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| " Pop, Welcome to the Zipper Club!" |
On the positive front, Hayden is doing great. He had a Cardiology check up on August 2nd and there was much good news to report. The boy has gotten taller and put on weight. More importantly, his heart function looks better than ever and his tricuspid valve leakage is now considered MILD!!!! ( That is a really, really good thing). He even got to drop one of his meds, and, it was a diurectic. His next check up is in April. That's right, eight months. That is the longest we have ever been allowed to go and we couldn't be happier. I have 7 more months before I feel like I want to puke in my purse:-) ( That is how I spend the week prior to Cardiology appointments. Yes, I lnow howe utterly irrational that is and I plan to continue doing it. Thanks.)
On the less than positive front, my father decided he wasn't getting enough attention and needed to be part of the cardiac adventure, too. While inpatient for a hip replacement, it was discovered that he had a 95% blockage to the main artery of his heart. He needed bypass surgery. He was hospitalized for seven weeks and faced multiple complications. Some folks will do anything to get more attention ;-)
Hayden tried to offer up advice, but really can't remember much of his hospitalizations...thank you ,Didaudid. So, he decided to pose for the picture above, write his Pop a note and welcome him to the zipper club.( I know many of you have not seen H's chest. He actually isn't shy about his scars, at all. He just likes to wear surf shirts, a post-op necessity that has become habit for him. Hope you aren't put off by it. They are all part of H's story.The smaller ones are all from drainage tubes/pigtails, the long one is from his open heart surgeries( duh), the one on his mouth is from a sore caused by being on a vent and the one near his neck is where he was prepped for ECMO- but thankfully, didn't need it.)
So, as I type this and reflect on the time of year, I can't help but feel a great sense of appreciation that my two heart warriors are doing so well. I know that even though the past few months have been difficult ( and my Dad still has much recovering to do), we are blessed in so many ways. As we gathered together last week for Rosh Hashanah, we noted how blessed we were to all be together and to simply be. This evening and tomorrow will bring more reflection on the past year and optimism for the year to come. I know my fast will be meaningful this year, as I have much to reflect upon. I also know that blessings come hidden under the icky stuff, sometimes.
I hope this New Year brings health, happiness and peace to all of you.
