A Great Big Thanks!

This post is from Jackie & David:

Hello everyone,

I believe that this has been the longest few weeks of our lives. From the time we found out about Grace's heart condition until now has been one big stressful learning curve... and it just keeps adding up. We thought that we had done our homework by looking up everything we could on Ebstein's Anomoly; little did we know that it was just the begining.

We know now that heart problems can, and do, affect every other major organ. We have had to quickly learn about underdeveloped lungs, and arteries, shunts, liver and kidney functions, brain development, and enough about drugs for all of the above that we can only hope to forget half of it.

When this all started we were told it would be a roller coaster. We understood there would be good days and bad. We understood that this could be a long, long process. But, I don't think we fully comprehended the thrills of the highs and the depression of the lows. I don't think that we understood how quickly things could change, and how close to the edge one little girl could survive.

Grace has shown me, in the two plus weeks she has been with us, that she is the strongest person I know. Through all of the tubes and hoses and IVs and monitors and ventilators and machines that are crowded into her little room, her personality still pushes it all away and shines. You can see in her eyes the determination that helped her stay here when her medical team had given up.

Now, this is not to say that the medical team here is at fault in any way. They have been nothing but incredible stewards of our little girl's health, and the main reason she is here today. But, as Dr. Azakie said to me "She truly is an amazing little girl... I gave up before she did... and that doesn't happen."

Every day, we go into her room and hope that there are less machines, less drugs and less holes in our little amazing Grace. We have been blessed with a wonderful support group of family and friends. We know that we will never be able to thank you all enough for everything that you have done... but, please know that each day that goes by, we thank God for everything and all of you for helping us. Continue sending you prayers to Grace - she still needs every one of them.

A great big thanks and lots of love,
Jackie & David