami and Yiayia for praying for me, visiting me and calling me.  Thank you Father Michael and Stathi for visiting me and praying for me.  Thank you to my Godfather/Nouno, Godmother/Nouna and Godbrother Zachary for praying for me and visiting me.  Thank you to my uncles, aunts and cousins for praying for me and visiting me also.

Thank you to everyone who wrote on my blog site and to those who sent me cards, flowers and gifts.  All of this was very nice and helped me feel better.  I have not read all of the posts on my site because I get very tired doing even little things.  I promise I will read all of them as I get stronger.

I miss Charlotte and I hope to see you soon.  I miss my dog Buddy a lot.  I will write again tomorrow.  Thank you.  I love you.

Julia

Sorry folks, Julia was a little tired out tonight and had a few guests who along with family did not give her time or strength to write on her blog.  She wants me to assure everyone that she will write tomorrow.  Julia had a nice day.  We ate in the hospital Cafe and took a long walk outside of the hospital.  Julia also walked around one-half of her floor which was a big deal, some 200 feet, with the aid of her walker.  Her back still has pain when she walks and will for several weeks as she heals.  She did get to enjoy mashed potatoes and gravy and Nicholas gave her a few of his BBQ chips.  Just a nice relaxing day.

This evening she had visits from her Aunt Julia, Uncle Lee and cousin Emily, and her godfather George Demopoulos.  It made Julia happy to see more family.  George even delivered some homemade Thanksgiving cooking.  Dad particularly enjoyed the spanokopita.

Julia’s breathing has improved quite a bit and today was probably the first day where she was herself throughout most of the day.  She even spoke with a few people on the telephone.  She really wants to get back home.  We will update tomorrow and hopefully it will be Julia writing the updates.  Enjoy the long weekend and family time.    Harry & Regina

Julia says she believes she is strong enough to type her own message this evening.  She is excited to get on her blog site just working on her energy level.  Stay tuned and Julia will be posting soon.  Please be sure to visit her site tonight.

With love and thanks,   Regina and Harry and family

Julia has made more progress today.  In the picture above she is enjoying quiet time watching the movie Cars.  She took her first bath and her hair is looking nice again.  Dr. Campion and his assistant Dr. Alexander visited us earlier this afternoon and they like her progress.  She has been cleared to try real food now.  She had her first bite of mashed potatoes and gravy at 4pm and ate about 5 spoonfuls.  She followed this with 4 mini vanilla wafers (one of her favorite snacks).

Julia had some therapy mid-afternoon and she walked maybe 30 feet with assistance using a walker.  Father Michael and Presbytera Varvarelis came to visit Julia at the same time, and they witnessed her walking.  Father Michael and Presbytera joined Julia on a walk to the teen playroom and then we returned back to the room for Dr. Campion’s visit.  Strength is coming back little by little.  If she keeps making progress we hope that we can be in Charlotte by Monday.  We will enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday here at the hospital.  The hospital has a nice Thanksgiving meal for patients and their families.  Our Thanksgiving has continued each day since last Wednesday.

Julia is looking forward to seeing how much spine correction she has from the surgery and how much height she may have picked up.  We will have a followup visit with Dr. Campion in about 3 weeks to check on all of this.

Mom and the boys took a walk to Franklin Street right after 4 this afternoon for some Tarheel shopping for Julia and to allow Mom to eat her first non-hospital meal in a week.  Mom has been vigilant and has not left Julia’s bedside since the surgery.  Dad convinced Mom he could handle watching Julia on his own and that Mom needed to get outside and enjoy the warm weather.  And you know Dad handled Julia’s digestive system waking up all by himself.  This was good for Julia.

The boys are planning to watch a few movies this evening here at the hospital.  Christina got a ride home from NC State and will be getting her wash caught up and spend Thanksgiving with Uncle Kevin and Aunt Lisa before catching a ride up to the hospital.  Dad plans to put his new Zorba the Greek dvd on the TV in Julia’s room and dance along with Zorba for Julia’s entertainment.

