Church Family
I am not the parent of a child with a congenital heart defect but I have been in prayer for one even before his birth in January. I have never met him, seen him with my own eyes or held him and now, I never will. The baby who touched my life in such a big way died of a congenital heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome 2 days ago.
Baby Ethin was born to a mom from my church. She knew Ethin would be born with a congenital heart defect months before he was born and asked for prayers for him. And I have been praying for him ever since. It is all I could do.
Ethin spent all but a short time of his 5 ½ months in Motts Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he underwent several heart surgeries, the first when he was only a matter of days old.. His mom kept us updated through Care Pages. Through the updates I learned that there were many children at Motts who had heart defects. So many more children than I ever imagined were born with SERIOUS heart defects. With every update came requests for prayers for other children in one heart crisis or another. Some of these children lived, others did not. I learned how everyday was a struggle for these sweet, innocent and thoroughly helpless little ones. How their families go through an emotional wringer everyday watching their little ones struggle to survive. I can not imagine how these families cope with the stress, fear and helplessness. Especially families with other children.
My understanding is that nothing causes these defects. Most just happen. And they can happen to anyone, anytime. Could happen in your family or mine, to a family down the street, a co-worker or your grandchild. And although the doctors do what they can, they can’t fix everything for every one of these babies. As parents, families and friends all we can do is sit and watch, wait and pray for a miracle.
There are babies and families waiting for these miracles and praying that a new treatment or surgical procedure or a donated heart will come in time. In their child’s lifetime. Money is needed to support research in to new treatments, surgeries, etc for these babies.. If you are in a position to increase awareness of congenital heart defects, please do so. If you are in a position to influence those who can fund such research, please do so. So many babies with hearts broken by congenital heart defects and so short is their time. Please help.
Sincerely,
Carol Weiden