Gracelyn's Story: MIssing her family...

Our Story

Jeff and Andee were married in 2003. We were both born and raised in Utah. We have three sweet children. During a 23 week check up with our second child, the baby was diagnosed with Pulmonary Stenosis, a heart defect. She was born on December 16, 2009 when the doctors discovered she actually had Pulmonary Atresia, Tricuspid Atresia and Atrial Ectopic Tachycardia. After she was born she stayed at Primary Children's Medical Center for three weeks. During that time she had a BT Shunt and stent placed in her heart.

On June 4, 2010, Gracelyn received her Glenn shunt. During that time they removed her BT shunt and stent. She is doing great! The next step will be the Fontan procedure some time after she turns two.

We intend for this blog to keep family and friends aware of what's going on as our story progresses. We have learned so much and found strength from the blogs and websites of those that have previously gone through this that we want to share our story for those who will unfortunately face this as well, as there is currently no cure for Congenital Heart Disease. We are grateful for all the prayers on our behalf.

UPDATE: July 2013: Gracelyn was scheduled to have her Fontan this summer. Doctors feel like she is doing so great it can be postponed until next summer. We have recently contacted the Children's Hospital of Boston for second opinion. They believe they have an alternative to the Fontan. In September we will head to Boston to see what they can do for her.

UPDATE: April 2015- Gracelyn had her Fontan surgery on April 27, 2015. She flew through the procedure and recovery. It didn't happen immediately, but by day two she was a beautiful shade of pink.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

MIssing her family...

Grace has been having a really hard time without her brother and sister (not to mention her Grandma, who she had a nervous breakdown over about 2 hours into the flight. ) The first night we were in Boston she stayed up for over an hour singing (Gracelyn's life is a musical and she is ALWAYS singing about what is going on around her) about how much she misses and loves her brother and sister. It was so hard to hear. I didn't want to stop her, so I laid in my bed listening to the sweet song and crying. Praying for Heavenly Father to comfort her while away from them. I didn't know it would be so hard on her to separate from them, even for one day. She needs them. She loves them. We didn't have plans to go to the airport to pick them up, but when we left the hospital we had almost an hour to before they arrived. She quickly painted a sign and we headed for the airport.