We have much to be thankful for Julia’s recovery and continued progress and her many friends praying for her and cheering her on.  This likely will be the only update today.  We will update again tomorrow.  If Julia is up to it she will post her own message.  I believe she will have the strength to type something on the laptop.  Cheers to all!    DAD

Dad and John returned from the UNC basketball game after 9:30pm.  The Tarheels blew out an overmatched opponent, SC State.  It was fun to watch.  Dad promised Julia that he will bring her to a game in early 2008.

Tomorrow marks one week ago that Julia had her surgery.  We are all thankful that the past week is behind us.  It has been one of those long roads for Julia this year as we planned and prepared for this surgery and canceled and postponed the surgery in June and September.  We know that the postponements were the right thing to do given the improvement in her health and 20% weight gain.  We would change nothing now looking back.  We will update everyone again tomorrow and let you know how Julia is progressing.  Thanks again for your gifts to Julia, as we said before your gifts of love, prayer and support have been overwhelming and priceless.       Harry & Regina

Julia has mostly rested and slept since coming to her new room.  She has managed to watch a little television, a few of her favorite shows.  We have quite a few dvd movies to watch, mostly chick flicks.  We do not miss ICU but do miss the nice folks there.

We have not received any new update on Micah and his recovery.  He is still in ICU.  If you did not read the earlier post about Micah Arrants, he is a young man of 17 years from Concord who is struggling with unusual blood clotting in his body, and late last week in his brain, necessitating brain surgery last Saturday.  Please continue to keep Micah and his family in your prayers.

Dad and John are leaving shortly for the UNC men’s basketball game tonight, it is only a few blocks walk to the Dean Dome.  The rest of the crew will stay back in the room watching movies.  Julia has come a long way in 7 days.  Now we rehab and get strong and come home.  We will update again in the morning.  Thank you all for helping Julia.       Harry & Regina

Dr. Campion, Julia’s surgeon, and this pediatric ICU team are on top of their game and have worked hard to get Julia well. Dr. Mills in ICU (Dr. Lisa as we call her) is a young doctor but knowledgable, understanding and goes the extra mile to make Julia and us feel comfortable. This UNC medical team is right there with the UNC men’s basketball team, #1.

It will be nice to have less wires, tubes and machines, and not worry about the monitors and the readings they give you.  In the early days of ICU recovery, we would worry over the slightest change in a monitor reading or a bell alarm going off but as the days passed we came to better understand the ranges and what was okay, good, not so good, etc.  Having a laptop computer handy to do some research helped also.

Now we will be able to focus on therapy and getting Julia to start taking steps, getting out of bed, going to the restroom, all the things she will need to do when she gets home.  She will get there.  With her past surgeries, she has always surprised us with her ability to overcome and do the unexpected.

Julia wants to eat but her digestive system is not quite there yet.  Nausea and pain will improve each day.  Dad brought her Franklin Street Pizza’s menu this morning to prepare for future orders.  She wants pizza, mashed potatoes and BBQ chips.  Maybe we can get Julia to write on her blog tonight, we will see how she feels.

Thanksgiving is upon us and so we give thanks to all of you for giving Julia your love, prayers and support.  GO JULIA AND GO HEELS!     Regina & Harry

Julia is definitely looking better and improving.  The doctors, nurses and therapists are good people.  They are always attentive to Julia and her needs.  They are willing to talk through options and progress.  Cannot say enough about this group.  Julia has a had a good bout with nausea that coupled with her surgical back pain is what keeps her from perking to her normal self.  We will continue to work with the pain management, nausea and make sure no fever sets in.  Her sense of humor has shown up a few times.  We had a few moments of funny discussion, although some of it is tied to Julia saying things that we believe is Ms. Morphine talking.

We are getting there folks.  Julia cannot believe that her blog site has had over 7,000 views.  She cannot quite comprehend this.  We told her it is Julia’s Army growing each day.  We do see each of your posts and read a few to Julia each day.  Julia will read them all in a few days.

