Posts
December marks some significant dates for my family. It's a month full of birthdays, anniversaries, and celebrations. The most noteworthy are December 16th and December 31st. December 16th marks the birthday of Mason and Lincoln, two very special twin boys. Both boys turned 5; one celebrated here on earth, and one celebrated in Heaven. Mason is the special little boy whose heart beats inside of AnnaSophia's chest.
I can't begin to explain the humble thankfulness I feel to be entrusted with Mason's heart. The Hibbert family gave my little girl a second chance at life, and that is a gift beyond all measure.
December 31st, 2011, AnnaSophia turned 4 years old. There were times that I never thought I would see her celebrate her first birthday, let alone her fourth. She is so vibrant and healthy! People are amazed to learn that she has a heart transplant. I often hear people say that she doesn't look like a child with a heart transplant. That's when I stand on my little soap box and let the world know that this is exactly how a child with a heart transplant should look. A heart transplant should enable these children to live life to its fullest. These children are little miracles that have been blessed with the gift of life.
There will always be things about AnnaSophia's life that will be different from a typical child. She will take medication to suppress her immune system for the rest of her life. She is doing so well that she now takes only one medication twice daily. Because of the immunosuppression, she will always be at a higher risk of getting sick. If she does get sick, she could get much sicker than a non-immune suppressed child. I will always carry the burden on my heart that she continues to be at risk for infections, rejection, transplant coronary artery disease, or cancer. These complications could become our reality, but for now, she is an amazingly healthy little girl, and I'm thankful for the gift of time that God has given me with her.
If there is one thing that I have learned from the journey we have travelled (and continue to travel) is that it is so important to treasure every moment with loved ones. AnnaSophia has a knack for living life exuberantly. She loves to dance and is known to break out into a full ballet recital at the drop of a hat--at home or in public. She told me just the other day that when she grows up, she wants to be a mom and a princess and live in a castle. She loves with all her heart. She gives the biggest hugs and kisses ever. As girly as she is, she loves to wrestle. I honestly think it's that big, brave boy heart that beats inside of her that makes her as rough and tumble as she is girly. She has no fear! She's quite the daredevil, and she wants to do everything the big kids do.
As we welcomed 2012, I'm thankful for my children and the blessing that they are to me. I try to instill a sense of thankfulness in all three of them. Life is full of hard circumstances, but we never fail to count our blessings. Our daily prayer is that as we receive blessings from the Lord, that we would be able to bless others as well.
May 2012 treat you well, and may you all feel the presence of God each day.
I can't begin to explain the humble thankfulness I feel to be entrusted with Mason's heart. The Hibbert family gave my little girl a second chance at life, and that is a gift beyond all measure.
December 31st, 2011, AnnaSophia turned 4 years old. There were times that I never thought I would see her celebrate her first birthday, let alone her fourth. She is so vibrant and healthy! People are amazed to learn that she has a heart transplant. I often hear people say that she doesn't look like a child with a heart transplant. That's when I stand on my little soap box and let the world know that this is exactly how a child with a heart transplant should look. A heart transplant should enable these children to live life to its fullest. These children are little miracles that have been blessed with the gift of life.
There will always be things about AnnaSophia's life that will be different from a typical child. She will take medication to suppress her immune system for the rest of her life. She is doing so well that she now takes only one medication twice daily. Because of the immunosuppression, she will always be at a higher risk of getting sick. If she does get sick, she could get much sicker than a non-immune suppressed child. I will always carry the burden on my heart that she continues to be at risk for infections, rejection, transplant coronary artery disease, or cancer. These complications could become our reality, but for now, she is an amazingly healthy little girl, and I'm thankful for the gift of time that God has given me with her.
As we welcomed 2012, I'm thankful for my children and the blessing that they are to me. I try to instill a sense of thankfulness in all three of them. Life is full of hard circumstances, but we never fail to count our blessings. Our daily prayer is that as we receive blessings from the Lord, that we would be able to bless others as well.
May 2012 treat you well, and may you all feel the presence of God each day.
