Still, today is clouded with a bit of melancholy for me. Perhaps because I lived in Indonesia, grew up by the sea and respect it, I felt personally very moved and horrified by the 2004 tsunami. All my life I have had nightmares about big waves which approach from distant horizons while I am trapped against a sandbar, wall or eroded beach and cannot escape. As the news came out those 5 years ago I felt a real sense of the horror and watched for news of the areas affected.
Recently I've been using Youtube to rewatch those early videos taken by survivors and remembering the unimaginable force of the sea which simply rose up by 20 feet and came inland before sucking out again. I also saw a special featuring survivors. Many of them remain traumatized by their experiences and the loss of children, partners and others close to them.
Also, this morning I woke and checked Jack's blog. Jack is a boy who is almost a year older than Wren and also has Shone's Syndrome. You parents of heart kids will know the feeling of commonality with families whose children have a similar diagnosis. Jack and his family have been in Boston for 6 months during Jacks very difficult recovery from a bi-ventricular repair. He had been on the fontan route until his left ventricle and mitral valve were considered worth saving. Unfortunately, he had a series of complications which led to rounds of infection.
This morning I opened his blog to find he had died. It is very sad. My heart goes out to the family.
I know that life is mixed with joy and suffering and you can find both wherever you look carefully. Still, these many and this one are those I feel for at the moment.
3 comments:
I just read most of Jack's blog and am so heartbroken for his parents... Death is something we know we have to be aware of with our kids more than others, but it's hard to think about.
Hi Linda
I feel the same. It was very hard reading it and must have been unimaginable living through it for all of them, even the doctors.
There were many days when I thought it was the end but he would pull through.
The whole story shows how important it is to get a good recovery going in the first week. It can be a long haul once there are many issues developing.
I wish I didn't dread these things myself :)
Hope you're well.
Shannon
Shannon,
I don't know you, but I found your blog last year when it was suspected that my son had Shone's Syndrome while I was pregnant. Reading Wren's story has given me so much hope and inspiration. My son is 15 months old now, and has been through two heart surgeries. He's doing much better now. I just wanted to thank you for your blog and let you know that you've given hope to me when I was struggling with my son's surgeries. I don't have a blog for him, but I've been thinking about starting one.
Chrissy
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