Jump Rope for Heart

Gracie "Moon Bounce" 2010

Gracie and Caroline are participating in Jump Rope for Heart this year. This is a community service program that benefits the American Heart Association. If you would like to support the girls their links are below. They will be jumping rope at the school on March 16th.

Because Caroline had heart surgery when she was 3, her P.E. teacher asked if she would bring in some pictures and speak to the elementary students about her experience. Up until she started Kindergarten, Caroline was not interested in speaking to anyone about her surgery. Suddenly, when Kindergarten started, she realized that she had a special story to tell and asked if she could take her pictures in to class! I was surprised at her request, but let her take them. I thought I would share a few of her surgery pics today - She was so small!

 A little background information - At Caroline's 4 month checkup with her pediatrician, he heard a murmur when listening to her heart. This was not a huge shock because Josh had a murmur as well. The doctor asked us to make an appointment with a pediatric cardiologist soon. We scheduled the appointment and saw the cardiologist who told us that Caroline's murmur was quite large, but it was possible that it would heal itself because within the first year of life many murmurs do heal on their own. We were setup on a 6 month appointment schedule for the next 3 years with the cardiologist to monitor the murmur.

The diagnosis was "Atrial Septal Defect" - big medical terms that I will never forget! I was so scared for my baby!  The doctor said she would need surgery within the next 3-5 years to repair the quarter size hole in her heart. We hoped it would be more like 5 yrs, but at the 3 year checkup the doctor found that the right side of Caroline's heart was enlarging to accomodate for the hole and surgery would need to be that year. We set up the procedure for July of 2006. If I had to choose, I would definitely say 2006 was the hardest year I've had yet...We lost Josh in April and Caroline had open heart surgery in July, but God's is sufficient! He made it seem so doable for me! I'm forever grateful for that! Here are a few  A LOT of pictures from the 3 day hospital stay - sorry I couldn't choose!

Resting after surgery

Waking up and acting silly from the medicine

Gracie finally came to visit!

Colton visiting - he was so worried about her

 (crayon bandage from IV) - Nanna and Grandaddy brought hair stuff! Feeling better

Riding in the wagon to go look around

walking with the heart monitor "Purse"

Going home - giving the nurse one of her flowers

sweet girl

Today, five years later, Caroline does not have any restrictions - the hole was patched using her own pericardium and according to the doctors would heal to look like a perfect heart. She even participates on our school's jump rope team!

Here's a short video of her doing a really cool trick with her team - Dayspring Unwound!

To support Jump Rope for Heart Please click the links below! Thanks!

Gracie's link

Caroline's link