The last few weeks have been stressful, hectic, emotional,ridiculously exhausting,and then finally
comforting. For the first time in almost a year, when it comes to Adriana, Matt and I can finally breathe.
Today I took Addy to her pediatrician for a follow-up. The nurses adored her, as usual, since she is finally back to her old smiley self. She's also gaining weight like she should be (she is now 14 pounds, 5 ounces). When I told the nurses she was only 11 days post-op, they stared at me in disbelief. One even asked me, "Eleven
days?" Yes, *DAYS*. Addy is sore in the mornings, and is still on a diuretic (which she hates the taste of), until Thursday, but for the most part she is happy. How did we become so lucky? I remember those appointments during my pregnancy--especially the first one at UMMC. The doctors had thrown phrases around like "heterotaxy syndrome" and "not compatible with life". They warned us that things could be "unfixable" and "debilitating"... and perhaps fatal. As time went on, opinions changed and never have I ever been so relieved to find out that the first doctors had given an incorrect diagnosis (I do not fault them--ultrasounds are difficult tools to use for diagnosis, even in this day in age).
Again, how did we become so lucky? Adriana's heart has adapted so well. She successfully built defenses to carry on. And, not just carry on--but *thrive*. Due to umbilical cord issues she could have died at any point during the pregnancy. Her heart could have starting failing shortly after birth. She could have been unable to sufficiently band her pulmonary artery--or perhaps worse--built up too much obstruction in the artery to her lungs. She could have had to have the Rastelli procedure. But none of those terrible things happened. Instead, for the most part, things got better. Positive news seemed to become a trend.
I cannot express how thankful I am. I am grateful for the support system we have (family, friends, doctors, nurses). I am grateful that Addy is not only with us, but she will be able to run and play with her sisters. She will be able to go to school, learn to ride a bike, get her driver's license, go to prom, and move off to college. She can be whomever she wants to be (well, maybe not a marathon runner--though we can never say for sure with her!). I am grateful that she will never remember her surgery or her recovery.
Later, we'll get out the pictures, diagrams, and doctors' notes, just to show her how truly incredible she is. Perhaps it will make her realize that she has no real limits and she is strong. She is one of the strongest people I know and nothing can keep her down. Adriana can reach for the stars and she will never come back down empty-handed.
There is always a chance that Addy will have to have another surgery. I know that. She still has 1 small hole in her ventricular septum. It could get bigger and introduce more problems. It is possible that later she might have to have her pulmonary valve repaired. However, both of those possibilities would more than likely be later in her life. They would not be a factor in the next few years. Regardless of what happens down the line, now we know she is capable of overcoming any obstacles. And God is with her.
