I’ve directed friends and family to the online version of the Parents magazine article I wrote. It’s true. I’ll confess: I have shamelessly scarfed up all of the issues I could find locally.
In my defense, I wanted a copy for each of my five kids, a copy to frame, and copies to give friends.
So, here is the cover of the issue that “Nathan’s Wonder Slide” appears in, along with a clip of the article.
Darren and Megan write:
Our son will be needing the Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return surgery along with the ASD [atrial septal defect]. His name is Bradford and we are trying to figure out when it’s best to do it. Some doctors say soon, some say wait til he is at least 3. He is currently 19 months old. Obviously, we want to do what’s in his best interest.
Please pray for Bradford and that we are guided by God and remain confident and strong in him during these hard times.
Thank you. Your Website has made me confident that Bradford will get through it fine.
Last night, my Nathan asked if we could pray for the children on his website. I agreed, pulled up the list, and prayed aloud as he bowed his head. I thought we were finished, but he said, “Okay, now it’s my turn.” He proceeded to thank God for successfully getting him through “venous return surgery” and asked God to get the other children through, too. And he repeated my request to comfort the families. I look forward to hearing his prayer for Bradford tonight.
Tags: Atrial Septal Defects, Nathan, Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return
Janielle writes:
I am asking for prayers for my daughter Chloe. We found out last month that she has Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return to the Coronary Sinus. She has an MRI coming up and surgery will take place in the next few months. I am scared beyond belief! She was always a healthy child and this was found at a well visit (the doc heard a murmur)! Please pray to guide the doctors and surgeons to correct her heart and a speedy recovery!
I feel your fear, Janielle. I can remember feeling terrified when my son had cardiac catheterization, a straightforward diagnostic procedure. I wondered how I was going to hold it together for the actual surgery if I felt this fearful for a less invasive event. Remember Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Nathan regains consciousness after surgery to correct Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR), Scimitar Syndrome. This was taken in PICU at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Michigan.
Nathan also had heart surgery to correct PAPVR. Check out this smiling face while he recovered in PICU. He is doing fine now and barely remembers anything about our week at the University of Michigan Medical Center.
Stay strong–our prayers are with you!
Tags: cardiac catheterization, heart surgery, Nathan, PAPVR, Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return, prayer, Scimitar Syndrome, University of Michigan Medical Center
Ever heard of ball lightning? Here’s my experience with this rare weather phenomenon on Accent Mississippi Online: “Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls of Fire!”
Lisa writes that her 5-year-old son, Gage, recently had a heart catheterization after doctors detected that the right side of his heart was enlarged. Subsequently, he was diagnosed with Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return and will require heart surgery next month. She reports that the doctor said the procedure must be done soon or his condition will worsen such that he will not make it. She has requested that Gage be placed on our prayer list.
Lisa, I can feel your anxiety. My son, Nathan, also had PAPVR, but his was complicated by his dextrocardia (his heart was severely rotated backward). He was successfully treated at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Anne Arbor, Michigan. I am so grateful that we live in a time of great medical advances for children with Congenital Heart Defects. Prayers for Gage and to you and your family.
Tags: C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Congenital Heart Defects, dextracardia, heart, heart catheterization, heart surgery, PAPVR, Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return
