Today, my daughter turned three years old.  We just got home from her birthday party in pre-school, where Babs is a happy, outgoing girl.  Maybe a little too outgoing, as a boy named Sonny picked her a flower during recess, which she happily accepted. She and I will discuss this tonight.

DSCN2524I couldn’t be more proud of her for everything she does, including gymnastics, singing, ice skating and eating Wheat Chex.

You see, when my wife was four months pregnant with Babs, our doctors told us that odds were that she wouldn’t make it. She had multiple congenital heart defects (CHDs), best case scenario being life-saving open-heart surgery after birth.

Some doctors suggested my wife terminate the pregnancy at that time. I simply asked, “Why?” to the doctors. As long as her heart was beating and she continued to fight for her life, we were going to do the same.

Each month that passed during my wife’s pregnancy led to our daughter giving us signs that she was going to be okay. She gave us a thumbs up during an ultrasound. I felt her kicking for the first time while at church.

On February 26th, 2010, my daughter was born, and rushed off to the ICU, and then transferred to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles the next day. Surgery came two days later.

That night we hit rock bottom. While recovering from surgery, Babs flatlined three times when my wife and I were in the room. Doctors rushed in, and saved her life…multiple times.

Each day got a little bit better. Babs came home when she was twelve days old. We were scared but found our strength, again, from our baby girl.

Why am I writing this? Well…if you are a parent (or know someone) who has received devastating news on the health and future of your child, I ask you to…

Have some faith.  Say some prayers.  Here’s a picture of our thriving 3 year old.  Life is good.

babsnow

Let me end this post, by going back to where it all started…my first ever words on Life of Dad.

 

February 28, 2010.

I sat down tonight wanting to write a funny, clever, and touching story about my 30 hour old baby, Barbara Anne. While trying to think of what to write about, I was watching my baby cry, breath, and live.

Then I realized that right now, for this moment, I couldn’t write. All I wanted to do was watch her. I want to sing to her when she cries. I want her to hold my finger while she dozes off to sleep. I want to run my hands through her hair, and rub her feet.

I’m a very motivated guy, always looking for the next project, and taking my career to the next step. This won’t change, but for right now, I just want my baby. I want time to stand still. I want my wife, my baby, and me in a room together, just being.

Sadly, it’s not that easy. Our baby has a heart defect, and she has had two echocardiograms, an EKG, and a hospital transfer in the first 30 hours of her life. Barbara has another echocardiogram scheduled for tomorrow morning, and heart surgery for later this week.

But you know what? I love what is happening right now. I don’t love that she is sick, but I just can’t imagine it any other way. Lucy and I can handle this, and we will. Barbara Anne is going to be home in a few weeks, and I wouldn’t trade this time with her for anything.