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Hannah - HLHS
In one short year, we have learned that life is such a challenge, a gift, and a true blessing. Our daughter Hannah was born on August 30, 2004 in Lufkin Texas a whopping 7 lbs and 12 oz. A perfectly healthy baby, so we thought. A few minutes after having Hannah she was swept away by a nurse, and we had no clue what was going on.
Thank God for this nurse. Hannah had not turned pink, she was BLUE very BLUE. After an hour or more the doctors came in and told us something was wrong but they did not have the technology to tell what so they were sending our 2 hour old baby to Schumpert in Louisiana, they had the best NICU there.
Hannah left on a helicopter at 3:00 that morning by herself, I had a c-section and was unable to go, that was so hard. At seven the next morning Schumpert called and told us she had HLHS and was being flown to Children's in Dallas, by herself again. We had no idea what was going on we only thought that our baby was going to die. We left the hospital in Lufkin at 11:00 am only 13 hours after my c-section. We got to Dallas an hour before Hannah was having her first surgery at 23 hrs old. Dallas Children's gave us hope and told us that she had pretty good odds of living and she would have a series of 3 open heart surgeries. Hannah had her Norwood at 23 hrs old and did just great, we spent 2 weeks in ICU and then another 2 weeks on the floor.
But Hannah was having a few problems, she couldn't get off the oxygen so they did another echo and found that Hannah's ASD was closing up and had to go in for the second time on September 27, 2004. After the Atrial Septostomy Hannah was doing much better and for the first time on October the 18th we got to come home with our baby girl. We were so scared, medicines, tubes,
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blue everytime she cries. It was almost unbearable for two young parents, but well, you learn. I'm a pro now.
Hannah was so sick for a long time and was put on oxygen at home until her Glenn on January 19th 2005. After her Glenn Hannah became a totally different kid. Lively and so loving. Hannah is now a happy 18 month old and is doing great, she was even the American Heart Associations honoree this year in the Tyler area, what an honor. At first our lives are completely turned upside down by the knowledge of a heart condition, then we soon find out that it is the biggest blessing a parent could ever have. Our children are so special and true miracles of God. Hannah has truly changed our lives and taught us what love, true love, is all about. For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future Jeremiah 29:11.