Today starts a countdown to Sarah’s 18th birthday on Friday. As we get near to her birthday, I thought it would be fun to post some pictures of her from past birthdays.
Hard for me to comprehend that the teeny baby in this photo will be an adult soon! This photo was taken as my mom saw Sarah for the first time in the Charlotte airport after Sarah and I had flown in from Duluth, MN. (Long story.) Sarah was just six days old. My dad and parents-in-law were there, as well.
Here she is a few weeks later.
One year old. (Texas)
Two years old. (Wisconsin) These same sweet sisters helped plan her party several years a in a row.
I’m guessing she’s five here; either in Wisconsin or Michigan.
Seventh birthday. Being in the hospital and getting chemo didn’t keep her from partying!
Here she is with Tracy, a doctor-in-training (at the time) who became very close to us during her treatment.
Same year but a few days later when she got out of the hospital.
She was crazy about horses back then so we did a pony ride.
Can’t forget a picture of her bone marrow transplant which was a birthday all its own. (January 10, 2003.)
Seven years old. Horses, again!
Eight years old; at her friend, Victoria’s house.
Nine years old. She was making that face because I had buried her real gift beneath a bunch of old clothes in a box.
Ten years old. Celebrated in Hawaii on her Make A Wish trip.
Eleven years old. This birthday was 6 weeks after she relapsed and a lot of us were wondering if this would be her last one. She got an incredible number of cards from wonderful, wonderful blog friends.
A few more miscellaneous celebrations . . .
This one was in an airport in Wisconsin; she was fourteen. (We were all flying home from my dad’s funeral.)
The airport had this sign right near the place where you go through security and have to lay down all your stuff and take off your shoes. She and I were highly entertained at the thought of being “recombobulated.”
Fifteen years old.
Sixteen years old.
Seventeen years old.
This is an extra special photo because it was just a day or two before we put Snowy to sleep. It was his last birthday to celebrate with His Girl.
I’ll close out with a personal favorite photo of mine . . . it captures her so well.
Looking forward to a big day Friday!
Happy birthday, Sarah!
It’s Friday here, Happy 18th Birthday Sarah, may your day be filled with all the love and joy possible.
Love from Bec in Sydney, Australia xxx
Truly beautiful pictures of a really beautiful young lady. Sara’s face just radiates with joy. You and Steve are truly blessed to have such a precious daughter. Hope you all have an outstanding birthday celebration tomorrow.
Happy birthday to Sarah on Friday. She and my nephew were born one day apart. His 18th birthday is today.
Happy (early) Birthday Sarah!!! I share the same day!!!! So we will be celebrating together thousands of miles apart!
Shannon,
Happy birthday to you, too! August 23 is a great day, isn’t it? 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to post all those past photos. Such a miracle she is. Does she ever feel burdened with the thought that she has to do something ‘special’ because she was given the chance for a future, like she was given it for a reason? Or is she content to just be “Sarah”?
Odd question, I know lol.
I wonder that too. 🙂 Maybe Sarah could write a post about it at some point?
And it was really lovely to go down through the memory lane. I am also excited to hear what you are doing tomorrow
I have often thought this also. I never could put it into words as Lesley did. Thank you, Lesley for expressing something some of us are wondering. As odd as it seems, my two favorite birthday photos are the one with Snowy and the one at the airport. Very poignant birthday moments of real life.
Lesley, Trine, and Mary,
Great question. Sarah will write a response soon.
Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!
I have been following you and the other three Smiths since Sarah relapsed in 2006. I am a longtime reader. 🙂 Happy early Birthday, Sarah! 🙂
11 years old. That is when I had the privilege to come to know of Sarah’s story and the wonderful, strong, faithfilled person she is and the family who is so very blessed to have her. Thank you for the birthday photos. That was very special. So many events are captured. What, oh what, will be the celebration for number 18?!! Can’t wait to see. Thanking God for her health and bright future. YAY for 18!!
She’s grown into a wonderful woman. Thanks for sharing her with all of us. What are her thoughts, your thoughts, Steve’s thoughts about college? Think she’ll go away to school like Nathan did?
Cath,
As of right now, Sarah is planning on going to the community college for the first two years and then transfer to a college within a couple miles of here. At this point, she’s not interested in going as far away as Nathan did.
What is a community college? Being a non-Americian I know what college is but not what community is
Trine,
It’s a smaller, local, 2-year college that mostly draws on students from the community, hence its name. Some students get a 2-year degree and others transfer to a larger college after their first two years to get a 4-year degree. That’s what Sarah would do.
I loved seeing all the photos of Sarah growing up. What a wonderfully l happy milestone her eighteenth birthday is!
17 years of beautiful Sarah…can’t wait to see her 18th birthday photo.
Wow, turning 18 years old. Such great milestone!! I hope Sarah has a wonderful birthday 🙂
I love the pictures over the years. Definitely a treasure 🙂