Today will be remembered for much progress in Julia’s recovery but for Julia it will be Tarheel Day.  If anyone can help get tickets to a future game in the Dean Dome, Dad promised Julia he will get her to a game.  Good night from Julia.  She said to tell her blog visitors “thank you so much.”  Day 7 is fast approaching and Julia longs to get back to Charlotte.  Thank you Julia’s Army.      Harry & Regina

We sat down a short while ago to read a few of Julia’s blog entries to her and right now she is on cloud nine after hearing the get well message from the UNC Tarheels Basketball Team this afternoon.  We are not certain how word got to the UNC basketball team about Julia and her surgery but thank you to the person who helped.  Julia cannot believe that the Tarheel basketball team sent her a message on her blog.  The only thing that could top this now would be for Julia to meet Tyler Hansbrough or Coach Williams.  Julia is a fanatic Tarheel fan along with her brother John, and she brought her Tarheel slippers with her to the hospital.

We are so happy to see Julia’s improvement thus far today.  Definitely moving forward.  She is still weak as is expected but the strength will come back one day at a time.  Thank you all for your messages to Julia!  We know God’s hand is at work here and will continue.  We will write another update tonight after meeting with Julia’s surgeon and working on the mashed potatoes.

Thank you Coach Williams and UNC Basketball Team.  You cannot imagine how special you made our Julia feel today.

Harry & Regina

Harry & Regina

We are hoping Julia has a restful night and gets some rest.  Tomorrow she will continue to surprise us and overcome her obstacles.

Family went home today.  John and Nicholas along with Yiayia Stathopoulos and Grandparents Brown were able to visit with Julia.  Christina will be back tomorrow.  Uncle Nick, Aunt Dina and cousin Nicole also visited this afternoon.  Although Julia was not able to converse with everyone, we believe it is good for her to know who was here to comfort her.

As we move into Thanksgiving week, it is most fitting to give THANKS to God, the angels and holy saints, and all of you out in Julia’s World who have kept her close to your heart.  We feel much has been overcome over the past 5 days.  We discussed with Julia prior to surgery that we would take it “one day at a time”.  The surgery is past, the ventilator tube is out, Julia is healing, Julia spoke to us, Julia softly told us “I love you”, Julia held our hands, Julia opened her eyes, Julia waved at us, Julia was able to see her family – siblings, grandparents, godparents, priests, uncles, aunts, and Julia took a sip of Coke today.  What a wonderful 5 days.  We hear it many times to “never take the small things in life for granted”, and it is true.  When we no longer take life for granted, we become grateful for everything we have.  Every day is a gift.  Even more than before, we have a profound sense of gratitude for the simplest things in life.  We will savor these moments with Julia with gratitude.

Day 5 comes to a close and we move into Day 6.  Tomorrow we will see Julia’s surgeon Dr. Campion and discuss progress and plans for the week.

We want to share with you this rather lengthy poem regarding “thanks” titled “Thank You Life” (author unknown).  Good night and Thank You Julia’s Army.      Regina & Harry

Thank you Life

Julia still has a road to travel with her respiratory.  We have to get her lungs working on their own.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

It is a nice sunny day in Chapel Hill today.  We hope it is nice where you are today.

We have no update on Micah Arrants on Julia’s hall other than he is stable.  Please remember Micah, his parents and his sister in your prayers also.

Harry & Regina

It was fun spending good time with Julia and hearing her sweet voice.  Must have told her “I love you” 100 times today and it was so good to hear her reply back “I love you too” – even though her voice is weak, you can hear it and understand.  This was priceless.

Julia had visits this afternoon and evening from her godparents and godbrother, George, Elaine and Zachary Demopoulos, and her Aunt Helen and Uncle Lee.  Grandparents Brown, sister Christina and brothers John and Nicholas were able to spend some time with Julia.  Christina has gone back to State to work on her project and will get a ride back to the hospital on Sunday.  Dad told everyone he would keep trying to get Nicholas into ICU even though the age limit is 12, and the night nurse allowed Nicholas to come into the room briefly and he was able to see Julia for the first time.  Yesterday they would not allow Nicholas into the room.  He was happy to see his sister.  He had a few tough moments when he broke down and cried seeing her in this condition and with all the medical equipment in the room.  He may be 8 years old but he understands what Julia is faced with and has been worried about her for quite some time.  Nicholas like Christina and John has grown up watching Julia’s daily challenges and does not like to see her suffer.  He is very protective of her.  He does not remember much of Julia’s past surgeries when he was a toddler.

We expect more progress from Julia tomorrow.  She did at one point ask for pizza this evening but she is not able to drink or eat yet.  Our goal is to improve and hopefully get out of ICU on Monday.

