Prayers

September 2008

I was going through old photos and found this family picture we took last year. This was taken before we found out Owen needed a transplant, before Owen required oxygen, before our lives took yet another detour.

I often wonder why Owen was chosen to bear a broken heart. Somedays we look at him, past his tape, past the tubes and see a healthy toddler. We are quickly reminded that he is fragile and look back on how much he has overcome to get here. Then my heart become heavy when I think of the journey that lies ahead.

I am scared for him. He is weak. His heart is failing. All we can do is sit back and wait for him to become more ill. Ill enough that he can't remain stable at home and requires IV medication and constant monitoring. Then, we will sit back and wait for the gift of a new heart.

We know it is out of our hands. I pray for him to have energy and strength to do simple tasks, like playing and eating. Some days he will lay in bed or on my shoulder and can't find the energy to do a single thing. Other days are better.

I will never forget our ultrasound when they told us of his heart condition. The doctor gave us all of our options for termination. The outcome sounded hopeless. Through the tears... I remember thinking, I would rather know him for a minute, then to never have known him at all. Thanks for giving us so many wonderful moments Mister Owen. We will continue to walk this journey together!

I started this blog before Owen was born with the intention of keeping an online journal. I never knew that I would meet and fall in love with so many other heart friends. Little ones fighting for their lives, losing their battles and overcoming the odds. Please pray for these girls.. their families sure could use it right now!

Meet Gabriella. She is 4 and lives just a mile or so from us. A few months back Gabriella's pediatrician heard a heart murmur. They referred her to the cardiologist for followup, as a precaution. It turns out that she has a rare condition and is in need of a heart transplant. This morning, Gabriella had a stroke. She was sent by Air vac to the hospital and cannot move the right side of her body or speak. Pray for the clot in her brain to break up and to return 100% of the function. This will put her heart transplant on hold. Click here to visit her blog. Meet Moriah. Moriah has CHARGE syndrome and has had heart surgery at LPCH (where Owen will go for transplant). Moriah has spent the past 11 months in the hospital. Each time she gets close to going home, she has setbacks with infections. Recently a vessel near her heart bled out and now she is paralyzed and sedated. Please pray for Moriah to have strength while they work on transferring her from CHLA back to LPCH so that she can get the required medical attention to her heart. Click here to visit Moriah.
There are so many more little ones that could use your prayers right now as well. I have a blogroll of most recent updates from our heart friends. These kiddos have a special strength and spirit about them.