Journal

Monday, July 14, 2008 6:51 AM CDT

Well, for those of you just checking the website for the first time after the weekend, we had a very exciting and disappointing Sunday. At 6:30 AM yesterday morning the phone rang and it was one of the transplant coordinators from SLCH. She said that they had a "potential" heart for Abby. We were so excited. Mark and I were both here and Oma too. It was perfect timing. We got to the hospital around 8:00 AM and they started all the prep and tests for Abby. We were told that the OR time would be about 12:30 or 1:00 PM. Then just a little before noon the surgeon and cardiologist came in and informed us that the heart was not good. It was damaged and they would not take a risk with Abby by using the damaged heart. So, we experienced what is called a "dry run" in the transplant world. This was so disappointing. Obviously, we are happy that they will not take risks with Abby and it was not meant to be her heart. All the same, we felt so sure when the call came that God had planned it perfectly so that Mark and I would both be here and that it was her time to get a new heart. I guess that God has a different plan and we sure hope that it is revealed soon.

We thank you all for your prayers and support yesterday. We were all wiped out coming home from the hospital. I think that everyone was running on pure adrenaline and then it was like the air got let out of the balloon. Even Abby told Mark last night that she thought her wish was going to come true yesterday and she wondered if she would ever get a new heart. It is hard for an almost 5 year old to understand, especially when we were all so excited.

I took Mark to the airport around 5:15 AM this morning and he is currently flying back to MN. He will go to work today and then see Clare and Eva after work. His sister Pam will be spending the day with Clare and Eva at our house. Thanks Pam! He felt bittersweet emotions in leaving us here in St. Louis. Now he feels almost certain that the call will come and he will not be here. It is a terrible feeling. We don't have any firm plans for when he will return to St. Louis. Tentatively, we are thinking of bringing Clare and Eva down for Abby's birthday (July 26th) if Abby has not yet received a new heart.

Last week when I was in MN, I took Clare and Eva up to Gull Lake for my family's annual summer vacation. Oma and Opa and my brother and his family were there and we all had a great time together. It was wonderful to spend a week with Clare and Eva having fun in the sun and water. They are such great girls and it was very difficult to leave them and come back to St. Louis. Having my family in two different locations is not fun at all.

Well, we continue to wait and have faith that Abby will get a perfect new heart just when she is supposed to.

Happy Monday. Love, Heather

Hospital Information:

4615 Lindell Blvd. Apt. 801
St. Louis, MO 63108
Heather 763-360-9937

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