Clinic Update and 4 Month

Noah had transplant clinic today. Want to know what is really exciting? He may not have to go again until October!! You read that right! OCTOBER!!

His next appointment would be in June but we are going back to Denver for his One Year Heart Cath. If all goes well (as I suspect it will since his med level was good and his echo looked great, and he's doing so well they didn't even need to do an EKG today) then his schedule moves to every 4 months!! Which means we won't need to go back up until October!! We'll go back up every 2 months to check his Cyclosporin level but he will only need Echo's every 4 months for the rest of his life (and then routine Heart Caths every two years).

I have to admit, when Marian first reminded me about this, my heart actually skipped a beat.

You see, there comes a level of comfort in going to clinic every so often to have his heart checked to make sure everything is ok. To know we won't be going, is a little scary. But then, to know we won't be going... there is some freedom in that too!! What a wonderful thing! And Marian said if I ever get a little worried and want him to be seen, all I need to do is call and come on up. (They don't like to go as long between appointments as Denver does. But I am sure they would be more than happy to see us regardless.)

Man... Its just so weird to think back upon this past year. With everything that we have been through. To think all of this has happened in only this short period of time. There were times it seemed like we would never get to the point were things were normal again. Were things would never calm down. There were times when it seemed like life would always focus around the NICU (or the CICU) or around weekly or bi-weekly Hospital visits. Sometimes going to the hospital every day of the week. And yet, here I sit... feeling normal (if I dare say it.) Yah, we go to the hospital, but not nearly as much as some. Yah, we deal with daily medication, but not nearly as much as some. Yah, we have Occupational therapy and Physical Therapy, but not nearly as much as some. These are things that everyone deals with on different levels. What matters is I have a beautiful son, and a happy family, and we are blessed.

I am involved in Congenital Heart Defect Awareness and Heart Transplant/Organ Donation. My Brother and his Family are involved in Preemie Awareness and Hydrocephalus awareness, My Sister-in-Law's sister is involved in Kidney Transplant Awareness... What I am trying to say is that we all have our "things." I'm proud of my little hero and all of the awareness (and faith) he has brought me.