Maggie

On April 4, 2007, Maggie Jane came in to our lives.  At her discharge exam they discovered that she had 3 severe heart defects:  Double Inlet Left Ventricle, Interrupted Aortic Arch, and Transposition of the Greater Arteries.  She was immediately transferred to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and would require the first of three surgeries before coming home where we so greatly longed for her to be.

Norwood (slightly modified) – April 10, 2007

Maggie was in the hospital for exactly one week after her first surgery.  She joined us at home and after getting her reflux under control, began to grow and grow.

The Glenn – September 20, 2007

Maggie surprised us, once again, and came home only 5 days after her Glenn.

 After her Glenn, Maggie thrived.  While we still had daily fears, she soon became a “normal” baby.  We enjoyed being able to do all of the “normal” things with our sweet girl, and we rejoiced the day she turned 1.

As her 2nd birthday rolled around, we knew that her 3rd surgery was just around the corner.  So, before her Fontan, we celebrated her amazing life and the miracles God had given us, with a trip to Disney World.

Fontan Surgery – August 21, 2009

Maggie came home 1 week after her Fontan but returned 2 weeks later with pleural effusions.

Since her Fontan, she has done amazingly well.  She enjoys every day, normal kid activities.  She is a girly girl who loves princesses and dress up, but is known to enjoy some fishing with her Papa and bubby.

Maggie’s personality is quite hard to explain.  The only way I can explain it is that she is full of life.  She enjoys every second of every minute of every day.  She takes what comes and she conquers it.  She doesn’t let her 1/2 a heart stop her from doing anything.  Our family is so blessed to have Maggie in it and we have all been forever changed because of her.  She has an amazing love for Jesus, who she accepted as her Savior in January.  I pray that that love continues to grow as her understanding of Him grows each day.