Our Little Princess

First we would like to thank everyone who has been praying for our family. We created this page as an attempt to keep everyone informed of what is going on with Ava. Please leave a message if you like.

On Sunday May 4th at exactly 7:37 p.m. Ava Michelle Saade entered the world. She is so amazing and such a miracle to Nicole and I. Ava has a birth mark on her face that stretches from her nose, over her left eye, and across her ear. Nobody has been able to confirm whether or not the birth mark is of any significance or not, so we are little nervous about it. The type of birthmark it is, has been said to (most likely) fade significantly if not completely over the first year.
Ava is so strong! While her heart is not a concern for us and has been cleared by the Cardiology team at U of M, (not to be checked for another 6 months) she has multiple abnormalities in her brain. They are as follows:
1. Her cerebellar hemispheres, which effect movement, are separated when they should be connected-and they are shaped differently than they should be.
2. The cerebellar vermis which could normally connect the two hemispheres making it possible for them to communicate is not there at all.
3. She has no corpus collosum which helps communication between the left side of the brain and the right side.
4. There are blood vessels that are in the front of brain that carry blood to several areas of the brain that are of major concern right now. Ava had a CT Scan yesterday (May 8th) and we are waiting to hear from the neurosurgical team to hear more about what needs to be done for that specific concern. If these vessels are really tangled or abnormal any type of surgery may have a heightened risk of death.

What a Blessing Ava Is!

After finding out about Ava having Dandy Walker Malformation on January 2nd, we have been on a emotional roller coaster. At first we were told that she would most likely die right away. Since then, we have been told by EVERY doctor that they were encouraged that Ava was most likely going to have a more mild version of Dandy Walker and that people would most likely not notice.

Now they are saying that odds are things will be more severe since they can see more detail on the MRI that was done after she was born.

Ava is doing better than others; she is eating well, going potty, looking around, moving hands together and apart, picking her head up and turning side to side, she can roll, she can kick, and most importantly, she can SMILE (which makes Nicole and I feel like everything will be alright).

BUT.....

Through our faith in Jesus Christ we have learned over the past 10 years that God creates all of us just how he wants to for his purpose. Ava is not a mistake. In fact she is our miracle and has given us the biggest reality check about what is important in life and what is not! Its not our houses or bank accounts, its not about fitting in and doing whatever it takes to do so, and most importantly its not about me! What life Is about, is taking time to thank God for all He has done for all of us. The good, and the bad. Its about serving others in order to glorify God and to show others His awesome love through our own actions. Life is about community and giving more than you take. Ava and Nicholas are so beautiful and they both deserves a place like that. Lastly I would like to share the verses that speak to Nicole and I about Ava.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;

you formed me in my mother's womb.

I thank you, High God-you're breathtaking!

Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

I worship in adoration- what a creation!

You know me inside and out,

you know every bone in my body;

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,

how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception

to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you,

the days of my life prepared before I'd even lived one day.

Psalm 139: 13-16

Love,

Eddie, Nicole, Nicholas, and Ava