Unexpected Blessings

She wasn't who we expected.

After several serious heart cases, we chose to bring Bess to NDFH because her condition wasn't quite so serious. We knew our staff needed the emotional break. Though she definitely needed surgery, it wouldn't be as difficult as many of the surgeries we complete, and we thought she would be the perfect respite from months of hard cases.

Except she wasn't.

Within hours of arriving at the foster home, she went into congestive heart failure. We rushed her to the hospital. The doctors put her into a medically-induced coma to stabilize her. After several days, she was finally stable enough to have her operation, and the doctors did emergency surgery on a Sunday -- something they rarely do.

She recovered quickly and came home to our foster home. She has such a sweet and gentle spirit. She loves to cuddle, and when she smiles really big, she gets the cutest little dimple on her upper right cheek.

We're all in love.

She arrived not a minute too late.

If she had gone into congestive heart failure at her orphanage, there would have been very little anyone could have done, and our precious Bess wouldn't be here today.

When we think back on our decision to bring in an "easy" case, we can't help but be thankful for who we got instead.