Asias Happy Heart

MOC 15: Puppet Wrap,
I puppet wrapped the bakers twine, photos (to make them look bent), some of the ribbons, and banners

For months you had not been feeling yourself, you had been worn down and taking a lot of naps. Your heart was beating faster than normal, around 120 beats per minute and you were not your loud and perky self. In November of 2014 you passed out during your PE class and mommy was called up to school. We rushed you to the hospital as you were breathing heavy. Next thing we knew you were being taken in for an EKG. You see, you were born with a “sad, broken heart…” Your heart had a murmur since birth and we had been monitoring it as you grew. The doctors said it was actually getting better and we did not understand why you passed out in PE as you were cleared to take part with your classmates. The EKG came back abnormal and after a meeting with a cardiologist and a series of tests it was confirmed by TWO specialists you had a small hole in your heart causing you a bunch of issues. The doctors said because of your rapid heartbeat and the lazy demeanor that had overcame your normally very active self, that they recommended open heart surgery as soon as humanly possible. Mommy was told to put you basically on bed rest for the next few days. You were allowed to go to school, but no PE and no extreme activities. Your poor body was worn down and you slept a lot. Instead of playing outside with your siblings or neighbors, you spent a lot of your free time lying in bed watching movies or napping alongside your stuffies. It would be a month later on the Dec. 23rd, 2014, your sister’s 11th birthday, that you would go in for open heart surgery. The doctors were really good at explaining the whole process with you way beforehand. They told you that they were going to go in and make your “sad heart” happy again. They told you that you would no longer be tired and that your heart would be like brand new. You told all your friends at school about your surgery and that you were going to get your “heart happy” . I think you were more prepared for the day to come than your mommy, who was nervous beyond words. Surgery took place in the morning. Wheeling you back to the room was one of the hardest things I ever did. It took quite some time to get you put to sleep. Your body did not react well to the sleeping medication and it took a good 10 minutes before you went down to sleep. Surgery went smooth and lasted only 45 minutes. They went into your right arm with a special laser like robot that corrected the hole in your heart for us. After surgery you spent three days in ICU before being moved for a week in pediatrics before being sent home. You were sad you had to spend Christmas in the hospital, but the doctors made it special for you and we celebrated as a family before you went into the hospital so you did not miss anything. Santa even made a special trip to our house a few days early just for you! You soaked up all the attention at the hospital! Made mommy watch Frozen like over 100 times in a week time span! And had all the pediatric nurses wrapped around your little fingers! You got mad at the nurses the first day because they put you on a special diet and brought you oatmeal for breakfast. I knew you were recovering when you went off on them and said “Oatmeal? I HATE oatmeal... where is the bacon? Where is the ham? Bring me the meat.. or even a waffle is ok. Now that is a breakfast!” The doctors were shocked on how fast you recovered and you got to come home earlier than expected. You would have gone home even earlier if you did not have so many reactions to the antibiotics they put you on and if you did not catch that mild infection. After a week of recovery at the hospital you did another full week of recovery at home (which happened to fall over winter break! Thank gosh!) and then you returned to school. For the rest of the school you are out of PE and go to art with another kindergarten class instead, which you do not mind. And you show everyone your scar and tell them how brave you were and how now your heart is no longer “sad”.. but “Asia’s Happy Heart.” I am so proud of you my brave girl! And while I know there will be probably more heart surgeries in your future, I know that you will overcome anything because you are strong. You are brave! And you are amazing! And .. well now that your heart is happy.. LOUD once again!

Credits:
Pink Reptile Designs: Dog Earred Alpha, Love me Tender, Playful Freebie
Just Jaimee: Stacked Mess Vol 1
Amber LaBau and Juno Designs: Hear Me Roar
Laurie Ann: Aged Photo Overlays
Heather Joyce: The Silver Reed