( Photo taken November 2008)
Last week we went for Griffin's yearly check up on his heart with his cardiologist.
If you don't know this part of his story it goes a little bit like this....
Within minutes of Griffin being born we found out that he had a stomach and intestine abnormality, a heart defect, and most likely Trisomy 21. In about 45 minutes he was whisked away by the Kangaroo Crew to Texas Children's Hospital about an hour away from where I was recovering from a C-section.
He stayed at Texas Children's for his first 6 weeks, where they repaired his stomach and intestines, and where we learned of his heart defects in a more thorough depth.
He had two congenital heart defects ( we now know there were actually three). A complete AV Canal and Tetralogy of Fallot.
They repaired his heart on November 10, 2008 when Griffin was 10 months old.
Open heart surgery at 10 months old. And he was home in 10 days.
Now almost two years since that very scary time we go in for his yearly check up and we are blessed to hear all good news.
Good news about how well his heart is doing, good news about how well the surgeon did the repair, good news about how the third defect a VSD, that showed up after the big repair was made, is almost nearly closed completely on its own, good news about how Griffin is one of the doctors top three strongest patients at this point, good news that we don't have to go back for 1.5 years this time.
And I just am in awe, that we are here. In this place that I dreamed of, where these things were behind us. I feel as though I have witnessed a miracle and I most certainly have.
It reminds me that the daily life I have now, is sheer bliss, sheer perfection, and that there is so much to be thankful for.
Since a big part of my life has been hospital stays and terrifying medical scares my heart goes out the most to those families in that right now. I think about the terrifying reality it brings you to that you are actually not the one in control and that you never really were and you never really will be. When Griffin's health was super fragile I used to imagine that before him I lived with a curtain in front of my face that let me think that I controlled a lot in my life, and then with Griffin that curtain was removed and I had to face, eyes opened, that I actually am not the one in control, and this then led me to surrender and it broke my heart because I was sacred to let go. And I am constantly still having to surrender daily to what is and although it is still scary, it seems a little less scary each time, and little more peaceful each time.
I bought Griffin this print here
shortly after his heart surgery and I have it framed in his room to help me remember all the hardness and better still the goodness that came from his broken heart.
And I know I posted this picture last post, but I love it and I didn't feel like uploading new photos to my computer this morning :)
Our little big hearted, mended hearted, strong hearted boy!
And if you think about it send out a prayer or a thought to all the mothers and families out there still very in the midst of medical scares.
That they may find God and purpose in all of it.
3 comments:
We love you, Griffin!!! (And your Mama and Daddy, too!)I am so, so, so happy about his good check-up!!!
I love your posts! You are one amazing mama. <3
Such touching words... "I had to face, eyes opened, that I actually am not the one in control, and this then led me to surrender and it broke my heart because I was sacred to let go. And I am constantly still having to surrender daily to what is and although it is still scary, it seems a little less scary each time, and little more peaceful each time."
I, too, have been blessed with a son who has one extra chromosome and it has been eye-opening and heart-widening for me, too. What a blessing we all share, even though there is pain and tears sometimes. Super glad to know your little one's heart is healthy and strong today!
This one made me cry. But I love it and you and your boys.
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