Linsie Marie

On September 25, 2004, my husband and I welcomed our second daughter, Linsie Marie, into our lives. We were told at the hospital that day that there was a possibility Linsie had Down syndrome. Two weeks later the karotype was drawn and it was confirmed.

When Linsie was nine weeks old, we took her to the emergency room for what we thought was a stomach ache. She was sent by AeroMed to DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids. She was in congestive heart failure, and barely clinging to life. Linsie was diagnosed with an unbalanced Atrioventricular Canal Defect, atrioventricular valve regurgitation, pulmonary hypertension, and a hypoplastic ventricle.

On December 2, 2004, at 10 weeks of age, Linsie successfully underwent a pulmonary artery banding. She was released on December 6, just four days later.

On Feb. 2, we found out more bad news. Linsie was diagnosed with a narrow aorta, compromising the blood flow to her legs.

Linsie will undergo her second surgery sometime early this summer. It will be open-heart.

Please pray for our girl, as we know what you are going through, and you are also in our thoughts.

Linsie's story was published in the January/February 2005 Issue of a newsletter called "Families at Heart", through DeVos Children's Hospital.

April, 2005 Update

Linsie is now six months old. Her weight is up to 8 lb, 10 oz. She is a very happy baby, always smiling and cooing at those she loves, especially her big sister Kaylyn. In June, she will undergo her pre-op testing for her next surgery. She will have a heart catheterization done to make sure that she is ready for the next round. Her next surgery, the bi-directional Glenn, will take place either in July or August of this year.