Happy Birthday!

Today, July 22nd, is my oldest son, Justin's 18th birthday! He was such a sick baby we weren't even sure we would see this day. The first 18 months of his life he was in and out of the hospital. You see, Justin was born with cyanotic{sp} congenital heart disease. He has a VSD {ventricular septal defect} Pulmonary stenosis, L transpostion of the great vessels. His heart is also on the right side {dextra cardia}. When he was a week old he had a Blalock-Taussig Shunt put in. He was fine until about 7 months old and then started getting sick again. Docs thought he had leukemia. Turned out that he had hemolytic anemia {sp}, he was destroying his red blood cells. There was a stitch loose from his Blalock. He went through 10 months or more of transfusions and testing before they figured out what was wrong. The docs decided to do open heart surgery and tie off the Blalock. His heart was patched and he needed a artificial pulmonary valve, a week after his open heart surgery he needed a pacemaker. This all happened when he was 16 months old. Over the next few years he had many check ups and tests. His pacer lasted about 5 yrs and then the battery wore out. The docs discovered that his heart repaired itself that he didn't need it anymore. WOOHOO!!! Then the time came when he was about 13 yrs. old that he needed to have his pulmonary valve replaced, it doesn't grow. He did great through surgery and was home in 6 days. They also took his pacer out since he didn't need it anymore. About 6 months to a year later we noticed that he was wearing out and getting tired easily. The cardiologist was aware of this but didn't do anything at the time. Then came 9/11, Eric came home and told me he may be sent overseas. I immediately called the cardiologist and told them if they were going to do something with Justin that it needed to be done now in case his Dad was called over seas. I told them that I couldn't have my husband out there worrying about his son while trying to fight a war! We were sent to Miami Children's Hospital, 6 hours south of us. There they did a cardiac cath. The doc came back and told us that Justin was in 50% heart failure and they wanted to do surgery on him the next day. Eric and I opted to go back to Jacksonville and have his cardiologist do it. We got a call the next day and told us that Justin will be having open heart surgery the following Wed. to replace the valve. He was having a rejection. So, 18 months later Justin was having open heart surgery again. He went through 10 hours of surgery! It was a LONG day, waiting and worrying! His recovery was great and again home in 6 days. He is doing great today and everything looks great!

He spent the last 6 weeks in Wyoming with his Grandpa Tom so we didn't get to celebrate his birthday today, he is coming home tomorrow and we will celebrate it then. We have all missed him and can't wait until he gets home!

I love you son! Happy Birthday!

~Adios~