Maelyn is about to have her first birthday. Our miracle angel baby is about to be one year old. For a year I carried around the weight of thinking we wouldn't see the day. That is a heavy burden to bare. But I've finally let that go, and picked up joy and hope and new life. First birthdays are always a big milestone. Babies turn into toddlers, mothers get nostalgic of the day they went into labor, and so many family dynamics change. But for us, for me, for Maelyn, it means so much more. There was so much fear and uncertainty and grief and stress and 'what's-to-comes' when she was born. I was not certain she would see her first birthday, so I never let myself go there. And she's been through so much. Her first year of life has been so much more than most babies go through. But here she is. She is still fighting, she's still at lower oxygen saturation, she takes asprin every day, she gets weekly physical therapy, she has cardiology follow ups, she will have another open heart surgery, but, she is just perfect. She is silly, loving, and friendly. She is easy going and mellow, but stubborn and spunky. She loves her big brothers and her doggy. She loves playing ball and eating, she loves eating. She loves music and clapping. And she is so beautiful. Her birthday means so much more because it means new life. It means hope and future. It means I have a daughter, and I get to watch her grow up. It mean's she survived. It means she can do this, she can live with a heart that wasn't supposed to work. It means we get to have more birthdays with her. It means the world to me.
I am not even sure how to adequately celebrate such a meaningful event. But then I remember, I don't have to, because we will have next year too. We have lots of fun family days planned this month and we are having a small, hearts and ice cream themed, birthday party at our house with friends. We are having an ice cream sunday bar and (hopfully if I can make them) ice cream cone cup cakes! The boys can't wait, they keep asking if it is her birthday yet so that they can eat special ice cream. We had some pictures taken, I can't wait to see them! And then after her her birthday, we will start getting ready for our big summer trip to NY, where we will hopefully get to celebrate with more family.
Congenital Heart Defect research is really lacking. There is only 10-20 years of research available. This makes it difficult for doctors and families, because such little information is known. We don't know what Maelyn's future holds, because there are not many people out there with her kind of heart that are any older than me. For her birthday, I'd like to ask you to think about making a donation to help us celebrate her life. She could always use more girly clothes or toys, and we could always take help paying off her medical bills, but really how awesome would it be to help other CHD kids and families find the same hope we've found? Donations to the Children's Hospital Colorado at http://www.childrenscoloradofoundation.org/ or to the Children's Heart Foundation at http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/make-research-donation would be incredible gifts. You can also make easy donations when you shop from Amazon by going to smile.amazon.com and selecting either of those organizations. And as always, know that I am most thankful for your prayers. Praise God for giving us life and giving it to the full.
