After the game, Jessica sent each of the children or their families the shirt from the game. D is very proud of his...
I think it's difficult for people to imagine that kids (and adults) can look so normal on the outside, yet have such hidden secrets on the inside. I wanted them to see that CHD is real, and that they weren't just collecting money for some cause that they had no clue about. I hope all of MCMS, especially Kerry, knows how much we appreciate their support for our little man and all of the other heart kids out there. Thank you!!
Finally (and LONG overdue)... I have to give a shout out to my wonderful friend Jen. She organized a team in New Jersey for an It's My Heart walk and raised over $1,300 in honor of Derrick! She and her boyfriend Omar put together a great website that you can check out for Team Derrick. Thanks guys!!! You're the BEST!
I guess I'm sharing all of this today because I wanted to tell you about Elizabeth. Justin met her at work and they found out they had a lot in common pretty quickly. It just so happens that Elizabeth is a 36 year old heart warrior who lives here in Columbia. She was born with transposition of the great arteries. She had a cath procedure when she was three days old to give her time to grow enough for her heart surgery 11 months later. Elizabeth did great until she reached her early twenties, when she developed heart failure.
As of right now, Elizabeth's most viable option is a heart transplant. There is another possible option for her which has not been FDA approved, and that is a ventricle assist device (VAD). Regular VADs are FDA approved, but because of her type of CHD, her doctor has appealed (for the third time) to the FDA to approve the left ventricle device with modifications for the right ventricle. It's all very complicated, but could buy her more time until a transplant would be her only option.
Elizabeth has been making trips to the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Mayo Clinic in MN (which are both pretty far away from SC) every 2-3 weeks. She is a single mother to a 15 year old son, and struggles to maintain a normal life for him and herself as she travels this journey. To assist Elizabeth with travel and medical expenses there will be a breakfast at Fatz Cafe in Irmo (Broad River Road) on Saturday, May 22 from 7:30 until 10:30. If any of you locals are able, please come out and support Elizabeth while having pancakes and sausage! Those of you who came to ours remember how good it was. :) We'll be there...early!
Please keep Elizabeth (and don't forget about Ruthie!) in your prayers.
I better get going because somebody's waiting. And I thought I was busy before....Ha!

D has big news to share just in time for his 13 month update on Thursday. Any guesses??

He's Walking isn't he???!!! Thank you for the pics I can not wait to give them to Kyle on Friday!!! Love you Guys, Jessica
ReplyDeleteI was going to say D's going to be a big brother but after reading Jess' comment maybe I am way out in left field on this one. I am guessing he is walking now too.
ReplyDeleteLove the pics and how amazing to have your husband meet an adult CHD warrior through work. Praying for her!
I still need to get a pic of Logan in his shirt. I have just had way too much going on the past two weeks. Jess has done a great job in Michigan raising awareness.
Congrats on all the fundraising everyone has been doing in honor of D!
Stef
http://www.whenlifehandsyouabrokenheart.blogspot.com
HE's WALKING!!!!! (He gives me hope that maybe, just maybe my little monkey will walk one day, too!)
ReplyDeleteGreat update!!! Hope to make it to the breakfast on Saturday!
WALKING!!! YOU GO LIL D!! LOVE IT!!! I love the pics of him in the tshirt..too cute. Also would like to say THANK YOU to all working to raise money for D and all of our heart kiddos..You can never know how much it means to us!
ReplyDeleteRhonda :)
Praying for Elizabeth!!!
ReplyDeleteWhatta cutie!!! I love your fundraising ideas! Rebecca has just been invited to join the Beta club at her school, so I may suggest that as a project.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing the way the Lord brings Heart Warriors together? We will be praying for Elizabeth!
Pam
He is getting a brother or a sister!?! :) Probably though he is walking! Whatever it maybe be, congrats and yeah!!
ReplyDeleteWalking is my guess, but I hope he has gained some weight! :) Love the pics!
ReplyDeleteStephanie
Are you pregnant????? :) That is my guess!
ReplyDeleteI'm going with walking, too! He looks like such a little man in his t-shirt. What an awesome idea the basketball game was! It would be great if you could get Dutch Fork and Irmo to do something.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth M.