Lauren Faith

We anxiously awaited at the ultrasound to hear that we where having a girl during my second pregnancy. Our second girl, we were overjoyed. A call a few days later changed our lives forever. The doctor's office said that we needed to go back for a second ultrasound to be get another look at the baby when I was further along. I immediately knew something was wrong—call it mother's instinct. My husband and family assured me it would all be OK. I felt differently. After the second ultrasound and the higher imaging ultrasound it showed that our innocent girl growing inside of me had Hypoplastic Right Heart. After weeks of tons of questions and internet searching by the whole family, we seen our pediatric cardiologist who confirmed the diagnosis and added AV Canal Defect.

Lauren Faith was born on May 9, 2002. Her Apgar score was 8 and then 9. A little part of me hoped that since the scores were so high that the diagnosis was wrong. She was a beautiful angel. She went to the nursery right away. She was then taken to the local children's hospital by ambulance as planned. I got to hold her for only a brief few moments. Her heart was the one with the defect but I could of swore mine was broken in a million pieces. That was the start of our journey. She immediately had feeding issues and had an NG put in when she was three days old. She started showing signs of CHF. She had her first surgery when she was five weeks old. The first surgery was so hard on all of us. The unexpected is always the worst. She made it thru with flying colors. She came home a week later. Her homecoming was a special day for all of the family. She was on NG feedings. She figured out how to get the tape off and flip the tube out of her nose. Mommy had a great time replacing it about three times a day. Lauren is a fighter and very strong as we are so lucky that she is. She got a G tube a few months later. She had her second surgery Bi-Directional Glen done in 12-02. Once again we were blessed to have her come thru it with flying colors and no problems at all. She come home a week later in time for Christmas. What a special Christmas and so much to be thankful for.

Lauren has a rare chromosome deletion. She is missing 8p23.1. We have known about this since she was about three weeks old. Research (what there is) indicates that she could have developmental delays ranging from normal intelligence to moderate mental retardation. She is already behind in her development but struggles so hard to get more active.

She has finally started to thrive. She is fifteen months old and had mastered rolling over. Of course, it is much quicker to older sister's toys and old sister. She is trying to crawl getting on all fours. She is sitting up now also for short periods of time. All of her accomplishments are celebrated because she works so hard to achieve them.

Lauren is a blessing to all of us. I know everyone has heard it before but her smile truly lights up a room and can bring you more joy than you ever knew was possible. I have often said that she has taught us more in the last fifteen months than we knew all whole lives.

January 2005 Update

Lauren is now two and a half years old. She is doing wonderful. She has reached developmental milestones of walking and is now beginning to talk. She will have her Fontan in Spring/Summer 2005. Lauren continues to be fed thru her g tube but also eats by mouth. She has filled our lives with joy, hope, love, faith, etc. She fills the room with her personality and demands to be the center of attention. Loving the toddler years here in Ohio with our precious Lauren Faith.

June 2006 Update

Sadly our precious beautiful Lauren passed away on September 23, 2005 at the tender age of three.  She fought a battle like no other in the summer of 2005.  She had her Fontan on June 14, 2005 and her body spiraled out of control for the following months.  She had a massive brain bleed and died seventeen days later in the loving arms of her Mommy and Daddy.  We miss her so much.  We wait to be reunited with her again.  She was a brave little girl with a zest for life and a spirit that is now living on.  She is the brightest star in the sky.  Lauren Faith Miller, you will forever dance in our hearts.