Well I am back, for at least today because I have something
worth documenting.
A little back story to what will end up having me in an ugly
cry before I’m done typing but you won’t see me so, good.
December 1, 2008 we welcomed our sweet second born Bennett
into the world. A planned C-section and already knowing he was a boy left the
only unknown to be his weight and if he had hair and who he looked like. It was an easy morning and delivery and all of
our family was there loving and crying and holding our 9lb 11 oz gift from God.
He stayed in our room and off and on different nurses would come in for their regular
checks on newborn stuff. They took him away a few times and brought him right
back. I cannot exactly remember if it was the first night or the second day but
later in the afternoon when I was alone in the room one of our pediatricians came
into my room to talk about problems they found with my sweet boy’s heart. She
started talking and saying so many terrifying words.. heard defect, blood flow,
valves, ASD, surgery, etc. I couldn’t breathe
and the tears flowed. I wanted to just grab my baby and hold him but then I was
terrified to touch him for fear of hurting him. Mark had left to go stay the
night at home with Banks so that he had a bit of normalcy to his life.. The
doctor said we could talk more details later and they will do more tests before
we go home. She did give me the hope that this could very well be one of the
normal heart murmer type things with all babies but it just seemed to be more.
My sweet angelic of a nurse (Alecia Raby) came in and saw me so upset and she
loved and talked to me.. she even went back to the nurse’s station and printed
out info for me to read about ASD’s and she helped me believe that this problem
can be fixed. She even took it upon herself to call my husband to tell him to
come back to be with me. Before Mark got there I got my baby in my arms and sang these words “You have a maker, He formed your heart.
Before even time began your life was in His hands. He knows your name. He knows
your every heart. He sees each tear that falls and hears you when you call” And
I prayed then for God to hear my call and make my little boys heart better.. to
make it healed. More tests confirmed that my little boys heart was not
perfect.. there were problems but thankfully problems that could be fixed but
nothing urgent and nothing even could be done until Bennett was six
months. God gave me a peace and it was
not a terrifying six months. I didn’t think or cry about it every day..THEN,
the six month visit came. Tests were done, notes were made and the doctor came
in to tell us that my sweet baby’s heart was just fine.. perfect.. healed..
nothing was there… Praise the Lord…
Fast forward to now my Bennett is four years old. Over the
years I have thought about his heart and how thankful I am that it’s ok and he’s
a healthy boy. Sometimes I have wondred if they were really sure and thorough and
do we know for sure he’s ok.
Yesterday was Bennett’s four year checkup. It was exciting to sit in the ‘healthy kid’
waiting room for a change since we’ve all had the flu and ear infections, etc.
The doctor came in and with him was a student or an assistant in training who
was shadowing him for the day. The doctor asked all the questions and we
chit-chatted a bit and then he started the actual exam. (And this actual doctor
is admired by his colleagues in the fact that he has an amazing ear when it
comes to listening to hearts) He put the stethoscope up to Bennett’s chest and
listened and grinned and listened again. He asked the student to come listen to
see if she could hear what he heard… He said what he’s hearing is equivalent to
a perfect heart beat and blood flow. Not just normal but actually perfect and
not something you hear in every
heartbeat…If you will take a trip with me back the 80’s to the movie Ghost with
Whoopi and Patrick… the regular and healthy heartbeat makes the Ga-Gone,
Ga-Gone, Ga-Gone noise.. like you’re hearing two beats.. My sweet Bennett’s
heart sounded like this Ga, Ga-Gone, Ga, Ga-Gone.. one regular beat and then a
type of skip into the next beat to sound like three beats (and I am writing out
these sounds so fifty years from now I will remember when telling the amazing
grace and mercy and healing from God to my kids and grandkids)
So, my son has a perfect heart.. my son has a perfect heart.
The son whose chest could have very well be cut open to repair his ailing heart
before he was even a year old now has a perfect heart.
The fruition of that statement makes me want
to jump up and down and shout for joy and thanks to God for His blessings.. And
everyday I do thank God for His blessings.
