Good News! (personal)

CaptainTux · December 17th, 2003, 10:46 PM

Some of you know how much my daughter, Jessica, means to me. Some of you know she was born with a common defect in her heart. She was born with a hole between her upper chambers. Pretty common and closes in most children by 6 months of age. Hers was a bit larger than most. A little over a centimeter. The cardiologist we originally took her to wanted to operate right at 6 months. We sought a second opinion at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. We got to see Dr Cole and Dr Weigel. Some of the best they have to offer. They advised we wait and see. At one year there was no change...the decision was made to operate on her when she turned two (since there would be more of her to operate on). At two years old we brought her in for another echo...the damn thing shunk to 5-7mm. There still was not enough material for the less invasive "clamshell" procedure and the surgery would still be open heart, but it shunk. Though not unheard of at her age, it is very uncommon. So, the doctor suggests we wait 18 months to give whatever her body is doing a chance to do it. Yesterday was the appointment. This was the final call. I have not been online for a few days because I have been cramky and worried. All my fears that I allowed optimism and hope to bury resurfaced. I would give her a bath and see her perfect unscarred chest and feel a sick feeling in my gut. Frankly, I found myself angry at God and fate. She had done nothing to no one. As far as I am concerned, fate can do what it will to me as long as she is safe. Well, we had the final echo and the sonovabitch is less than a mm!!!! As far as the docs are concerned, it is as good as closed and we never have to see them again.

I took the little one to see Santa and paid far too much for the cute picture so I could have a momento of the day the world changed for me. I also got before and after heart pics form the cardiologists for the scrapbook.

I have felt bad that there are kids with cancer and more horrible situations that parents deal with every day and mine was treatable and I still allowed myself to worry...but she's mine so I guess it is natural.

Well, just wanted to share!

Cheers to all!!!!

Tux