A Reflection

June 11, 2007 Noah came into this life a very sick little boy. July
7th, 2007 he was given a second chance at life by someone I have never
met.

I never would have imagined that a child of mine would ever need a
heart transplant. When I was pregnant I would pray that my baby would
be born healthy. The words 'Birth Defect' are almost the worst thing
you can imagine. You never feel like it will happen to you. You never
imagine your own baby will actually need a heart transplant to live.

Now that I've lived it, now that I've watched my son become a warrior
and experienced the love given to us by Noah's Donor Family and so
many others, I am honored. I am honored to be Noah's Mother. I am
honored to be a Heart Mommy. I am honored to be blessed by Organ
Donation.

Most importantly though, I am grateful I am able to get to know my
baby. To hear his laughter and memorize his smile. He has made my life
better since the moment he took his first breath. And I will never
take this blessing for granted.

I hope his donor family knows that it wasn't just one life their
child's heart saved that day. By saving my son, they saved my life as
well. Not a day goes by that I don't hold Noah close and remember how
blessed we have been. I remember the sacrifice and silently thank the
mom and dad who don't have their child to hold. So I squeeze Noah a
little tighter because every moment we have is a gift.