Ellie's First Heart Day. {And Super Heart Giveaway}

The hardest thing I have done in my life was watch the medical team take Ellie out of the prep room and into open heart surgery.  We prayed.  We cried.  We waited.  We wept in relief when we were informed that Ellie went through surgery just fine.  A year ago we got our baby back, or perhaps really got our baby for the first time.

Ellie was five and a half months old that day.  She was undergoing her second major surgery, the first being a duodenal atresia repair when she was one day old.  The day before surgery, we met with the surgeon who would save Ellie's life.

We were told that the odds of life-threatening complication were one percent.  Those are really, really good odds for a problem-free surgery.  However, Ellie seems to find narrow odds.

The odds of a life threatening complication were higher than the odds of a woman my age having a baby with Down syndrome.  The odds of something going wrong were higher than the odds of a woman my age having a baby with Down syndrome and a heart defect.  The scary odds were higher than the odds of a woman my age having a baby with Down syndrome and a heart defect and a GI defect.  I hesitate in sharing these fears.  I know some of you will find this post because your baby is about to under a complete AVSD repair.  I'm taking about my fears.  Ellie did great.

A week before surgery.

HOME!

I am eternally grateful that Ellie failed to find the narrow odds on this one.

I don't have any photos of Ellie in the cardiac ICU, nor any photos of her recovering.  Perhaps I had one or two on my old phone, but I don't need to see Ellie with tubes and wires to remember how little and fragile she looked.

Who you calling "fragile?"

The phrase of choice among expecting parents seems to be, "As long as the baby is healthy."  But what if the baby isn't healthy?  What if the baby requires major surgical intervention(s) to survive to the age of 18 months?

The answer is that you love that sick baby beyond belief, just like you would a healthy baby.  And you hand that baby over to the people capable of making her better.  Then, you get her back and celebrate.

These bubbles are not easy.

We'll be celebrating for the rest of her life.

Happy First Heart Day, Ellie!  We're so glad that the doctors fixed your broken heart.  To kick off the celebration, we're giving away "heart" themed prizes, thanks to some sweet Etsy vendors.  Ready... here we go!

Heart Chalkboard

TRWpainted is giving away this cute chalkboard to one reader.  I'd love it for a "to do list" board in the kitchen or to use for sight words or math facts at school.  You can also find TRWpainted on Facebook.

(Photo courtesy TRWpainted.)

Awesome T-Shirt/Onesie

WittyBitty is giving one lucky reader this amazing onesie or toddler t-shirt.  Wouldn't this be ideal for your little heart baby if you have one, or in the "I {heart} Nerds" design if you have a sweet little nerd?  I would love to dress Ellie in this shirt for her next cardiologist appointment.

(Photo courtesy WittyBitty.)

Two Heart Hats

Lizzziee is giving away not one, but two adorable hats, which means two lucky winners!  The hats are made in sizes ranging from 0-3 months up to 4-12 years, and will be custom made and shipped out within three weeks, just in time for fall weather.  You can also check out the shop on Facebook.  Or here.

(Photos courtesy Lizzziee.)

To enter:

(1) You must leave a comment on this post.  Tell me anything, but if you have a heart baby, please tell me about him or her!

(2) For an extra entry, share this post on Facebook or Twitter, then leave a separate comment on this post telling me you shared.

(3) For another extra entry, "favorite" the vendors above or "add to circles" on Etsy.  It's a nice way to say thank you.  Then, leave another comment on this post telling me you added them.

(4) For another extra entry, follow along, either via email, the "Follow" button up top, an RSS feed, or on Facebook.  Then, leave a comment here and let me know that you did.

The fine print...

I'm not responsible for vendors, mail, or computer problems.  The entries will remain open until 11:00 pm Eastern time on September 1, and will be announced here shortly thereafter.  I will also attempt to contact winners via email.  Open to US residents 18 and older only.  Winners will be selected via random.org.  No prizes for immediate family, which means Daddy and Grandma.  Cousins and stuff are OK.  If you do not respond to a winner notification in a timely manner, I'll pick a new winner.  

Putting bubbles away.  Then spilling.