Our Lil' Hero: The Day I Became a Heart Mother

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The Day I Became a Heart Mother

I Am A Heart Mother

One day my world came crashing down, I'll never be the same... They told me that my child was sick.. I thought, am I to blame? I don't think I can handle this...I'm really not that strong.. It seemed my heart was breaking..As, I'd loved him for so long. I will not give up on this child.. despite your best "advice".. I will give my child a chance.. No matter what the price.. And I will learn all that I need.. to help my child to thrive... I'll even use that feeding tube.. My child will survive! And he'll needs lots of therapy? And he just can't gain weight? Alright God I can do this.. I will not curse our fate. The feeding pump beeps,( at 3:00 a.m.) It serves as my reminder.. How many parents would welcome that sound? Tomorrow Lord, I will be kinder.Another angel earns their wings.. and I run to my sleeping child's bed.. I watch him then, for quite awhile.. (I bend down and kiss his head) Then I cry for the parent's whose lives have been broken..And I look to You wondering why? Oh Lord, I just can't know your ways.. No matter how I try. And yet, I trust You hold his life..(and guide us through each day) My mind says savor each moment he's here...But my heart whispers,"Please let him stay". From... pacing the surgical waiting room... to sitting by his hospital bed... From... wishing for a good nights sleep.. to learning every med..From... wondering will he be alright? to watching him reach out his hands.. with every smile, my heart just melts..(despite life's harsh demands) For all who see that faded line.. I look to them and smile.. You see my child is loved so much..I would face any trial... That same scar I trace with my finger.. (It's the door to his beautiful heart) You must have known how much I'd love him.. (Just as You loved him right from the start) A heart mom is always a heart mom.. (wise beyond all of her years) And for those who have angels in heaven.. Our hearts share in all of your tears.. On Mother's Day I will remember.. You chose me for him(and no other) And I will embrace that beautiful day.. When I became a "heart mother".

-Stephanie Husted

Well today is that day! Today marks the one year since Mason was Life Flighted to Primary Children's Medical Center. I am soooo grateful for the advancement in modern medicine and cardiothorasic surgeries in the past decade so our sweet little baby Mason could still be here with us today! We are so thankful for all the staff at Primarys for taking such good care of him and of us during the past year! I wouldn't have wanted to at any other hospital! We are so blessed and instead of today being a downer day it is a day of celebration for an amazing heart warrior!!! WE LOVE YOU MASON!!!! ♥♥♥

This is the pic from my phone of Mason in the ER before he was sent. I can't believe how much fluid he retained over the 3 weeks. It was because he was in full heart failure, but he pulled strong and defeat the very slim odds they gave him. If you saw him today you wouldn't know that anything was wrong with him,(except now in the cold weather his lips are a little bluish) but other than that he looks PERFECT!

♥

3 comments:

Hallie Stokes said...: I am so grateful for Mason and his strength! And I am very thankful for YOU and how much strength you have had in all of this! Heavenly Father couldn't have picked a better Mother than you, Mollie! I love you and you are an inspiration to me to be a better person and mother! Thanks for being who you are...i <3 you!; October 25, 2011 at 10:44 AM
jastalfam said...: so glad mason is doing well now and that i can follow his story! and what an amazing story it is!!! what a tough little guy!; October 25, 2011 at 12:20 PM
Manny and Tylin said...: Hey I'm so glad little Mason made it through his rough patch. You are so strong, and I'll keep praying for him and your family.; October 25, 2011 at 3:41 PM

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A little about Mason

This is a journey through Hypoplasic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Mason was born on October 1, 2010 as what we thought was a healthy normal baby boy. At 3 weeks old we found out when he was life flighted to Primary Children's Medical Center that he was born with an Unbalanced AV Canal Defect that caused him to have Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. He also was diagnosed with 2 Large ASD's a VSD, a CoArch of the Aorta, and a small leaky Mitral Valve. He had his first open heart surgery, the Norwood, in the end of October 2010. After surgery his chest was left open and they surgically closed it a few days later after the swelling went down. He had his second open heart surgery, the Glenn, in January 2011. He did great with recovery and got discharged 1 week later. We had him home for 1 day then he was rushed back to the hospital where they found he had a sternal infection and had to open him back up and wash out all the infection and he had a picc line placed for 6 weeks for antibiotics. He had a couple of heart caths during that time, and echo every 3-6 months, and eye surgery.
In February 2013 we sent his records to Boston to explore different surgical options for him. We found out he was a candidate for a surgery called the Staged Left Ventricle Recruitment to the BiVent. With this surgery it would grow his left ventricle to normal size and then give him normal circulation to hopefully avoid him having to have a heart transplant. (if we didn't go this route we have been told with his anatomy he would need a transplant in his teens). With the help of friends, family, and strangers we went to Boston where he had the first of hopefully only 2 surgeries. He had his 3rd open heart surgery in June and right now his heart is growing and conditioning to be able to handle the load of the work that a normal heart does. He is due to have his 4th open heart surgery in the first of 2014.