From every wound there is a scar.
From every scar there is a story.
A story that says...
WE SURVIVED!!
I don't care that we took this picture 59 times and not ONCE was Piper smiling at the camera!! We survived and that's enough for me!!
I could tell you what I was wearing 1 year ago and what I choked down for lunch that day (and have refused to eat since!!)
Today marks 1 year since we were told of Baby O's extra special heart!!
Who would have thought 366 days ago that Piper's first words would be "Transposition of the Great Arteries!!??" Just kidding... But her first phrase is guaranteed to be "Jesus fixed my heart!!"
What a difference a year makes!! God is so good!! We have walked through the valley of the shadow of death - but our heads have been anointed with oil and our cup now overflows!! (Insert tears here!!)
God's perfect plan wasn't for his precious children to have heart defects - but when sin entered this world his plan dramatically changed. And until Christ comes again (Come Lord Jesus, Come!!) we are trying to turn something that initially brought SO much sorrow, into a story of hope!!
We never turn down an opportunity to raise awareness!! In February we were asked to be a part of a "book" Helen DeVos Children's Hospital was putting together for potential donors. The book recently arrived and is precious beyond words. It highlights Piper's story as well as that of four others.
I recently waded through a kiddy pool's worth of explanation of benefits... something we've talked about doing since Piper was discharged (for the second time) on her Great Grandma Huizenga's birthday - January 8th, 2014!!
The whopping total for her 14 day NICU/PICU stay, arterial switch operation AND THEN the 19 day stay for her MSSA infection...
$400,761.34
Is it just me or is this face worth so much more than that?
Is it just me or is this face worth so much more than that?
Piper received million dollar care... We wouldn't have batted an eye if the total was a mill and we were on the hook for EVERY.LAST.PENNY!!
Side Note: The pipe addiction started early!! And who can blame her? There are 18 in her crib right now!! I'm not even joking... Come and count them!!
Piper continues to do awesome!! She crawls, climbs and smiles all the time. (Watch out Dr. Seuss... I'm coming for your job!!)
We will see Dr Lee (her cardiologist) closer to her birthday. Until then we pray everyday that the valve leakage and narrowing are no longer an issue!! Letting the prayers rise that no additional surgeries will be necessary!! And that she will lay still long enough to get a good echo!!
We again say THANK YOU to everyone who loved on us this last year!! We are truly blessed!!
We wouldn't have made it through without our parents!! I dare say we have leaned on them more this last year than in the 30 years prior!! Thanks peeps!! We owe you!! Just for this we won't throw you in a home when you get old!! {wink, wink}
And my final thought and request is to PRAY HARD for all those that find themselves in the shoes we were in just 1 year ago!!
We have a "transpostion baby-to-be" on our radar right now!! Sweet Kaleb should be arriving {transposed heart and all} in mid October!! We know all too well what those last 6 weeks look like. Please join us in praying hard for peace, hope and success like Piper's for Kaleb!!
Let the prayers rise!!!
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