January 30, 2009

This is a day that we will forever remember, January 30, 2009, the day Malachi under went his corrective heart surgery. One year ago, Malachi had a broken heart, missing a mitrial valve and a complete AV canal. We  had been waiting for weeks for the day and it was finally here. They wisked him back, got him to sleep, an A-line in, an IV in, intubated him and hooked him up on bi-pass. His delicate little heart stopped beating. The surgeon opened his chest and began to work on a small broken heart. Dr. P first stitched gortex patches to each hole, them constructed a perfect valve from Malachi's own tissue. After 3 hours, Malachi had a fully functioning heart and he slowly began to wake up to the first day of his new normal. I remember a feeling of peace overcome my entire body as I walked into room 512. He was hooked up to so much, his tiny little body covered in tape, leads, and monitors, but he was alive, healthy and for the first time in his life he didn't have to fight to breath or cry. I have tears streaming down my face, just like I did at this exact moment a year ago.

Today Malachi is off every single one of his heart medications. We only have to see the cardiologist every six months and his heart is fully repaired, with not even a leak! We are in awe of the gift we were all give a year ago. Happy heart Day Malachi!!!!!!