In The Clear

A few days ago our sweet P had her second annual heart checkup.  Most days I forget all that our little girl went through, but every once in awhile, I will get a glimpse of her tiny scar and I am instantly reminded of the incredible gift of modern medicine and life itself.  I just can't even image what this life would be like, without my little buddy.  She is strong, brave, determined and bursting with personality.

She is old enough now to notice her scar.  It's pretty adorable, how she will point to it and say baby heart and while she doesn't fully understand the extensiveness of her surgery, she knows her heart is all better now.  I still can't believe how minimal her scarring is, but love the reminder of her strength and purpose on this earth.

I have a picture of P with her heart surgeon Dr. MacDonald hanging on one of our walls.  P will point to it every once in awhile and then to her heart.  I love that she recognizes him and I know that she has a special place in her heart for him.

Her appointment went perfect.  I asked one of the nurses if Dr. MacDonald was in surgery, or if he was in the office that day.  She said she would look around for him.  I didn't think that I would ever see him again, seeing as we only meet with the cardiologist at these appointments.  Much to my surprise, I heard a knock on our door and in walked Dr. MacDonald.  I instantly gave him a huge hug and a stream of emotions, shot through me just like the last time I embraced him.  

P was a little scared of him at first, but warmed up rather quickly.  She kept smiling and looking up at him, with her scrunched nose.  She gave him a big hug and I about fell on the floor.  It was too sweet. We chatted for a little bit and he told me that every time he puts on the pair of cycling socks we got him, he thinks of Penelope.  I love that he remembers his patients and makes you feel like you are his favorite.
P had to get an echo the day of her appointment.  I always worry if she will hold still and if they will be able to see what they need to.  She held perfectly still and everything checked out great.  We will come back next year for one more echo and then hopefully will only have to come back every two years.  Her cardiologist said that they may have to do an MRI when she is eight, just to make sure the blood flow is running smoothly through her left pulmonary artery.  He said will cross that bridge, when it comes.  As long as she is running and able to keep up with other kids, he said he has no concerns.  I told him how much P loves being active.  She's a champion swimmer, dancer, rough houser and my gym goer.  
As we were walking to our car, Dr. MacDonald came out of the hospital and caught up to us. He said that he was informed everything looked great.  I found it so touching that he would take the time to come out to us, just to give us one last confirmation that everything looked great.  He truly is a remarkable man.  I knew the moment I met him that something was very special about him and trusted his hands, with my daughters life.
I couldn't be happier that all is well and that I got a few updated pics of P with her hero.
HERE is a link to P's heart surgery journey if interested......

One Year Check Up

A couple of weeks ago P went in for her annual echocardiogram, to monitor the healing of her heart.  As usual I worried and worried and wondered how the whole test would turn out.  Not so much about the outcome, but how P would hold still long enough for the tech to get clear enough pictures.  Like most things, she proved me wrong.  She did amazing.  She laid still the entire time and even let out a few giggles.  That little girl impresses me more and more every day.  Everything turned out great!  What a relief it was to hear that her heart looked perfect.  

They will monitor her heart again in a year from now, just to make sure there is no scar tissue preventing a normal blood flow through her left pulmonary artery.  

I can't walk through the halls at Children's Hospital without being overcome with gratitude that everything turned out so well for Penelope.  I know what could have happened and just feel so blessed to have our baby healthy and thriving.  Modern medicine is such a blessing!  Her tiny scar has healed amazingly, but I love the little reminder it is to me every day, just how lucky I am to have her in my life.

Cherished Photos

The extraordinarily talented Stephanie Ryan contacted me and asked if she could come take some pictures of Penelope and her stay at Children's Hospital.  She captured this special time perfectly.  I will never be able to repay her for her generosity and talent.  I got a little emotional looking through these pictures and being reminded of all that Penelope went through.

Thank you Stephanie!  

One Month Post Surgery

I can't believe it has been one month since Penelope had her open heart surgery.  She is completely back to normal and good as new.  Just this past week, she has started rolling back over again.  I am sure in no time, she will be crawling.  She is still on her blood thinner, but was able to come off of the yucky diarrhetic.  She has put back on every pound she lost in the hospital and then some.  

Her scar is looking great!  I should actually say scars.  She has what I like to call, two belly buttons now.  There is a scar from the chest tube and of course a scar from the incision.  The scar was what I was most worried about and now a month later I can say I LOVE that scar.  It is a great reminder to me every day, just how lucky I am to have my baby alive and well.  I am reminded of the tender mercies of the Lord and how blessed we are to live in a time and place that has such great medical resources.  

I have already had people and kids make comments about her scar.  I know that this is just part of it.  I hope to only speak positively about her scar.  I want her to wear it with pride and be proud of all that she went through.  

“On the girl’s brown legs there were many small white scars. I was thinking, Do those scars cover the whole of you, like the stars and moons on your dress? I thought that would be pretty too, and I ask you right here please to agree with me that a scar is never ugly. That is what the scar makers want us to think. But you and I, we must make an agreement to defy them. We must see all scars a s beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, ‘I survived’."
― Chris Cleave, Little Bee

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
― Rumi

Only two more weeks and we will be able to lift her up from under her arms.  I cannot wait for that day.  We will follow back up with the cardiologist in six months.  From there she will most likely be monitored every year, until she is an adult.  

^^^This is my absolute favorite picture, that was taken in the hospital.  I love Dr. MacDonald!^^^
We had the most generous photographer, Stephanie Ryan come and take pictures of our stay.  I cannot wait to share the rest!