"The Day After My Heart was Fixed" by Nathan Blakeney
This July will make three years since Nathan’s heart surgery at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan Medical Center. He colored a cheerful picture for me recently that seems to convey instant happiness after his heart was repaired. That’s not exactly my recollection, so I asked him what he remembers about those days. Come to find out, not much.
Did he remember being in intensive care? No. Did he remember having tubes removed? No.
What about the good parts? Did he remember the stuffed animal a nurse gave him? No. Did he remember watching new Power Ranger videos on my laptop? No. Surely, he remembered the Toys R Us shopping spree when he was released from the hospital…No!
I bring this up because I know that parents of children with Congenital Heart Defects fret over the emotional scars their children are going to have from enduring traumatic surgical events. We want to find ways to make it better. And certainly, it is worthwhile to soften the blow by providing entertainment through books and toys and games.
But time definitely has healing power. The only people in the house with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are Mom and Dad! Perhaps, it’s time to step into Nathan’s cheery picture. 
Tags: C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Congenital Heart Defects, heart surgery, Nathan, University of Michigan Medical Center
June 11th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Hello,
I am a CHD survivor and wanted to thank-you for posting this story. I have had two open heart surgeries and even with the one at age 17 the thing I remember the most is the love and support of friends and family. This is why blogs, support groups and other resources are so important. Not only do you reaize that you are not alone, but you realize that together you will get through it. There is immense power in the sharing of stories.
I’ll stop by periodically to check in on Nathan.
Heart hugs,
Lauren,CHD Survivor-Tetralogy of Fallot
Midlothian, VA Age 37
June 11th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I appreciate your comment, Lauren. As an adult survivor, you are a ray of sunshine to parents who are facing this with small children. It’s easy to get caught up in fear for the present and lose sight of hope for the future. Thanks for giving us a good dose of optimism!