Walk With the Heart of a Child

I can't recall if I told everyone this. I can't actually recall if I told anyone this. The very first day when I went to visit Sam in the NICU I got to see her around 5:30am briefly by myself. It was heaven. My husband came to the hospital first thing that morning and we went to the NICU together- I think that was around 8:30. As we approached Sam's isolette we noticed that there was someone else standing beside it and they had a portable cart with a big machine on it. I assumed that cart and person belonged to the baby next to Sam. After all, no one had told us there were any problems with our baby other than the fact that she was born early.

A smiling doctor turned around and said "Hi, I'm Dr. M. I'm the cardiologist and I'll be doing the echo on your baby's heart. We have detected a heart murmur."

My own heart dropped. A heart murmur. It could be minor. It could be major. The doctor was kind and gentle, explaining through every step what he was looking at. We watched the monitor as they gently pressed against her tiny chest to get photos of her heart. We watched, and listened as he explained that it is very common for a small section of the wall of the heart to not be fully closed at birth.

Sam had three sections that were not closed. The doctor was very optimistic that they would heal and he left me feeling fairly confident that they would heal and no surgery would be necessary.

We followed up with him at the end of November I think it was. She still has one section that has not healed, and may never close. He wasn't overly concerned about it and I suppose because of his demeanor I am also fairly calm about it. Heart murmurs are very common. She is healthy and doesn't seem to be struggling in any way and so most days I don't even think about it.

But we are the lucky ones. Others are not so lucky. Their tiny infants go through surgery. They require special care throughout their lives. Some don't make it.

I believe that everything happens for a reason. In February of 2006 a coworker asked me to do a fundraiser for the Children's Heart Foundation. I did it and I felt great about it. I didn't even have children yet but I just knew that it was a worthy cause. Funny thing, I was pregnant with Hayley when I did that walk, I just didn't know it yet.

At any rate, this fundraiser is now closer to my heart than ever before, no pun intended. I am walking this year with my girls, and for my own baby Sam. I am trying to raise just 150.00. Not much. I would love to raise more, but I know the economy is tough. I am asking you to go to this link and donate a buck. If you have more, great. If you can only spare a buck, do it. Skip your weekly specialty coffee and donate that amount to the Childrens's Heart Foundation. Chances are, if you are not directly related to someone that has been affected then you at least know someone that has. And you never know, someday it could hit even closer to home.

Please support me in my efforts to raise money for the Children's Heart Foundation. Every dollar counts.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Again,no pun intended.

Comments

[Mrs M]

Jenn - I tried to donate, but several times it wouldn't accept my details, I don't know if it has anything to do with being in the UK or not. I will keep trying, if not I'll think of another way to donate.

[Laura]

Oh yeah...guess we forgot to tell you. Harrison has a heart murmur too. They detected it when he was about 2 or so. The doctors weren't real worried at that time and it's never been a problem.