I think it's time

Well, its been over 6 months since my last update, a few things that has happened since Feburary

I graduated college with high honors in May and to hear the words from Colt what a sweetheart, he said Mommy I am so proud of you.

Colt has been riding horses and turned 4 in June and got to celebrate with a small get together at Angel Heart Farms (Thanks to Dr. Cottrill for sponsoring Colt and Ms. Tracy who founded this organization (what an awesome non-profit group to help crtically ill children through equine therapy.

He loves Mario and got a special cake from his Aunt Stacia, it tasted just as good as it looked.



Colt loves fishing with his daddy.

 


Colt won a Blue Ribbon at the Junior Charity Horse Show riding his buddy Rocky





Colt gets to spend some time with Aunt Stacia and Baby Emma, she is finally catching up to him, amazing to think she started out at only 1 pound 10 ounces.



Colt started back to preschool and has been doing really good, we have noticed that he does get more tired frequently and just can't keep up with the other kids so we went for our follow-up with Dr. Cottrill on August 20, and Bradley and I heard the words from Dr. Cottrill we knew were coming, but were dreading to hear. After his normal EKG, BP reading, Pulse Ox, we went into the exam room , she said with a calm voice "he is over 30 pounds and I think it's time for the next surgery we are going to get him schedule for a Heart Cath and then surgery will follow within a month or so" the words just hit like a hard blow in the stomach.

How do Bradley and I prepare Colt for all of this, he knows he has a special heart and we have tried to explain to him that he will be having another surgery to finish fixing his special heart but, this is so different then the first surgery he had at 8 days and the second surgery he had at 8 months.

So tomorrow (Tuesday) September 4th we will taking Colt to the Gill Heart Institute for a Heart Cath.

I ask that you please say a prayer for Colt.


Thanks and God Bless!

Miss

Colt's Cardiologist Checkup

Colt had his checkup yesterday with cardiologist, the wonderful Dr. Cottrill, I was thinking it was going to be the surgery discussion talk, and I really have been so stressed about it for the past month, but Colt is still only 28.5 lbs. and his surgeon wants him to be at least 30 pounds.

Thanks to the Lord, Dr. Cottrill said  30 lbs. is not the magic number, it is all about how well Colt's and his body function with his specially as Bradley calls it "re-plumbed heart". Colt's oxygen is up to 83%, which considering this time last year was hanging about in the low 70's, he is doing remarkable well, no surgery at least for awhile, we go back in August for his tests again. Colt is a strong and courageous fighter, we are very blessed, what more in life could I possibly ask God for.

The story of my feet hitting the ground

I have been worrying hard for the past month about Colt’s upcoming open heart surgery and how we were going to pay for this operation since we no longer have any health insurance, I had carried all the health insurance on our family through my employer HP since Bradley was self-employed and then when I got laid off, we got really lucky because with our Colt qualified for a medical card up until December 1, 2011. Then came the panic and worry, I received a letter notifying us that we made to much money with me getting unemployment, regardless that I am going to college full time, so I can get a graduate and get back to work. Their income guidelines are for a family of 3 is 37,000 before taxes and we were about 6,000 over the limit now. Me upset and in tears went down to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and tried to explain our situation about Colt’s Heart and that he was going to have to have another open heart surgery and the lady there, flat out told me she did not care and that we made to much money. I was told by a friend to try to apply for (SSI) Supplemental Social Income for Colt since his condition (Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome) fall in the Compassionate Care Allowance, that once approved for that he would get reapproved for a medical card regardless of Bradley’s and my income, sure they deemed him disabled, but again we made to much money for Colt to qualify, I would care less about Colt getting any money, all I was hoping for him to get medical coverage.
I found out that no other individual insurance company would cover a child only or let us add Colt to an individual plan because of his heart condition and then the one company I found turns out since he had more than 63-day lapse from his medical card till now, I would be wasting my time sending in his application they would not cover his pre-existing condition.

Yeah, good news in regards to the health care reform about covering pre-existing conditions, bad news it doesn’t go into until 2014.



Question: What material things would you give up to save your child’s life?


My Answer: I would give it all up, my house that the banks owns most of, my car, everything else is material and people aren't and they can't be replaced.


It’s crazy but I keep singing the song by the Newsboys.

GOD’s NOT DEAD, he’s surely alive, HE’s LIVIN on the INSIDE ROARIN’ LIKE A LION!

In my case, roarin' like a momma lion! I am not going to let this break me, I trust in my God, we will find a way!

Let the people in your life know what they mean to you and that you love them.

God Bless All and wishing you all joy!
Miss

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month -~ Raise Awareness ~ Spread Hope

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) account for 24% of infant deaths due to birth defects.In the United States, about 4,800 (or 11.6 per 10,000) babies born every year have one of seven critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs, which also are known collectively in some instances as critical congenital heart disease). These seven CCHDs are hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary atresia (with intact septum), tetralogy of Fallot, total anomalous pulmonary venous return, transposition of the great arteries, tricuspid atresia, and truncus arteriosus.


Babies with one of these CCHDs are at significant risk of disability or death if their CCHD is not diagnosed soon after birth. These seven CCHDs among some babies potentially can be detected using pulse oximetry screening, which is a test to determine the amount of oxygen in the blood and pulse rate. Other heart defects can be just as severe as these seven CCHDs and also require treatment soon after birth. However, pulse oximetry screening may not detect these heart defects as consistently as the seven disorders listed as CCHDs.


For all the CHD survivors, keep fighting, for their parents never ever lose faith nor hope. Be thankful for every moment you have with your precious child.


For these precious babies who lost their battle with CHD, we will always remember and never forget, let us find some comfort that you no longer feel pain and you are will the father in Heaven.


When I was 5 months pregnant and we found out about Colt’s Heart, I only broke down a few times and finally I reignited my relationship to God and I gave it all up to him, my fears and worries and from that point my feet have only once touched the ground(but that is another story to be told later), the rest of the way he has carried me. I am thankful for my God and grateful that he gave us a son.


We go back to see Dr. Cottrill on February 20, 2011 for a follow-up and an echo. Dr. Plunkett would like to have Colt weighing at least 30 pounds before his 3rd and hopefully last open heart surgery. I will be sure to post an update then, I promise!!!!

Happy New Year!!!

I have really got to get back into the swing of things and most more updates, just a summary

Colt got to start preschool last month after I got it okayed with Dr. Cottrill and Dr. Plunkett , we loved going to the Happy Hearts Picnic, Colt thought we were on the set of Wipeout because of all the bouncy blow up things, it took us a long time to get him to take a break even though he was really winded.

October, we got to go camping down and Fort Boonesboro, it was really nice.

We have gotten to participate in a few fundraising Events for UK, one @ Bi-Water Farm in Georgetown and a Radioathon in December.

Overall we had a wonderful and blessed Christmas . We had a great 2011 and ready to welcome the newyear.

We are so very lucky and never take a moment we have with Colt for granted.

God is Good!

In Love,
Miss