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| Home / Nov/Dec 2009 / Feature Stories / Tinsley’s Miracle: A little girl’s story serves as an inspiration to others |
Nov/Dec 2009
By Stephen V. Smith
Sometimes life is hard. Really hard. So hard that you see no way around, over or through the challenge that stands before you. When you face these moments of heartache, of trouble — of hard times — you need more than encouragement. You need more than inspiration. You need more than sympathetic words from well-meaning friends.
What you need is a miracle.
HARD DAYS AHEAD
The year 2004 was drawing to a close, and Todd Andrews and Patti Gilbert Andrews of Rainsville knew it would not be long before they welcomed their first child into the world. There had been problems already, when Patti had gone into premature labor in the early fall, and now it looked like their daughter would arrive a full month before her due date.
December 8 will always be celebrated as the day Tinsley Elizabeth Andrews was born. It is also the day her family began a long journey, one that took them from heartbreak to helplessness to hope.
“We immediately knew something was wrong,” Patti recalls. Tinsley had a genetic condition known as kniest dysplasia. Among its symptoms are a cleft palate and a weakened wind pipe. Due to complications caused by her condition, Tinsley was flown to the neonatal ICU at Huntsville Hospital where she was treated for a week.
The cleft palate was causing serious problems for Tinsley. The large opening in the roof of her mouth made it almost impossible for the tiny baby to swallow. Unable to eat or drink normally, despite the feeding techniques her parents were taught, little Tinsley was literally starving.
But there was hope. And it came in the form of two words, words that have changed the lives of thousands of children since 1911 — “Children’s Hospital.”
GOING TO CHILDREN'S
Tinsley’s two-week checkup was a turning point in her young life. “The doctor told me she was not getting the nourishment she needed,” says Patti, “and that we need to get her to Children’s Hospital right away. We were so scared.”
Todd and Patti did not know what to expect. What they found at Children’s Hospital was a caring staff that was well-trained to care for children with serious medical conditions. On the second day of 2005, Tinsley underwent fundoplication surgery, a procedure in which the upper curve of the stomach is wrapped around the esophagus and sewn into place in order to prevent food and stomach acid from backing up into the esophagus.
Feeding tubes were also inserted into her tiny tummy, allowing food to be inserted directly into her stomach. Together, these procedures would ensure that Tinsley’s body could begin to strengthen and grow.
The baby’s most challenging days yet were ahead of her. At just 10 months of age, Tinsley underwent surgery to repair her cleft palate. It was a painful, difficult procedure, but it was the beginning of a new life for her.
The following months were difficult. “It was such a hard time,” says Patti. “It was hard on everyone. And I can’t imagine how hard it was on Tinsley.”
Thanks to the skill of the surgeons and staff at Children’s Hospital, Tinsley would soon be able to eat, speak, laugh and play like other children her age.
TINSLEY TODAY
December 8, 2009, was a special day. It was the fifth birthday of a little girl who has faced down giants, who has stood toe-to-toe with death and declared that she would not be defeated.
Tinsley is in her second year of attending pre-school at DeKalb Baptist Mission Center. She is filled with the questions five-year-olds ask as they wonder at the world around them. Her energy is inexhaustible, her life is full steam ahead.
Tinsley’s doctors say there is no way to predict her future health. She wears glasses and hearing aids to help with her vision and hearing problems, but otherwise she leads a healthy, active life.
“It’s hard to comprehend how far she’s come,” says Patti. “Tinsley is proof that dynamite comes in small packages! When I look at the progress she’s made, it’s difficult to imagine her as that sick little baby we came so close to losing.”
Those days of hollow darkness will never completely fade from memory, but they grow fainter as Tinsley’s future grows brighter. “Because of Children’s Hospital, we have hope,” Patti says. “The doctors, the nurses, the entire staff at Children’s worked a miracle — and
because of that Tinsley, has a chance at life."
SHARING THE MIRACLE
Earlier this year, Patti Gilbert received a phone call from Children’s Hospital regarding a letter she had written them. Her letter had simply expressed her appreciation for all Children’s Hospital had done to help Tinsley lead a normal life. Now she had a chance to share her miracle in a way that would help others.
“They wanted to use Tinsley’s story as an example to show the good work they do at Children’s,” Patti said. “Of course, we were excited to be part of it, and appreciated the opportunity to help.”
In October, Tinsley’s story of hope appeared in a letter sent by Children’s Hospital to potential supporters. “I hope by reading her story, more people are moved to support the work of Children’s Hospital,” say Patti. “That will allow them to help more children like Tinsley. We will never know how many lives will be impacted by the story of her struggles and the miracle we found at Children’s Hospital. We’re so proud to be part of the Children’s family.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF BIRMINGHAM
Children’s Health System is an integrated child health care network dedicated to providing comprehensive pediatric expertise for the children of Alabama. To help Children’s work a miracle in the lives of other special children like Tinsley, contact Ann Langley, Director of Development for Annual Giving, at ann.langley@chsys.org, or call 205-939-9172. To learn more, visit www.chsys.org.
