The addition of a “Zipper”

It is CHD (Congenital Heart Defect) Awareness week and we asked for you our friends and commentates to send us your stories.  We are so glad Meghan answer the call. Read her words and smile big. 

Pippa is a typical two year old. Spending her days running at full force, playing with everything within her reach, laughing, smiling, and throwing tantrums, she enjoys being read to, making unimaginable messes, and splashing water at bath time. It is during her nightly shower that I can best see the scar that graces her chest, leaving a reminder of just how strong she truly is.

Had it not been for the the diagnosis of her Atrioventricular Canal Defect when I was still pregnant with Pippa, I would have never guessed there was anything wrong with her heart. She was an active baby, and never displayed any signs of distress. She nursed like a champion, although she still remained quite tiny.

When Pippa was merely 4 months old, she underwent a heart catheteritzation so the doctors could determine how badly her heart was actually leaking and regurgitating. It was my first taste of what it would be like on surgery day. It felt like an eternity from when I handed my daughter over the to doctors to when they brought her back to us, but in reality it wasn’t more than a couple hours. Waiting in that little room, watching the clock tick by seconds, all I could think about was “How can I possibly handle surgery day?”

Another 4 months later, the big day crept up on us. There were a lot of tears as we kissed our baby and handed her to the surgical team. Off to the waiting room we went and the agonizing wait began. After nearly 6 hours, the surgeon walked into the room and gave us the news we had been waiting so anxiously for; our daughter’s heart was fixed.

Pippa’s recovery couldn’t have gone any smoother, and for that, we are forever grateful. She was strong going into the surgery and strong coming out. It seemed as if the the doctors were able to remove a line or monitor everyday. By the third day, we were able to put Pippa in a stroller and walk around the hospital, as she was getting restless sitting in bed all day. We must have walked 50 miles exploring those hallways. Pippa made a few new friends with the nurses on the floor, as they loved seeing her cruise around and smile.
   
We were released from the hospital exactly one week post surgery. Pippa came home the same beautiful baby that I knew before, with the addition of her “zipper”. She is my little heart warrior, and I am so proud to be her mother.

Thank you so much for sharing Pippa’s story with us Meghan. We are so glad Pippa is a part of our Playhouse family and we all look forward to see what she makes of her precious life.