Three years ago today, Julia had open heart surgery at
Motts Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This is her, with her typical BIG smile, being wheeled (or "
wagoned") to the OR. She kept saying "I Ready!"
About 8-10 hours later, we were finally allowed to see her in the
PICU. What a sight. She wasn't awake yet and didn't know we were there. It felt very scary but the nurses assured us that she was doing just great. I spent the night just outside
PICU in a large waiting room. I tried to sleep on a vinyl fold out chair with many other people in the room. It felt very uncomfortable. Sometime during the night, I buzzed my way into the
PICU to check on her. I think she had been awake but was sleeping when I got in there. Around 7am the next day, she was awake and talking. She was very thirsty, as I remember. Aunt Linda arrived during the early morning hours and they "tried" to play cards.
Julia spent six nights at the hospital. I finally was allowed to sleep in the room with her. She moved very slow, but otherwise did very well. Kaitlyn stayed with me one night; Mike visited when he could. Nick moved into the dorms while I was in Ann Arbor. Tim started football. She started second grade a week later than her friends.
The great news is that she recently had a follow-up visit at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. She sees a Pulmonary Hypertension Specialist every 9 months. They do an
echo cardiogram each visit. On this last visit, Julia was put on the treadmill and hooked up to various machines that measured her oxygen outflow, her blood pressure and her heart rate. They took her to the point where she could not go any longer. SHE DID FANTASTIC! They are thrilled with her progress. Her "numbers" (meaning her blood pressure in her pulmonary artery) has been the same or stable for the last three years. Dr. Hirsch feels this is an indicator that we can expect it to remain the same. Hurray for you, Julia!
All the prayers from family and friends were answered.
Julia started school with her left arm in a sling due to her broken collar bone. She is healing and will soon be able to start soccer. She had a great first day!
The kids at the neighborhood bus stop. 
Julia started school with her left arm in a sling due to her broken collar bone. She is healing and will soon be able to start soccer. She had a great first day!
The kids at the neighborhood bus stop. 
