Hana’s Heartversary

On Sunday two weeks ago, May 28th, we celebrated Hana’s very first Heartversary – one year with her new heart.

It turned out to be a wonderful celebration! We invited some of our local friends and supporters for a big picnic in Golden Gate Park. We were even lucky enough that some of Hana’s medical professionals came! This was a party to celebrate life (Hana’s) to give thanks (to you – all of our supporters) and to commemorate the donor. I think its this last point that really has me thinking these days. It has been a year since the donor family lost their small child and made the courageous decision to donate their heart. Not a day passes where I don’t stop and think of them, hope they are able to find some peace and maybe some solace in their decision.

I wish we could have had a chance to have all our family, friends and family from everywhere come to the party. You are what has carried us through! On that note, you may wonder how we managed to pull off having a huge party with a four-week old baby. Our local village here in San Francisco is that answer! A small group of our friends rallied together and took care of all the party details, I just took care of all the big things before the arrival of Corrina. It was amazing. All Paul and I had to do was just show up on the day of the party! Balloons, tents, chairs, tables, food, drinks, a cake, picnic blankets all just showed up at our reserved party spot and all of these wonderful woman (it was mostly the woman, but I know the husbands helped too) have their own toddlers to run after! This is such a perfect example of how important our village is and what an impact they make on our lives.

For our family, life is moving along, especially with the addition of Corrina to our family. Hana is doing great thanks to the medical professionals who dedicate their lives to these kids. This past week she had her one year clinic visit. Coincidentally she was checked out by the original director of the heart transplant program (now semi-retired). There was a tiny bit of concern over Hana’s persistent cough and runny nose (they are thinking possibly allergies) although it doesn’t seem to bother her at all and her lungs sound perfectly fine. We were able to drop two of Hana’s medications – Valcyte and Amlodipine. As long as Hana’s blood pressure stays within normal range she can stay off of the Amlodipine. Hana’s weight gain has been good (thank goodness for all the great summer produce!) She has her annual biopsy in a week, which will be more invasive than any other biopsy since they will look at both the right left sides of the heart (its normally just the right). It will be an all day affair at the hospital. Let’s hope and pray for zero rejection and ideal heart pressures.

I can’t believe it has been a year already. Thank God. What a miracle.

I’m sorry this update is getting posted so late, it has been really hard to find time to sit down at the computer when you have a newborn (and you don’t fall asleep). Corrina is six weeks old today!

I do have something exciting to share in the next or so. It brought tears to my eyes. I hope you like it too!