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Olive’s Story

Site created on August 30, 2021

If you have found your way here, there is a good chance that you know Olive has a heart defect and will be undergoing surgery in the coming months. Here is a bit about her journey so far… Olive Posey Perkins has an incredible story of strength already! At 19 weeks pregnant I went to an appointment for an anatomy scan! I was so excited to see her look like a baby and not just a bean! When the technician came back after looking over the scan with the Dr, her and the dr walked in the room together! My heart dropped. I knew the dr coming in meant something was wrong. Unfortunately as I sat there awaiting whatever was coming next, I sat alone. Due to COVID, Dan was unable to attend this appointment. I gripped the chair below me and took a deep breath. What was it? Was she not breathing? Had I lost my baby? Was she in there but not going to make it? An endless list formed in a matter of moments! The dr began, “Your baby looks healthy over all, all fingers and all toes are there. I’m afraid when we were looking at the heart however, there is something not developing the way we would like to see. I’ve done this for a long time and I’m fairly confident, your child will be born with a heart defect.” Making the call to Dan on the way home was painful, going to the rushed appointments and being asked if we wanted to terminate our pregnancy was painful, the not knowing what was to come was painful but I grew this instant bond with our little one in that moment! After tests and many ultrasounds we had some answers. Our home birth plan was out the window but the future looked less grim as the days past. Our Olive had little chance of other complications and as long as she was in my belly she would continue to thrive and grow. The Dr.s expected she would even thrive after birth, but in time her heart would require open heart surgery! On January 29th, 2021, Dan and I welcomed our sweet bundle of joy into the world! The labor was long and tested my strength over and over. After 36 hours our little fighter made her way into our arms. I watched as her daddy melted and fell in love. Every day that has fallowed I have witnessed the greatness of this little person! Anyone that has had the pleasure of meeting Olive knows just how fearless, determined and joyful she is. Now that she is approaching 1 we have so many more answers. Olive will likely have her surgery at the end of May. At which time she will go to Boston and stay for a period of time. She will return home and be in recovery mode for about 6 weeks. As parents we are of course terrified but hopeful that the surgery will correct her defect. In the meantime, Olive continues to thrive and grow. All the Dr.s are amazed as she surpasses her milestones! We want to share this journey with those in Olive’s life, so this will be the place to go for any and all updates!

Newest Update

Journal entry by Amber Allen — May 18, 2022

I wanted to give everyone a quick update! We have been enjoying being home for the last couple days! Olive’s joy seems even bigger and greater since surgery and coming home! She has also changed so much from the time we left to the time we got back. She has grown a half an inch and is now starting to play pretend! She is talking all the time and using her words to communicate what she is wanting and needing! I can’t believe how strong and smart she is!

On Monday night she untied her stitch holding the incision closed where her drain tube was. After a few hour of panic we were reassured by her cardiologist that it is ok for the stitch to come out now, it’s been healing long enough. So yesterday we had to hop in the car to bring her to Maine’s cardiac surgery team. They pulled the stitch out and confirmed she is healing so well! They said her incision looks fantastic! We got her vitals as well and her blood pressure is staying consistent with what it was in the hospital!

We have all been relaxing and enjoying resting in our own beds! I’ll leave you all with some cute pictures from the past couple days!

Read More of the journal titled "May 18, 2022"

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