-About two weeks before all of Kate's medical problems arose, our van broke down and needed a major repair. Shortly after that problem was fixed, the battery totally died and needed to be replaced. I remember thinking, "Well, what else could go wrong?!" (A dangerous question, I will warn you.) While these events were frustrating at the time, I have looked back with gratitude realizing that they were actually blessings. The Lord knew that those problems with our car were coming and He made sure they were fixed before we had Kate's medical problems arise. Since we had to drive from the hospital in Alexandria, LA to the hospital in New Orleans, LA (a 3 hour drive), car problems would have been a serious and stressful complication.
-My parents were in town the week before all of this happened. They booked a room in Dallas, TX for us and watched the kids while we went to the temple there to worship. The words from the ordinances and covenants were fresh in my mind. I clung to those words and they gave me an eternal perspective and strength beyond my own as I faced an enormous trial of my faith.
-Both my dad and Daniel gave Kate priesthood blessings before we knew what was going on with her. Both blessed her with strength and courage, and that she would not be afraid. I saw the fulfillment of this blessing. Throughout the entire ordeal, from double vision to pokes and MRI's, from the surgery itself to the recovery, Kate was nothing but brave. She did not complain even once about anything that she had to go through. She is an incredible example of faith in Jesus Christ. She is my hero.
-We live in a small town in central Louisiana. There are two hospitals in Alexandria, and neither one had a working MRI machine in the facility. The hospital that Kate was admitted to had an MRI machine in the parking lot in a trailer (it sounds podunk, but it wasn't as creepy as it sounds. I promise.). Because of this, they were not able to sedate patients for MRI's, and they always have to sedate children for MRI's because they cannot stay still enough for the image to turn out well. We asked our families and friends to pray that she would be able to stay still enough for the MRI so that we could get some answers as to what had caused the problem with her vision. The doctors couldn't believe it, but she was able to stay almost perfectly still for 30 minutes so that they could do the imaging. They were able to do the imaging with and without contrast. (I did not know much about this before, but it is unheard of for a child to be able to do an MRI with contrast without being sedated.) She also had another MRI when she was transferred to Ocshner, and did not need to be sedated for that either. The doctors and nurses couldn't believe that she could sit still. Once again, a prayer heard and a miracle seen.
-When the doctors came to tell us that the MRI indicated that Kate had had a stroke, they also told us that we would probably be sent home from the hospital without an answer as to what had caused the stroke. They said it took weeks (and sometimes months) to find the underlying cause. We prayed with family and friends that they would be able to identify the cause quickly. Within a matter of a few hours, the doctors had found the tumor in Kate's heart and identified it as the cause of the stroke. I believe the doctors were inspired to know what tests to run so that the cause could be identified quickly.
-I was able to drive down to New Orleans (a place that I had never been), by myself, at night, under the stress of having a child's life on the line, and in the midst of Mardi Gras traffic. And I made it. You may laugh, but it really was a blessing.
-Atrial myxoma is a very rare tumor - especially in the pediatric world. For most of the doctors and nurses at the hospital, this was the first time that they had ever treated a pediatric patient with this condition. It just so happens, however, that the very week that Kate was admitted to the hospital, there was a chain of emails being exchanged between cardiologists throughout the United States about atrial myxomas. Her cardiologists at Ocshner were a part of this email exchange, and the information in these emails contained useful information for those who were taking care of her.-Daniel's parents were able to drop everything and come watch our two sons so that Daniel and I could be with Kate. Daniel told them about Kate's tumor on Friday afternoon. They left right away and drove through the night (from Utah) and got to our house on Saturday afternoon. Having Daniel at the hospital with us was so comforting and a huge blessing to both me and Kate.
-Along those same lines, Henry is just barely one year old. In spite of tending to be kind of clingy to his parents, he adjusted to having Daniel's parents here quickly and did very well while we were gone. I had started weaning him at the beginning of February. He was mad and had a hard time, and I almost gave up. But I felt strongly that it was just time to be done nursing. I am so glad that I stuck with it, because Henry would not have been allowed to be in the PICU with me because he is so young.
-Andy's birthday was the same day as Kate's surgery. I was so sad to miss his birthday. Not only did my in-laws make his birthday so special and fun, but there were many friends in the area who stopped by and wished him a happy birthday. They stepped in for me during my absence and made sure that he was taken care of, and that meant everything to me.
-Family members reached out and sent money for Daniel and me to spend on food while we were at the hospital. I was having a hard time eating because of the amount of stress I was under, and it would have been a lot easier for me to justify skipping meals if people had not sent us money specifically to spend on food. I truly had no appetite, but it made it easier to force myself to eat because I did not want people's generosity to be in vain.
-Kate's surgery was on Monday, March 4. She came home on Thursday, March 7 because doctors could not find any reason to keep her in the hospital longer. She needed one dose of Advil when we got home, but hasn't needed any pain medicine since. Her body has healed miraculously fast and you wouldn't believe that she had surgery just last week. I know that she has been healed by the power of God. He worked through the medical providers here on earth, and also through His priesthood power to heal our daughter.
-Just a couple of weeks before all of this happened, Kate's school was doing Jump Rope for Heart. She came home telling me all about heart heroes and how cool they are! When we found out that she had a tumor in her heart and that she was going to need open heart surgery, I reminded her that she was going to be a heart hero. She was very excited about it and that helped add a positive spin to something that was overwhelming and hard for a child to understand.
-I had an amazing church leader when I was a young girl. She has kept in touch with my mom, and she had a friend down in New Orleans who just so happens to work for the American Heart Association (the association behind Jump Rope for Heart). She stopped by the hospital to visit us after Kate's surgery and brought us a huge basket of snacks and activities. Most importantly, she brought me hugs from that beloved sister that I still love so much.
-A member of our church read my Facebook post encouraging people to donate blood in honor of Kate because hospitals don't have enough blood donations right now. She could have just gone and donated herself, but she decided to organize a blood drive in honor of Kate. This will bless countless lives in the hospital, and it also blesses us because the blood bank will donate some money toward Kate's medical expenses at the hospital.
-Before all of this happened, I was really struggling with my relationship with Kate. She has an incredibly strong will and we would butt heads. A lot. I had been praying for Heavenly Father to help me see Kate the way that He sees her. Through this trial, my relationship with Kate was renewed and strengthened. I was blessed to be able to witness some of her amazing attributes that I am sure will only continue to develop with time. My Heavenly Father gave me a little glimpse into just how incredible this young woman is and the force for good that He knows she will be.
-Although it is simple, I think the greatest miracle we saw was peace. I was able to truly come to a point where I was willing to accept the Lord's will no matter what it was. There was no more turmoil. Just a calm assurance that God knows all and that He was going to take care of me and my family. Even if Kate had passed away, I knew that our family would be together again and that God had a plan for us. That peace that I felt in the midst of a stormy sea was a beautiful and sacred miracle, and something that could only come from Jesus Christ. I know that this miracle was the result of thousands of prayers prayed by countless individuals across the country, including myself. It was something so powerful and tangible that I will never, ever forget it.
The blessings and miracles have seemed endless. We have received so many letters and packages in the mail. We have felt so loved by our friends, family, and those we don't even know through all of this. Hundreds of people have been praying for us, and it has sustained us through our darkest hour. We have prayed many times to thank Heavenly Father for your kindness. Most of all, we have felt the love of God through our trials. His hand has been evident at every turn, and we will forever praise His name. The words of one of my favorite hymns (I Stand All Amazed) puts it best:
I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!
