CJ

My wife and I had been married a couple of years when we found out that we would be having a son. Leslie would visit Dr. Froerer, OB/GYN often. Leslie was very healthy and did not even want to take an aspirin for fear it would harm the baby. She had prenatal care from beginning to end. During the ultra sounds, CJ was a very wiggly boy, and the medical staff could never get a good look at CJ's heart. Curtis John (CJ) was born July 23, 2001 at 7:41 am.

The delivery went well and we had a healthy boy. Some time later, a pediatrician came and gave CJ a full physical. CJ seemed to be perfect, but his heart was making a loud murmur. After a few hours, the medical staff at Cottonwood Hospital informed me that CJ had a heart problem. Next thing I know CJ is being strapped to a air-med plastic protective gurney and was taken to his mom so she could say goodbye. The life-flight team took off with our five hour old son and took him to Primary Children's Medical Center.

I drove to Primary's because I could not go with the Life-Flight Team. CJ was immediately taken to the NICU (Newborn Infant Critical Unit). The cardiology team was doing every kind of test and procedure to determine how bad the damage was to CJ's heart. It is now Tuesday, July 24, 2001. We were not allowed to touch our son for his safety. We looked at him from a distance and had to scrub up and wear hospital gowns to see our CJ.

The doctors continued to run test after test. The cardiology staff discovered that CJ had a major heart defect and they wanted to operate on him, but they came across another defect. . . then three. . . and many more. Wednesday, July 25, 2001, the whole cardiology staff met together to compile all of the tests, info and procedures that were done. Dr. Williams informed us that CJ would need a series of open-heart operation to correct and reconstruct his heart.

The heart operations are called "The Norwood," "The Glen," and "The Fontan." They can fix the other problems during each operation. Friday, July 27, 2001 CJ had his first major open-heart operation at four days old. He made it!!! ALL GRACE TO GOD! He recovered in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) for four weeks. It was touch and go for the next four weeks. When we were able to take him home, it still was a rough time. CJ had several visits to the E.R. at Primary Children's Medical Center. Of course most were at 2-5 am. My dear wife was doing everything 24-7 for CJ.

In December 2001 CJ had another problem. . . he had reflux and could not keep down any food. This problem was huge because CJ could not gain weight. The doctors put him on more medication.

On January 7, 2002, CJ began his second major open-heart operation called the "Glenn." The same team of anesthesiologists, cardiologists, thoracic surgeons and nurses performed his surgery or participated in his reconstruction of the heart.

On January 10, 2002, CJ had to have another surgery on his right diaphragm. They did this because he was having breathing problems. This same day I was called in to my work (Fortune 500 major corporation — I do not want to mention their name), and they told me that I would be laid off. I was downsized and jobless. CJ was released from the PICU a week later and transferred to a normal hospital room. It was only a few days after that that CJ came home with us again, this time he came home on an oxygen tank.

CJ was still having normal complications for an infant who had just had all of this work done. CJ returned to the hospital a few times with complications. Also, CJ has been on heart medications this whole time. When CJ was nine-months old he had a minor surgery on his right eye because of infection. CJ also qualified for SSI federal disability.

CJ met/meets with Dr. Williams monthly and they did/do tests like a cath or echo, x-rays and other exams. His pediatrician, Dr. Lynch was also very involved in CJ's medical treatment.

CJ was having trouble eating solid foods when he was 14 months old. He met with a food-eating therapist, and they helped him to get eating solids. He would throw up any food that had any texture to it because of a gag reflex that was caused by him being excavated so many times. This was another problem because CJ was not gaining weight.

At age two the doctors were also showing that he had a problem with his speech. CJ met with a speech therapist, and they were wonderful. Over the next few months, CJ's speech improved dramatically.

Over the last year, other than normal visits and check ups, CJ has done remarkably well. I was hired by another major fortune 500 corporation. I would also like to leave them nameless as well. They ended up laying me off and so now I have been downsized twice in the last couple of years.

My dear wife has been through so much, and it did not help that companies kept down sizing me. I tried my hardest to provide for my family

I have failed to mention that in April 2003 we had a beautiful baby girl. Her name is Lauren Blake. She was born April 19, 2003. Lauren is perfectly HEALTHY! She doesn't have anything wrong, not even any little things. CJ sure loves his little sister! Lauren is another blessing.

I started taking real estate classes in March. I completed them in April and now I am with RE/MAX. I decided to go into real estate because I want to help people! I have learned a ton of compassion during CJ's problems and being laid off.

I am in a helping profession and what better way to help people then being a Realtor. I want to help people buy a home or sell a home. I have learned to be in charge of a huge project (my son). I want to help people have a happy positive experience in purchasing real estate.

We are getting ready for CJ's third major open-heart operation. CJ will have the "Fontan" on July 6, 2004. We have been down this road before, but it never gets any easier.

On July 1, 2004 CJ had a cath. During his cath they had to put a stent in his left pulmonary artery. The doctors also did a coil-collateral on his right and left side of his heart.

We have 100% confidence in CJ's medical staff. The staff at Primary Children's Medical Center are indescribable. But, if I used a few words I would say; awesome, caring compassionate, skilled, incredible, loving, friendly, helpful and they ARE MIRACLE WORKERS!

Thank you to all that have helped with CJ. Our deepest love goes out to you! I look forward to getting to know all of you! Sincerely, CJ's DAD (Curtis)