It was definitely an emotional morning, realizing that we were saying our goodbyes one last time. As much as we love this place, we pray and hope that we never have to come back. As much as I hate congenital heart disease and everything it has done and will do to our daughter, it has brought so much good to our lives these last 5 years. Magdalene has been our greatest teacher. All the years of schooling in the world could never teach us what we have learned during this process, walking side-by-side with Magdalene throughout this entire journey. 

It’s because of CHD that we truly treasure and value the GIFT of good health. It is not a right, but a gift that should never be taken for granted. Because of CHD, our once narrow-focused paths have crossed with many wonderful people. People we would have never met. Stories we would have never heard. Hearts who would have never touched our own. CHD will always be a part of Magdalene’s life to be recognized and embraced, but never what defines her. And with every negative it has brought to her life and ours, there is always a positive: a lesson to be learned, a story to be shared, an experience to be darn proud of. 

And speaking of proud, I always struggled with sharing sensitive photos of Magdalene’s journey. The hard pictures that make you cringe and doubt every goodness in this world. But it’s these photos that she should be so so proud of. And today, watching her smile from ear to ear as her stitches were being removed one last time, I was reminded of these most gruesome moments and how far she’s come. And I hope when she looks back at all of this one day, she is SO proud of what she has accomplished and what she has overcome, only by the grace of God. When we left the hospital after surgery, she was so ashamed of her wounds and would stare at herself in the mirror time to time in silence. But today, we saw a different Magdalene. She couldn’t wait to reveal her wounds, remove her stitches, and then run through the halls of the hospital in excitement, making sure to remind us that she “wasn’t getting tired anymore.” And for that, she should be proud. 

So today, as we leave CHLA for the last time, I share the darkest and brightest moments of Magdalene’s journey thus far. Not for sympathy, not for despair, not for sadness, but so that Magdalene can understand how proud we all are and should be of her and how proud she should be of herself. My greatest teacher, my favorite role model, my forever best friend: I hope your smile is this big every day of your life. 

Goodbye CHLA. Thank you for the good, the bad, the ugly, but most importantly, the most beautiful memories you have brought to our lives.