Kalene
 From the second of birth, our granddaughter, Kalene, began struggling for her life. Within 2 hours she was transported to a metropolitan city in hopes that they would be able to stabilize her, and allow her to gain a little bit of strength to be able to undergo open heart surgery.
When she was 14 days old, she was life-flighted to a Children's Hospital. There she had open heart surgery to repair valves and holes in her heart. Twice during this 5 hour surgery, she had to be brought back to life, then again 18 hours after the surgery.
Three months later she needed another operation. From that point on, she has had to take daily medication and have numerous cardiology check-ups. Eventually, she will have to undergo more open heart surgeries to replace her heart valve as she grows.
It angers me that she has had to go through so much since the moment she has took her first breath---but all in all she has been a blessing to our family! At 4 years old now, she is a beautifu little angel! It is amazing that she accepts that she has numerous scars on her chest and that she has to take medication twice daily; that she tires easily, and that she can not "keep up" with her playmates. To see her accept her heart condition has helped us to accept her heart condition.
Many people will say she is only 4 years old---she doesn't know---I have to disagree! When she sees other children in swim class and they don't have scars on their chest, and when she sees other children continue to run and play as she sits on the side lines and watches, when she says I wish my heart wouldn't pound so hard so I could play like the other kids---she knows!
At this tender age she has educated many of her schoolmates as to the limitation a child does have with CHD, and the children seem to understand and accept this more so than the adults. The adults response is "Oh, she'll out grow this". No, she won't! She will have this for her entire
Life, and each and every time she goes through open heart surgery there is the possiblity of her not coming through it. But we know, as any and all other families, with the help of God and numerous prayers, we take these days and experiences one day at a time, and treasure each one!
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