This little girl that will be 2 in May is dying according to the doctors and there seems to be no diagnosis except failure to thrive. By about 10 months old they inserted a feeding tube through the nose and gave her extra calories during the night. Her mother continued to breast feed her and also continued to try to get her to eat food. She basically refused food except she would chew on a pickle or a black olive and once in a while, a potato chip. Any food that seemed good for her she refused and would spit out.

By 12 months old she weighed 12 lbs. Her birth weight was 7 lbs.9oz. Her adenoids were enlarged so they were removed in hopes that would help. It did not appear to help in any way. The nasal feeding tube was being removed by Natalie so often that about the 21st of December the doctors took her to surgery and put in a gastrostomy tube. Her little nose was so sore from the tape. Because of the malnutrition the surgical site is not healing. At this date, January 23, 2000, Natalie is in the hospital with a pic line to try and help her get hydrated and to heal. 4 days ago the parents were told that she was dying and basically they had no hope unless this pic line worked. So, our only hope is if God turns this around by a miracle or God uses other doctors that may have had an experience with a patient like this and can give some added expertise in this situation.

Updates:

August 17, 2000 From Natalie’s Mother: Hi....Well we are home from Cleveland.  It was a very successful trip.  And it is nice to be home.  Natalie is going through a behavioral modification program, while we continue to work on her sensory integration problems, as well as her various developmental delays.  She has learned she will be ignored if she whines, cries, tantrums, vomits and gags while being fed baby food.  But when she is given a bite she will be praised, applauded, and sung to.  So she has become pretty compliant.  She will not self feed yet, naturally - quite early for that.  However, she is beginning to turn her head TOWARD the spoon instead of away, and she is slightly separating her teeth for the spoon. 
The experts said it will probably be at least a year of this before she won't need her g-tube. 
Everyone at the hospital was extremely nice and very helpful.  It is only 3 years old and very well thought out in terms of appearance and function.  Natalie rode a horse in the parking lot while we were there.  On my lap naturally.  We also went swimming in their physical therapy
pool.  There was music and art therapy which were fun, in addition to physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy.  Plus 6 feeding sessions a day.  So we were very busy, and slept well. 
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.  We met lots of neat people and believe Natalie has turned a significant corner toward eating the way the rest of us do.

May 9th: Natalie's picc line continued to give her problems so she had a Central line put in last week.  She tolerated the procedure well.  She has learned to walk and keeps her mom busy keeping up with her.  The second birthday has just passed and it has been a busy, concerned and stressful two years on the family as well as Natalie.  Please pray for strength for her parents and the ability to go to Ohio to Rainbow Babies to help her learn to tolerate and work with other areas that she needs help with.  Pray for 100% coverage with their insurance. The rest of the family needs prayer to be able to cope with mom busy with all the procedures that Natalie needs.  She remains a very happy sweet little girl in spite of all she has been through.  God is in control and we ask your continued prayers for His will for Natalie.  Thanks for all your love and concern.

