Wonder Girl

Though Zoe has only been here for six months, it is hard to remember life without her. She is such an important part of all of lives, and we are amazed by how much and how deeply we love her in such a short period of time. We wonder exactly how this little girl from thousands of miles away has worked her way so quickly straight into the center of our hearts.

To say that Zoe is a lot like her mama is quite the understatement, and that makes me

love her all the more deeply. I can't imagine that Tori could have given birth to a child any more like her. Both of these girls are crazy competitive, sharp as tacks, full of mischief, and overflowing with love. Not to mention that both of them will laugh their tales off if they happen to see you fall! They are quite

a pair, and I wonder as I watch them that even though Tori didn't give birth to Zoe, they are as much mother and daughter as any two could be.

And I'd love to report about all the amazing things Zoe has learned to say in six short months, but in truth, there is no way to report those things because there is absolutely nothing she can't and doesn't say! I'm amazed when I talk with her or when I watch her interacting with the other kids, and I realize that six short months ago, her life was so very different. And as I watch her experience and process so many firsts - first time in her room, first trip to the zoo, first birthday party, first time on the beach, first day of school, and so many more, savoring every moment of experience, I can't help but feel a sense of wonder at all the ways she is learning and growing.

In a truly strange turn of events that had Zoe receive a chest x-ray just to double check

about a cough she had very intermittently, doctors discovered that Zoe had paraesophegial hiatal hernia, which means in very simplified terms that her stomach was in her lungs! Most children born with this condition don't live more than 10 days. And those who do have horrific symptoms. Zoe, having lived the vast majority of her life in a third world country, was not even diagnosed until the age of four, at which point she was completely symptomless. A complete wonder.

So, much to our surprise and really confusion, doctors at Vanderbilt informed Tori and Derek that a seemingly-healthy Zoe would need to undergo a seven hour surgery that would likely involve cutting her open, and possibly even involve cracking her chest. So, our seemingly healthy, energetic, happy girl needed major surgery that was likely to leave her feeling worse (at least in the short run) than she felt before. It could not have made less sense. I told Tori it was the exact opposite of what many parents face when they know something is wrong with their child, but can't get anyone to tell them what. It was the feeling of being convinced your child is totally fine, but not be able to get a clean bill of health, and worse, being told she would need to undergo major surgery. And we were all left to wonder how and why this was happening.

But despite the frustration and fear, Tori and Derek totally rose to the occasion and prepared themselves and Zoe for the big day, and in true "White-family style," even managed to make surgery exciting with presents, movies, and ice cream. And on Thursday, October 27, at 9:45 a.m., Zoe's surgery began. And

though the surgery did in fact take seven hours, Zoe's amazing surgeon, Dr. Rauth, was able to perform it laporascopically, and though he prepared them for at least a five day stay, Zoe was discharged less than 48 hours post-op! By Saturday at lunchtime, Zoe was home and ready to play, with her only complaint being that everyone else was eating solid food and she couldn't.The symptomless wonder girl recovered without any of the possible complications we had been warned about!

And though she should have been still been in the hospital, she trick-or-treated her little heart out on her first Halloween. And at 10 days post-op, the lack of

solid food remains her only complaint. She hasn't complained of any pain, she hasn't wretched or vomited, she hasn't even acted more tired or sluggish. And though now I'm left wondering how to grind up turkey so she can have an authentic first Thanksgiving, in light of what we could be dealing with, soft food is a manageable problem. Truly, Zoe is an unstoppable force of nature. A strong survivor. Our wonder girl!

We thank God that He has and continues to have His hand upon Zoe's life. And that He set about to see her healed when we didn't even know she need it. Truly, He has shown Himself to be wonder-ful through His work in her life.