She is really adorable!

What a little sweetie. How do you pronounce her name?
Leslie

Please jog my memory...I remember reading about her when she was tiny but can't remember what it was...

patti

Oh what a sweetheart!
She has come such a long way!!

she's a doll Nita!!...now tell us her story cause I missed it!

Xiola is pronounced like it starts with a Z and Zy-ola.

Xiola is my great-niece, now 2 1/2 years old. She was born on July 4 and is really Miss Indepence!

When she was born, the placenta had ruptured and she had to be taken C-section. She was dead for the first 45 minutes, then air-lifted down to children's hospital in the Twin Cities. She was a couple of months early and weighed 3pounds 7 ounces. Her mom was still bleeding heavily and couldn't go down to the Cities, she had never seen her baby girl. So my 2 sisters and I rushed down to be with the baby. The doctors were very grim. Xiola's stats were the lowest they'd ever seen, she wouldn't live the night. They advised us to pull the plug, so we had to call her desparately worried parents and tell them the bad news. They said to hold on, they were coming down in an ambulance. Mom was transfused and packed onto the ambulance and they arrived about 3 hours later. Mom had to be transfused again and hospitalized at a nearby hospital. They set up a monitor so Mom (Jen) could watch the baby. Soon we saw Dad's (Todd) tattooed hands lovingly stroking the tiny perfect little baby.

We all sat up all night, alternating time with Jen and with Xiola. Around midnight, there were several tattooed hands on the monitor, loving little Xiola. Todd's friends from childhood had heard of the tragedy and had driven from all over the state through heavy July 4th traffic to be with their buddy and his little girl.

The doctor that night gave us very grave news. Xiola would not live the night. If perchance she lived, she would never open her eyes, breathe on her own, or gain consciousness. It was so hard to believe, she was so beautiful with her perfect little fingers and toes and full head of honey-colored hair. Once her daddy showed up and started talking to her, her stats slowly picked up just a little. Next morning her mommy was wheeled up for her first visit. Her stats kept rising all that morning. We met with a new doctor that morning and she said we didn't have to decide to pull the plug right away, we could just wait and see. Mom kept saying she was going to be just fine, but the rest of us couldn't see that happening. The night doctor had had my sister, Xiola's grandma baptize her, give her the last rites. It was so traumatic. We all stayed for 3 days, even Todd's buddies, sleeping in the guest room on couches and floors. When we left to return to work, Xiola was still very sick. Once baby's are dead for a while, their bodies shut down and want to proceed to dying. Her kidneys and liver didn't function for a while, but when she first peed, we rejoiced! Luckily her bowels never shut down, a problem that takes many fragile babies.

Anyway, after wiping the many tears I've lost this morning remembering that awful time, here's the rest of the story. Xi came home finally after a few months in the hospital. She is completely normal for a 2 1/2 year old. Always yakking away, never standing still and always on the run. Her return visits to the hospital leave her doctors and nurses in tears. She doesn't have to return to the neurologist for a whole year. She does have slightly deformed calves on her legs, they curve inward. She has to sometimes wear braces, may have to have surgery after she turns 13 to straighten them, although they may straighten on their own. It is so heartwarming to see her run and race through the house squealing and giggling.

Xi's mom and dad split up a few weeks ago. We were told by friends he was back on drugs, etc. but it turned out to be untrue. Todd and Jen are trying to work things out and hope to get together again, but are taking things slow. It wasn't drugs, but severe depression (he gets it from both sides of his family). We hope Todd heals from the depression, he is a loving and good nephew.

If you'd like to see earlier pictures and read of her rough first journey, go to Caring Bridges and type in xiolaroselakin

She's just as cute as can be!!

Here is a link that might be useful: A link to her site

I remember when she was born. I am absolutely amazed at the progress she has made. She truely is a miracle baby. So beautiful!

What a beauty!

Thank you for sharing her story.

Gayle

Isn't she just darling. What a wonderful outcome.

I replied to this post shortly after you put it here, but my reply froze in cyber space.

Pass the Kleenex...God love her little heart!!!!

What a loving story for such a beautiful miracle baby. I will check out her site
later and May God Continue to watch over a glory.
Deb

She really is a wonder baby! And she's soooo cute!!

she is beautiful nita :)
may God continue to bless her and all those who hold her in their heart

What a cutie. God does work miracles!

She is a darling girl! What a blessing to have and behold. LOL

What a miracle. Thank you for refreshing my 'old' brain. She is such a cutie.
Leslie

She sure is a happy little girl. That smile could melt a granite rock. What a happy ending story--and I sure needed one today. Thanks for sharing her.