While all of you continue to keep Julia in your prayers, please also pray for a young man who is on Julia’s pediatric ICU floor.  This young man’s name is Micah Arrants, and he is a 17-year-old high school student from Concord, NC.  He attends Northwest Cabarrus High School and is a member of their track and cross country teams.  After having some weak feelings in his legs back in early October, he was admitted to CMC in Concord on October 15^th and eventually transferred to UNC on October 25^th suffering with unusual blood clots in his body, including his legs, heart and brain.  Today he had emergency brain surgery to relieve pressure and fluids.  He is fighting for his life now.  He has been a healthy and strong young man until this clot situation arose.  We met his mother and sister this evening and had a lengthy discussion about Micah.  Micah has a bright future ahead of him but now faces a very difficult circumstances.  Please pray for Micah, his recovery and strength for his parents and sister.

A pleasant Sunday to everyone.

Regina and Harry

We have been able to speak a few sentences with Julia for the first time, and we got an “I love you” from Julia.  Just cannot explain how good this feels to hear her voice.  She is still weak, coughs quite a bit and voice is raspy but as the day passes we expect her to get a little stronger.  Focus now is to get her moving a little more, keep her coughing to clear her lungs, keep monitoring respiratory functions and continue healing in the chest tube area where they deflated her right lung.  The big thing is getting her lungs stronger and clearer, and until Julia gets to that point, we will be in ICU.  Julia did tell us this morning that she just wants to go home, and we want to get her there soon.

She tells us she is hurting, mostly in her back in the surgery site.  She is able to pump her own pain medication with what they call a PCA – a little device she holds in her hand that has a small button she presses to release some pain medicine.  We tell Julia it is her “happy medicine.”  Julia is not able to drink or eat yet.  Until they get the respiratory where they want it, they do not want her to have any drink or food.

Today we will enjoy some nice quiet time and maybe a little conversation with Julia if she is up to it.  Julia will get to spend some time with her sister and brothers (maybe Nicholas can sneak into ICU and get a peek of Julia) and Grandparents Brown.  Yiayia Stathopoulos is coming here tomorrow.  Yiayia’s ten phone calls each day telling Dad “pray to the God” are pushing him to the edge – not really.

Dad tried to sing “you are my sunshine” to Julia and after about 5 seconds Julia gave clear indication that singing is not on today’s agenda.  Maybe tonight or tomorrow.  We are happy to see Julia’s improvement and want to see it continue in a positive direction.

Julia hopes one day soon to see her “twin” Karlie who lives in Ohio.  Karlie like Julia was born with Freeman Sheldon Syndrome and they met 10 years ago in Philadelphia during a Freeman Sheldon family support group gathering.  Julia and Karlie could pass for twins.  There just aren’t many children in the US with Freeman Sheldon and so Julia and Karlie need to share their adversity and challenges and how they have overcome.  We hope to get them together next year after winter passes.  Karlie had her scoliosis surgery during fall of last year.  Karlie, thank you for your post message to Julia.  It will mean so much to her and we will be sure to tell her.

We will update Julia’s Journal again this evening.  Thank you.

Harry & Regina

Today had its difficulties and was a tough one for Julia but she is making some progress.   She will remain in ICU through the weekend.  She will continue to receive respiratory assistance as she is not able to breath on her own yet.  We are continuing to monitor her blood gas levels as they have gone back up so we know that she is not getting her breaths deep enough into her lungs.  The nurses will continue to draw blood every couple of hours to measure the blood gas.  Another chest x-ray will be taken in the morning.  Julia’s breathing and lungs are the focus now.  Antiobiotics and other fluids will continue.  The swelling in her face and neck is dropping but her legs remain very swollen and we have massage wraps working on her legs tonight.

Julia has not been able to speak much.  When we took her breathing mask off this afternoon, we were able to understand a few words and she told us “Why do I have to do this” and “how much longer”.  The difficulty breathing and her pain are hurting.  We try to comfort her with a few words and hold and rub her hands and feet.

Please remember her and pray for her as you get into the busy weekend.  If you are in church on Sunday, pray for her, and if in an Orthodox church, please light a candle also.  Believe it that your prayers have been heard.  Angels and saints have heard your prayers.

