A brief update to her surgical procedure: In telling Mary’s story, I indicated that after this surgery, her oxygen levels would be in the high 90s. I thought I’d pass along to you that this won’t actually be the case – at least for now – as a result of a procedure the surgeon deemed important to perform during the surgery. Her surgery successfully rerouted her hepatic vein from her heart into the rest of her unique “artery plumbing” and that is great news for Mary’s overall, long-term health. However, as strange as it sounds, a common procedure which heart surgeons are pursuing in similar surgeries is to actually create a small hole in the heart (called a fenestration) as a protection mechanism against high pressures which can occasionally build with the new flows. The small hole serves as a “release or escape hatch” for blood when pressures are too great so as not to cause damage. Thus, there will still be some oxygenated/unoxygenated blood mixing together, causing her oxygen sats to be in the 80’s and making her potentially more easily tired than the average kid. This fenestration is relatively easy to repair (via procedures done in the heart cath lab with a minimal hospital stay) when it is deemed no longer necessary, which can be anytime between 6 months to years from now. We don’t foresee any problems as a result of the fenestration – and when the doctors decide to close it, I’ll once again update Mary’s Caringbridge so that you’re “in the loop”. (FYI: Her Caringbridge site stays in existence forever – unless I choose to close it. So, although we’re out of the hospital, you can access it anytime you’d like, and/or be updated with any changes if you have indicated you’d like to receive the updates as they’re posted.)

NOW, ON WITH OUR STORY AND RECOVERY AT HOME…… We’re thrilled to be home, enjoying our own beds, food, and family surrounding us. Mary is doing incredibly well – a bit slower on the stairs and still regaining her appetite, but other than that - to look at her (with her shirt on), you’d never know she underwent open heart surgery 2 weeks ago!

Mary’s appointment on Friday went very well. Her cardiologist is very pleased with her progress and says that everything “sounds and looks (xray) great” on the inside. She still has a wound dressing on one of her chest tube sites which will stay covered until we meet with her surgeon on Thursday for that follow up appointment. (That means no shower until Friday – just more washcloth wipe downs and hair washing in the sink.) The doctors have told us to “lay low” for about a month; avoiding crowds, school, stores, etc. so as not to catch a bug -- as a fever or respiratory infection can land Mary back into the hospital. (Maybe with the lack of shower and hair washing it’s best we stay out of the public eye!) Anyhow, Mary and I plan to catch up on sleep, do lots of crafts, play lots of games, and get some spring cleaning done. Summer will be here before we know it, and it will be nice to be able to jump in to the fun activities of vacations, the pool, and outside play without having limitations.

This probably will be one of the last entries I’m making into Mary’s Caringbridge site (until the fenestration closure), so with that being said, there are a number of things I’d like to say to you all while I have you as a captive audience:

First of all, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of your prayers, support, good wishes and positive thoughts sent our way during Mary’s hospital stay. I said it repeatedly during several of my journal postings, but the power of prayer is truly an amazing thing ---it is SO powerful. God provided an incredible strength to me (which I was in turn able to pass on to Mary) in knowing that so many were praying for her successful surgery and speedy recovery. There are many of you I have never met, and perhaps may never meet (although I’d like to), but I wanted all of you to know (whether family, friend or caring stranger) that whether your prayer(s) for Mary are a personal intercession within your heart or include placing her on a church-wide prayer list – it all makes a difference and provides a source of strength for Mary and our family.

Secondly, I’d like to point out, again, the excellent, professional, and special care we received at Levine Children’s Hospital, particularly from Mary’s surgeon, Dr. Larry Watts with the Sanger Clinic, the CVICU, our Child Life specialists, and the 8^th Floor Progressive Unit (particularly one extra special nurse, Brittany, who really touched us. Her patience, TLC, concern and ability to engage Mary made us look forward to seeing her each night.) We are so extremely grateful to have such a magnificent facility right here in Charlotte. Having experienced all that Levine provides its pediatric patients, it is clear why it’s the premiere children’s hospital in the southeast region.

Thirdly, I found this Caringbridge website to be an incredible communication tool! I received raves from many of you who were so grateful to be instantly connected and “in the know”. I, too, want to rave about what it provided me: 1) an opportunity to therapeutically journal all that was going on each day, 2) an ability to realize the support and encouragement that existed for us through reading the Guestbook entries each day (a much anticipated daily event, for Mary and me!) 3) the ability to post pictures to assure all of you who couldn’t see for yourself how great Mary was doing (check it out… I added a few more pics), and 4) a technological “scrapbook” that documents for Mary this major event in her life.

Finally, I’d like to add a small “Public Service Announcement” about Congenital Heart Defect Awareness. Hopefully sharing Mary’s journey with you has heightened your awareness about CHDs and what open heart surgery for a child entails. Until having Mary, I must admit that I didn’t realize that CHDs were the #1 birth defect, nor was it on my radar as a cause that needed public support. I also didn’t realize, until seeking support and answers to questions myself, that very little exists in terms of support for families/children faced with this lifelong health issue. Due to Mary, all of that has changed for me– understandably – and now CHD awareness and support is my greatest passion (next to caring for my family). I am proud to say that there is now a support group for children with CHDs and their families called Levine Cardiac Kids which I helped establish here in Charlotte last April, and am currently serving as Director. Now that you have a greater awareness of CHDs, you can help spread awareness yourself. If you know of any family facing a CHD diagnosis who could benefit from the support of others who know what it’s like to walk in their shoes, please send them our way. We can be reached via our website at www.levinecardiackids.com and are here to provide support however we can.

In closing, please know The McKenzie’s realize how extremely fortunate and blessed we are; primarily to have Mary’s surgery/recovery be a great success – but also to have such wonderful caring and supportive people surrounding us in our time of need. THANK YOU!