Tinsley’s Miracle: A little girl’s story serves as an inspiration to others
Back
Tinsley Andrews
By Stephen V. Smith
Sometimes life is hard. Really hard. So hard that you see no way around, over or through the challenge that stands before you. When you face these moments of heartache, of trouble — of hard times — you need more than encouragement. You need more than inspiration. You need more than sympathetic words from well-meaning friends.
What you need is a miracle.
HARD DAYS AHEAD
The year 2004 was drawing to a close, and Todd Andrews and Patti Gilbert Andrews of Rainsville knew it would not be long before they welcomed their first child into the world. There had been problems already, when Patti had gone into premature labor in the early fall, and now it looked like their daughter would arrive a full month before her due date.
December 8 will always be celebrated as the day Tinsley Elizabeth Andrews was born. It is also the day her family began a long journey, one that took them from heartbreak to helplessness to hope.
“We immediately knew something was wrong,” Patti recalls. Tinsley had a genetic condition known as kniest dysplasia. Among its symptoms are a cleft palate and a weakened wind pipe. Due to complications caused by her condition, Tinsley was flown to the neonatal ICU at Huntsville Hospital where she was treated for a week.
The cleft palate was causing serious problems for Tinsley. The large opening in the roof of her mouth made it almost impossible for the tiny baby to swallow. Unable to eat or drink normally, despite the feeding techniques her parents were taught, little Tinsley was literally starving.
But there was hope. And it came in the form of two words, words that have changed the lives of thousands of children since 1911 — “Children’s Hospital.”
GOING TO CHILDREN'S
Tinsley’s two-week checkup was a turning point in her young life. “The doctor told me she was not getting the nourishment she needed,” says Patti, “and that we need to get her to Children’s Hospital right away. We were so scared.”
Todd and Patti did not know what to expect. What they found at Children’s Hospital was a caring staff that was well-trained to care for children with serious medical conditions. On the second day of 2005, Tinsley underwent fundoplication surgery, a procedure in which the upper curve of the stomach is wrapped around the esophagus and sewn into place in order to prevent food and stomach acid from backing up into the esophagus.
Feeding tubes were also inserted into her tiny tummy, allowing food to be inserted directly into her stomach. Together, these procedures would ensure that Tinsley’s body could begin to strengthen and grow.
The baby’s most challenging days yet were ahead of her. At just 10 months of age, Tinsley underwent surgery to repair her cleft palate. It was a painful, difficult procedure, but it was the beginning of a new life for her.
The following months were difficult. “It was such a hard time,” says Patti. “It was hard on everyone. And I can’t imagine how hard it was on Tinsley.”
Thanks to the skill of the surgeons and staff at Children’s Hospital, Tinsley would soon be able to eat, speak, laugh and play like other children her age.
Tinsley Andrews poses for a Christmas photo around her first birthday.
TINSLEY TODAY
December 8, 2009, was a special day. It was the fifth birthday of a little girl who has faced down giants, who has stood toe-to-toe with death and declared that she would not be defeated.
Tinsley is in her second year of attending pre-school at DeKalb Baptist Mission Center. She is filled with the questions five-year-olds ask as they wonder at the world around them. Her energy is inexhaustible, her life is full steam ahead.
Tinsley’s doctors say there is no way to predict her future health. She wears glasses and hearing aids to help with her vision and hearing problems, but otherwise she leads a healthy, active life.
“It’s hard to comprehend how far she’s come,” says Patti. “Tinsley is proof that dynamite comes in small packages! When I look at the progress she’s made, it’s difficult to imagine her as that sick little baby we came so close to losing.”
Those days of hollow darkness will never completely fade from memory, but they grow fainter as Tinsley’s future grows brighter. “Because of Children’s Hospital, we have hope,” Patti says. “The doctors, the nurses, the entire staff at Children’s worked a miracle — and
because of that Tinsley, has a chance at life."
SHARING THE MIRACLE
Earlier this year, Patti Gilbert received a phone call from Children’s Hospital regarding a letter she had written them. Her letter had simply expressed her appreciation for all Children’s Hospital had done to help Tinsley lead a normal life. Now she had a chance to share her miracle in a way that would help others.
“They wanted to use Tinsley’s story as an example to show the good work they do at Children’s,” Patti said. “Of course, we were excited to be part of it, and appreciated the opportunity to help.”
In October, Tinsley’s story of hope appeared in a letter sent by Children’s Hospital to potential supporters. “I hope by reading her story, more people are moved to support the work of Children’s Hospital,” say Patti. “That will allow them to help more children like Tinsley. We will never know how many lives will be impacted by the story of her struggles and the miracle we found at Children’s Hospital. We’re so proud to be part of the Children’s family.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF BIRMINGHAM
Children’s Health System is an integrated child health care network dedicated to providing comprehensive pediatric expertise for the children of Alabama. To help Children’s work a miracle in the lives of other special children like Tinsley, contact Ann Langley, Director of Development for Annual Giving, at ann.langley@chsys.org, or call 205-939-9172. To learn more, visit www.chsys.org.