We want to close tonight with some quotes from Helen Keller, a person who inspired Julia when she read her biography as a young child.  These words we believe describe the essence of Julia’s character in the face of adversity.

• I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad.  Perhaps there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a breeze among flowers. 

• Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.

• Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything good in the world.

• Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.  Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

We will update Julia’s Journal in the morning.  Good night and on behalf of our angel, thank you.

Harry and Regina

After the tube was removed, Julia initially struggled to breath and began to hyperventilate causing her blood gas levels to drop so that they had to work on her manually for a period and she needed to get a CPAP machine hooked up to assist with breathing by giving her oxygen and pressure to her lungs.  The chest x-rays still show some areas of collapse in her lungs and fluid so the plan is to keep her on the CPAP machine until tomorrow, continue to measure her blood gas, respiration and oxygenation levels, and take further x-rays.  Not sure when the chest tube will be removed but for now it appears that area is healing as it should.

Julia’s blood pressure has stabilized and has now moved from low to high due in part to the activity today and her body working to adjust to her pain and her breathing.

Julia has been in much more pain today as they lowered her pain medication levels early this morning in order to get her ready for extubation of the vent tube.  They need to do this so that she is not too sedated while working to get her lungs to function on their own. She has indicated to us with finger squeeze communication that her back hurts a lot and her eyes have poured quite a few tears.  The center back along the spine line is where the majority of the surgery was performed.

Julia still is not able to open her eyes on her own except a time or two when you see a line of her eye peeping out as she comes out of her sleep mode and sedation.  We just hold her eyelids open for a few seconds so she can see us and she nods she is okay.

The plan today is to monitor and work on pain management and respiration.  Julia will remain in ICU likely through tomorrow and maybe until early next week.  Just don’t know for certain and as we discuss with Julia “one day at a time”.  We keep Julia updated on what day it is and the time – she knows it is Friday and that she is in her second day of recovery.  We are by her bedside as we send this message , and she knows all of you are praying for her – we have told her numerous times.  There is a certain peace and comfort as we sit with her and hold her hands.

Thank you for all your continued and overwhelming love, support, faith and prayers.  As we have said before, we know it makes a difference for Julia.  Your postings to Julia’s Journal will be a strong source of encouragement and healing for Julia when she is able to read them.  All messages from children to adults are appreciated.  We will pray for God’s blessings for you and your families.

We will update Julia’s Journal this evening after we have met with Julia’s surgeon and settle in for the night.

Harry and Regina

We have to share with you a short story regarding Julia’s eyes.  Since early this morning we knew that Julia was trying to communicate something to us.  She would raise one hand and open and close her fingers.  We tried to ask enough questions and follow her head movement to determine what she needed.  We knew that she was not hurting as she shook her head side to side when asked if she felt pain.  Over the course of 5 hours and after 10 or so attempts to figure what Julia wanted to communicate to us, Dad got the bright idea around 1pm to play the word and alphabet game with Julia.  We asked Julia how many words and she extended 1 finger.  We asked Julia how many letters in the word and she extended 3 fingers.  As we recited the letters in the alphabet, Julia squeezed Dad’s finger to tell us the letter “e” was the first letter.  As we went through the alphabet for the second letter, she squeezed the finger at the letter “y”.  Dad being on top of things a second faster than Mom blurted out “your eyes” and Julia nodded her head – and likely said to herself “about time dodo, it has only taken you half the day.”  She had been unable to open her eyes as they were swollen shut and she simply wanted us to open her eyes by holding back her eyelids.  After using a warm cloth to wipe her eyes, we held her eyelids open and she saw us for the first time and looked back and forth several times with her bright blue eyes.  We saw her relief after doing this. We then recalled that Julia told us before going into surgery that her wish was that when she woke up in ICU she wanted to see us first and not medical people.  And so it was that Julia fulfilled her wish.  It was a simple thing but a blessing for Julia.  She still is not able to open her eyes but we work with her periodically to open them.  She has been sleeping the entire day but will awake to stimulation.

Father Michael and Father Stathi visited Julia this afternoon and read prayers of healing. They spent a couple of hours with Julia and she was able to greet them with a simple hand and finger movement.  She knew they were in the room and could hear their prayers and otherwise followed our discussion.

