Our Angel Emma in Heaven and our Angel Thad on Earth

Our daughter Emma was born August 2, 2006 with Hypo Plastic Left Heart.  We found out about Emma’s heart condition at our first ultrasound.  I knew something was wrong when the tech left the room sudden and brought back a Dr.  It was a long pregnancy and we prepared ourselves as much as you can prepare yourself in a situation like this.  Emma had the Norwood surgery at 11 days old and spent a total of 6 weeks in Denver Children’s Hospital.  We spent every moment we could with her (until they kicked us out during shift change!).  She came home on September 12th and we were able to spend 7 weeks with her at home.  She came home on oxygen and a NG feeding tube.  After 7 weeks of not eating on her own our Dr.’s thought it was time for a G-tube.  She had surgery on November 8th in Colorado Springs.  On November 9, 2006 Emma went to be with Jesus.  We were able to hold her in our arms as she passed.  She was the light of our life, and our first child.  From the moment we found out about Emma’s CHD we prayed for healing.  She is whole again and perfect in Heaven.  She has brought us closer as a family and closer to God.  He is the ultimate physician and healed her by bringing her home. 

6 months later we found out we were expecting again.  We went to the 20 week ultrasound and all I wanted to know was if our baby had a four-chamber heart.  The tech said “yes……..but I also see something else, I’ll be right back……..”  SERIOUSLY, Again… is the thought I had.  The Dr.’s came in and confirmed they saw something wrong with the our little boy’s heart.  Our son Thaddeus was born on January 21, 2008 with Coarctation of the Aorta and a VSD.  The day after he was born he was transferred to Children’s Hospital in Denver.  He had open heart surgery at 3 days old.  He spent 2 1/2 weeks in the hospital and came home on oxygen but was eating on his own.  When he was 3 months old his echo wasn’t the greatest.  His coarc was narrowing again and he needed to go back to Denver to have a balloon catheter.  This was definitely a scary time since our daughter Emma passed away at 3 months old.  His catheter went great and we were released after a few days.  Thad is now 2 years old and is doing GREAT!  You would never know anything was wrong with him until you look at his “zipper” on his chest.  It is a constant reminder of what he has been through and how strong he is.  Our Cardiologist is still watching his Mitral Valve and thinks sometime throughout his life he will need his Mitral Valve replaced.  It could be next year or 50 years down the road.  (I pray for the 50 years or never!) He brings such joy to our lives and makes us appreciate what we have.  We know what is important in life and feel honored that we were chosen to be parents to two wonderful miracle babies. 

Emma will always be our first born who taught us how to love someone so much.  She makes me want to be a better person and to spread the word about CHD and how important it is to find a cure.  Loosing a child is the hardest thing we will ever go through but it has also made us stronger.  We know we will see her again and spend eternity with her.  Thad knows who his sister is and whenever he sees her pictures he says “Emma!”  When we ask him where Emma is, he looks towards Heaven and smiles.  We love you Emma and Thad, you are both our miracle babies!!!

Mindy Younger

blog: keepingupwiththeyoungers.blogspot.com