Lucas is 1 Year Old & Heart Surgery

 

Hello Family and Friends,

Lucas is 1 year old! I have three children and my youngest is a whole year old.

I don't know if anyone can relate, but I say that as if it's going to actually sink in!

What a journey. I can't help but think back on how surprised and in shock (I dare say!) Fernando and I were that we were pregnant. And here he is getting all grown up. I think a lot of the time for me has been a fair amount of survival. Getting through the pregnancy, the labor, the ICU stay, then getting him home with oxygen and a breathing tube. Then back to the hospital for a whole month when he was 2 months old and then a lot of daily life to get through juggling 3 kids and carving out moments of time for myself and a few precious moments of time with Fernando.

I have a tradition with each child taking a photo of them each month up to a year and putting it on their wall in their bedroom and I added Lucas' last photo underneath the girl's 1 year photos. The end of that precious first year of their lives. It feels very surreal for me today. This last year has been a very slow gradual process of everything sinking in. The fact that I am actually a mom of 3 children, that Lucas has special needs, that he's actually a whole year old now. It all is still sinking in.

We have been so blessed to have a core group of those delighting in Lucas as much as we do who offer support, prayers and love regularly. I send a very heartfelt and deep thank you. Thank you for your love, your thoughts, your desire to contribute to use and support us. If you ever feel like you are sorry you can't do more or that you wish things were easier, if I can look you in the eyes and hold your gaze for a moment. It has been perfect. We are so grateful to be on this journey together with all of you, from Fernando's parents who have come to offer in home help for months on end to people who have sent me a text once wondering how we're doing. Thank you for letting love come from you to us. That is all we could ever hope for and I acknowledge you for who you are for us.

As much as this feels like the end of the first year, it's not time to relax. Just before Lent started, Lucas had a cardiology appointment and they took a recent echocardiogram of his heart. The cardiologist submitted his case to a conference of several other cardiologist colleagues and they all concur that we should schedule his heart surgery. The scheduler called today of all days.

I have been dreading this surgery since we learned of the nature of his heart conditions and that he would very likely need surgery. His open heart surgery is scheduled for Friday, May 16th, 2025. Fernando's parents are coming into town to celebrate Isabelle's first communion on Mother's Day weekend and they can stay with us through the surgery and his hospital stay. The surgery itself will be about 3 hours, Lucas will stay in the Cardiac ICU for a few days, then move to the general recovery floor for a few more days hopefully adding up to a week in the hospital after surgery, but we will let Lucas tell us when he's ready to come home. If anything needs a bit longer, they said to expect 1-2 weeks in the hospital.

My baby is going to have open heart surgery.

He's not the same baby he was 12 months ago, or even 10 months ago when he had a cold and was hospitalized for a month. Recently he has gotten a cold, then the flu a month later and pneumonia on the tail end of the flu to round it all out and got through all that at home! So here's to a successful surgery. I'm offering up all of Lent as full of heart felt and intentional prayer for the upcoming surgery and giving up to God all of my fears and concerns. Lucas will always be preciously in God's hands.

I have put together this prayer and invite anyone who reads this to join me in offering up this prayer on behalf of Lucas and his health.

Jesus, We are anxious about Lucas’ upcoming heart surgery, yet we trust in You. We trust You to help the physicians, nurses, and aids involved to heal him. We trust You to be with Lucas during the procedure.

Jesus, we trust in You.
Jesus, we trust in You.
Jesus, we trust in You.

God, You are the Divine Healer. Please help us find patience for Lucas’ healing. Please guide us to rest in Your presence in this time of waiting.

St. Luke, you are the patron saint of physicians and surgeons. Please pray for Lucas and all those involved in his surgery or recovery.

We commit Lucas into Your loving and capable hands in this time of waiting and use this time while we approach his surgery to grow in us a deep trust in You and a deeper awareness of your love in us and through all those praying for Lucas and lifting him up.

Manifest in our hearts the joy of a future of a surgery well done and Lucas recovered and stronger than ever with a heart repaired and beating for you, Lord. Praise Your wondrous Love alive in our hearts today and for all our days.

Amen

For those of you still reading, here are some fun pics from his birthday and then all his monthly pictures for fun! Love you all!