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Olivia’s Story: The Littlest Girl’s Biggest Birthday
July 25, 2010
Birthdays are a big deal for every little girl. For North Escambia resident Olivia Bush, her seventh birthday was a big deal in ways she might not realize.
We first introduced you to Olivia last December in a story titled “A Christmas Wish: A Cure For Olivia”.
Olivia Bush’s story started July 22, 2003, almost four months before there should have been a first chapter in her life. Born at just 22 weeks, she stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit three and half months, defying doctors and coming home two weeks before her due date. Olivia is the second youngest baby to ever survive at Sacred Heart Hospital.
She is blind, able to see just a little light with her left eye. And she suffered frequent seizures — until a portion of her brain was removed in February at Miami Children’s Hospital. During the surgery, doctors removed a seven centimeter portion of her brain — basically taking out the bad, non-functioning portion and leaving behind the good, healthy tissue.
She has been seizure-free since. And that was reason for the Bush family to celebrate a little more on the occasion of birthday number seven.
When the big birthday was winding down and the kids were in bed, mom Amber Bush took a quiet moment to go through some of the items from the Sacred Heart NICU and reflect on the days and weeks after the birth of their baby girl, who weighed barely a pound and a quarter.
Amber Bush, in her own words:
“We would just go in the waiting room and pray,” she said of one occasion in the neonatal intensive care unit. “We had no clue until after the fact, that she was so sick. The nurses told us that they couldn’t even look at us because Olivia was about to die. They knew what was coming and we had no clue. But, Olivia was a fighter and she slowly got better and better. I thank God that he shielded us from so much. I really don’t think I could have handled it.
“And, looking back, we really had no clue what we were going through. God shielded us from all the bad that was happening to Olivia and kept reassuring us that she would be OK. He was showing all of those doctors and nurses a true miracle right before their eyes.
“I thank God for these last seven years. They have been seven of the most rewarding years of my life. Not many people get to see their baby develop outside the womb. Not many people get to see a one pound baby fight for life after doctors wanted to abort her.”
It was, truly, a happy birthday.
Top photo courtesy Portrait Innovations.
Comments
35 Responses to “Olivia’s Story: The Littlest Girl’s Biggest Birthday”
Happy Birthday!!!!
happy birthday little one! may you see many many more!
Happy Birthday!!!
Happy birthday Olivia!!!
Happy B~Day!!! I do not know this little girl but the story really touched me!! She stole my heart!!
Happy Birthday to a beautiful little girl! You truly are a blessing! I am still praying for you! GOD is an awesome GOD!!!! (:
Happy Birthday to such a Pretty Young Girl May You Continue To Be Blessed!!!!!!
Happy Birthday Olivia. God is an awesome God, and you are living proof of that.
Happy Birthday Olivia! God Bless you & your family!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA!!
Im not sure if you’ll remember me or not but you’d probably remember best as “Ms.Kristen.” I was a student from tate that came and worked with you in Mrs.Fleming’s class.You are a very remarkable little girl. I have wondered about you since i left that class and to see that you are doing well is good to know. You are so much stronger than i think i could ever be. I’m so happy for you and your family.
Love always, Ms.Kristen
This was another milestone birthday, being the first that your siezure free. God is such an amazing God. I am so thankful that I know him as one of his children. I couldn’t imagine going through these times without knowing him. I am so proud of ya’ll , Tad and Amber for being the Christians you are and raising Olivia for the Lord and just like ya’ll Pop and gran gran give God all the glory. So Happy Birthday to you, baby girl.
Happy Birthday Boo Boop POP loves you very very much you and Simon are so special to me and Gran Gran, May God Bless You Love POP
Bee-ya loves you, sweet girl!!!
Happy B’Day Olivia, God is so good. you are such an inspiration to all who know you. Amber you and Tad are awsome parents.
May God bless Miss Olivia with many, many more birthdays.
Happy Birthday Olivia .Our little MIRACLE AND MANY MANY MORE. GOD BLESS ALL. NOTHINGS TOO HARD FOR GOD.
happy bithday olivia….and many many more, hope to meet you one day, with much love your cousin traci
Happy Birthday, Olivia! GOD IS GOOD!
Happy Birthday Olivia! I love you very much. I am so blessed to know you. You’ve taught me more than I could ever teach you.
This story is amazin. I myself was born early, not nearly as much as olivia but enough to where I had to go to the NICU, my sister did as well. I’ll be graduatin next year and my plans are going to USA and fullfiling my dream of becomin a neonatologist, the doctor in the NICU. This story inspires me even more to continue forward to become a neonatologist. Children are precious gifts and deserve a fightin chance in life. Olivia’s story proves that even the weakest babies can grow to be strongest people through determined doctors and the lord above!
Happy Birthday! Olivia glad to see you doing well. Happy for you Tad and Amber.
Hi Amber, I don’t know if you will remember me but I was one of Olivia’s NICU nurses. I continue to be amazed at all Olivia has been through ( and you too!). I didn’t hear of the surgery in Miami…maybe because I retired last May after 35 years at Sacred Heart. She is such a beautiful young lady. I wish her all the best and thank the good Lord for keeping her under his loving hands.
What a blessing this is for this family and such a pretty little girl.
happy birthday Olivia!!!!!!!!!! God Bless You and your family!!!!!!!!
Happy B-Day Olivia
This is such and amazing story. I, myself am a mother of a NICU baby. I know exactly what this family went through. My baby is still in the NICU. We have been there for 109 days and still counting. It is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. This story is proof that miracles do happen. This little girl and this family are such an inspiration to me. Happy Birthday to such a sweet little girl!
i’m so happy her story is on here…been thinking of this lil girl since she went n and had the last surgery….she is a blessing given to everyone around her and most importantly her parents! i’m a parent of a nicu child myself and would keep praying for my child to get better..(of which is has) and hope god never lets this wonderful blessed child out his heart! 0×0x0×0x0x baby girl!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA!
I was a 24 week preemie meself… so I always reserve a cheering section for preemies.
Happy Birthday, Olivia! God Bless You.
Miracles happen. HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA!
I am so glad that this youngun made it. In the words of a college instructor that I deeply appreciate: “Look at what God can do…. It’s AWESOME!!”
Such an inspirational little girl! i wish her and her family all the best. That picture is just toooooo adorable! =)
Here’s a hug from me, sweetheart!!
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
OH HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!