CHIN: Memorial Garden

Zoë was born on July 20, 1999 at 7:05 PM and weighed 6 lbs. 14 ounces, and was able to come home at 5 days old. She had her first surgery at 4 months old, and ended up having a total of 6 cardiac surgeries in her lifetime. She beat the odds time and time again and was such an extraordinary little girl. We were blessed with 3 amazing years between heart surgeries and I wouldn't trade a second of our time together for the world. Zoë went in for another shot at the Fontan on August 31, 2004 with a 90 percent success rate for the surgery just 6 weeks after her 5th birthday and 10 weeks before her baby brother's due date. Zoë was so excited to be a big sister and couldn't wait to meet him. She talked to him all of the time and said she was going to be his "Little Mama" and insisted that we name him "Formula." There were complications and the surgery had to be reversed the next morning back to the Glenn. She told the doctors "I just want to get better so I can dance." I told her that she was going to be okay just like Maddy and she said "No Mom my heart is sick." That was the last time that I saw her awake... Coming up from the OR to recovery a blood clot went to Zoë's heart and she coded in between floors... The lack of oxygen from that was too much for her brain to take and by that weekend it was discovered that she was completely brain dead from the brain stem up. I held her in my arms while she left this world at 12:30 PM on September 5, 2004.

A precious little newborn whose time was cut far too short. he will be extremely missed. My perfect little boy, regardless of his heart trouble. Losing him has changed my world beyond repair. He will be forever loved and missed.

Our precious son, Jeremy, was born with TGA and other coronary artery anomalies. Jeremy had an arterial switch at 2 weeks of age however it was unsuccessful and he suffered 2 heart attacks. He received a heart transplant on June 21, 1996 and had done very well. We are so thankful to have had 9 wonderful years with Jeremy, however the 9 years were not enough. Jeremy was so loving, kind, obedient, caring, sensitive, smart, funny, brave and such a terrific big brother to Jordan. We miss him and love him so much. Our lives now have such a tremendous empty spot. He is forever in our hearts. We know he is watching over us from Heaven.

Tilan’s diagnosis was Double Outlet Left Ventricle, Tricuspid Atresia, Anomalous Coronary from the Right Ventricle, Non-compaction Left Ventricle, Ventricular Septal Defect, Hypoplastic Right Ventricle and Coarctation of the Aorta. She was listed for a heart transplant on February 23, 2006 after doctors decided that her condition was too risky and complicated to perform surgery.

From the day Tilan entered this world on February 7, 2006, we knew we were blessed with an angel and a gift from above. She was never released from the hospital due to her “unique” heart. We never took advantage of any day she had on this earth. She was loved, kissed, caressed and prayed on everyday. Her visiting list had to be altered occasionally so that everyone could get a chance to see her. She was loved, loved, loved. In her 45 days on this earth she brought so much joy to anyone who came in contact with her. She was amazing. Some say she was an angel from the start, and I totally agree. Tilan’s family loves her so much that there isn’t a day that goes by when we don’t talk about her, especially her dad and her Aunt Fern who sometimes address people in a voice and words that we definitely know would have been comparable to our baby girl. We laugh, we cry and we thank God for every day of her life that he loaned us. I pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen our family.

I also have to give a special thanks to the staff at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center in Washington, DC. They were extremely helpful and patient with my entire family during Tilan’s stay. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for the entire staff in the CICU (Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

My daughter Alexis Marie Jones was born on February 15th,2000 and passed away on October 14th,2005 from Congenital Heart Disease. She was born with Dextrocardia, Pulmonary Atresia, and Ventricular Septal Defect. Alexis had two of three surgeries at Devos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids,MI and the last one at Mott Children's Hospital. She received her last surgery on October 7th,2005 and this picture was taken on October 6th,2005 in the lobby of Mott Children's Hospital.