Julia has had her icons of the Virgin Mary/Panagia and St. Nektarios by her side throughout.  She was able to take them with her into the OR yesterday.  The two monasteries she visited in Greece last year were of Panagia and Saint Nektarios and so she feels a special bond.

We will continue to stay by her bedside.  Mom slept in the ICU room with Julia last night while Dad slept twenty feet away in a small room with a cot bed.  We do not want to leave her bedside for a moment.  Her ICU team has worked overtime to monitor Julia and keep her comfortable.

As one would expect, this continues to be an emotional time for us but today is better than yesterday.  Yesterday was as difficult as it has ever been to know that she was passing through such a difficult procedure.  Nothing could prepare us for this experience but we believed that all had been done to get Julia ready for this surgery – physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Past surgeries were difficult but yesterday was different. Today we feel more at peace.

We will stay by her side tonight, give thanks to God for her healing, give thanks for the blessing to be parents to Julia and her sister Christina and her brothers John and Nicholas, and give thanks for the love and support all have shared with Julia.  We ask that you also keep Christina, John and Nicholas in your prayers as they have marched with Julia all of these 14 years, through her home health treatments, surgeries and doctor visits and out-of-town trips to medical facilities, and it takes special siblings to grow up with Julia and share her experiences.  We know they also can use words of support and encouragement from time to time, and sometimes as parents no matter how hard we try, we know it is inadequate.

We want to close this post by sharing with you a poem written by Julia last year that we keep on our refrigerator door.  Her Uncle Dewitt posted it earlier today but in case you missed it, here it is:

Your continued prayers are most appreciated.  Please pray for God to comfort and heal Julia each day.  We believe prayer is God’s prescription for healing and strengthening Julia.  We know that Julia has the Holy Spirit enveloping her.

If you have children and have not done so yet today, give them a big hug and tell them how much you love them.  In our busy lives, we sometimes lose site of this.  Nothing hurts more than to see your child endure pain and suffering but we know that God gives us the strength to overcome it.  It is faith that comforts us all.

Thank you for your words of comfort and encouragement that you are sending Julia.  We will try to update you again later.

Harry and Regina

Dad

As we are updating you, we just met with Julia’s head nurse.  She tells us that Julia is stable in ICU, has various lines, IV and others, and has her chest tube that will stay for a few days as they had to deflate one lung and it takes a few days for this to work its way back.  Julia will remain on a respirator through tomorrow and we expect Friday given her pulmonary limitations.  She is not certain but expects Julia to be in ICU through Friday and possibly into the weekend.  Just have to be patient and let her heal on her time.

We are in the ICU waiting room now and hope to be able to see Julia soon.  Please continue to pray for her recovery as we need to get past the ICU and get her off the ventilator.  We give thanks to God and his angels and the saints for watching over her.

We are receiving your voice mails, text messages and all and apologize that we cannot answer or respond to you now.  We cannot say enough but your love and support for Julia has been overwhelming.  A special thank you to Archbishop Demetrios, Archbishop Spyridon, Metropolitan Alexios, Father Michael and Father Stathi, we thank you for your special services and prayers and all that you have done for Julia.  To Nick & Kiki Ballas, John & Donna Ballas, Chris & Angie Chagaris, and Matt Karres, we thank you for treating us to dinner last night at Spartacus.  Julia enjoyed it and it was a nice environment that she said reminded her of dining in Greece.  Dad almost started Greek dancing with the waitress – he did dance by himself though.

To Julia’s teachers and classmates at Jay M. Robinson, thank you for your support and cards.  To Julia’s Sunday School teachers and classmates, thank you for your kind cards and gifts (Abercrombie and Vera Bradley, boy you hit a homerun with Julia).  To the Carolina Panthers Topcats, thank you for your many cards and gift.  To other close friends, thank you for your cards and gifts for Julia.

Keep your postings coming so that Julia will be busy reading when she is able.  In the mean time, we are collecting everything for her.  If we are reading Julia’s blog information correctly, she has had over 1,000 hits today and counting.  She will be beside herself.  WE THANK YOU ALL!!!

Regina and Harry

Regina and Harry

Harry and Regina

Regina and Harry