March 29th: Hi, this is Lynn - Natalie's Mom. Thank you all so much for all your prayers! I cannot possibly tell you how grateful we are for you bringing our daughter to the throne of our Lord!! We are all down visiting Natalie's grandparents and uncle and having a wonderful time. So I get to do the update myself. After Natalie's picc line was removed, we took her home with antibiotics for another week. Her infections are all cleared up and we made great progress with the g-tube feedings, getting up to 8 ounces per bolus feeding, done over an hour of time. However, she was having lots of trouble with leakage if she was fed within an hour of lying down. So we could very often only get 3 bolus feedings in per day. As a result, Natalie lost over a pound since having her picc line removed. So on March 20th Natalie had another picc line inserted, this time in her right arm. It was more difficult and she was rather bruised in her upper arm. The surgeon says "next time" (we're hoping there won't be a next time) she will have to do it in the operating room, where it is more sterile and do a central line right into her chest rather than entering through an arm. She then started vomiting and seems to have a flue or something since then and hasn't been able to tolerate anything but an ounce of Pedialyte from time to time through her g-tube. So we have increased the rate and volume of her picc line feedings to cover her daily caloric needs and are waiting until we get back home to start up much of anything through her g-tube. She continues to be a happy, energetic delightful child who wins the hearts of those she spends any amount of time with. We are so proud of our other kids who are so loving and devoted to her. We are overwhelmed to the point of tears with God's awesome ways - that he would empower so many to pray for our darling girl, who is such an incredible treasure to us. God has allowed me to savor every loving moment with Natalie and enjoy it, rather than wishing she would move on to the next phase, such as walking, etc. Although she is close to walking and it is fun to see her progressing. She has said some words - daddy (of course! - he is the best), night night, Seth (next older brother), cat and has said her own name clearly three times! which has been so amazing. So thanks again so very much!!!!!!! for all your prayers and the love you send to her through our Father. He has been so good to us through all of this and we are all closer as a family than we were before this all began. No matter what we see around us, no matter what happens in our lives, let us all remember that GOD IS GOOD!!!! Trust in Him, obey Him and spread his love to everyone you encounter. Natalie has benefited already from all those who have been touched and received the love of Christ and have encountered her via in person or internet. I cannot imagine what kind of life awaits her as a result of all the prayers you have all lifted up for her. I keep trying to find a great way to thank you, but there is none good enough this side of heaven. your reward awaits you there. God bless you and protect and guide you in everything you do! Love, Lynn, mama to Natalie-beautiful.
 
 

March 7th: Back home! Things are still pretty difficult with feedings, etc, but the infection is better and also the cellulitis. Pray that Natalie will be able to sleep at night so that her parents can get some rest and also that the g-tube feedings will work without vomiting or leakage around the tube. 

February 28th: Natalie is back in the hospital with an infection around the g-tube and cellulitis in her picc line (cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin and the tissue beneath it). She is on IV antibiotics and the picc line has been removed. The doctor said the picc line has done its job, she looks so much better, has gained weight, and has "filled out." She is still not eating by mouth. Please keep her in your prayers.

February 18th: Natalie is looking better, her weight gain is not as fast as the doctors had hoped, but she seems to be holding her own. The g-tube site is much better and they've started giving her 2/3 oz in the g-tube 3 times a day. She can get herself down from the couch with no help and no coaching. We are SO thankful for all your prayer and concern and ask that you continue to pray. even though natalie is progressing some - they still don't know what the diagnosis is and she still eats nothing by mouth. God is able to heal her and give her the desire for food. Please pray with us for this miracle and continue to give God the glory.

February 5th: GOOD NEWS!!! Natalie is feeling better, and the picc line has helped her so much! We appreciate your prayers! She isn't loosing weight, she's gaining slowly. Her mom has noticed Natalie picking up on things she's worked with her on, more than she used to, like putting items IN a container and statcking things on top of each other. Natalie's mom says"We thank you all for your prayers and concern. We are feeling so loved by so many and by God, and that enables us to get through this battle. God Bless you all!!!" Please don't stop praying!

January 31st: Natalie's fever is down, and some of the complications have cleared. We thank you for your prayers!

January 30th: Just spoke with Natalie's Mom and Dad, and she has a fever of 103.6, and flu like symptoms and other complications. Her parents would ask for prayer for her and also for them.

January 29th: Natalie has been "hyrdated" via the pic line and today the doctor is discharging her to continue at home with the pic line. She sees the doctor next Thursday again. The reports on the genic testing does not come back for about one month. She is still is very bad health, there still needs to be a healing of the site from the g-tube, which hasn't healed since surgery about 5 weeks ago. We will continue to keep this updated, keep praying for her and expect something to be of help soon! 

January 28th: Talked with Natalie's mom and she said that Natalie seems more "perky" since receiving the dextrose and lipids for one week, and that is encouraging! 

January 26, 2000: A genetic doctor has seen Natalie and is interested in looking into several tests. Pray that this doctor is able to find the problem and there will be a cure. 
 
 

Mark

Paul

Hudson, Florida
(727)862-7085
Fax: (727)819-8508

Arlington, Virginia
(703)276-4695

mrickert@bigfoot.com

Diogennes@aol.com
prickert@gmu.edu 

Relationship: Natalie's Uncle 

Relationship: Natalie's Uncle 

We have had so many e-mails it would be virtually impossible to respond to each one of you, but we appreciate your input and your prayers.