Mercedes Margaret

Our baby girl, Mercedes Margaret, (named after her grandma and great-grandma) was born with double outlet right ventricle in August 2006. This was an undiagnosed CHD. Aside from some maternal hypertension during the pregnancy, a little bed rest, and morning sickness the entire time, we were full of excitement and joy that after 16 years we would become parents again! This time to a girl. WOW! The boys accepted the news with happiness and assumed the role of "big brothers" immediately.

Mercedes was born on August 2nd at 36 weeks. She went to the NICU because she had mild respiratory distress and required a tiny bit of oxygen. By 2 days of age she was eating from a bottle. I even gave her the first bath. She was so mad at me. But, she smelled so sweet, you know, the new baby smell. At 3-4 days of age she started having trouble eating and started breathing fast. They performed a cardiac echo and found her to have a CHD. She was transferred to Children's Mercy in Kansas City. Our lives would never be the same. We were told the risks and benefits of surgery, as everyone is, and she had a "modified Norwood" procedure on August 14th.

Mercedes made it through surgery and she even came off bypass but her little heart was weak and as I knew, being a neonatal RN, her blood gases and labs were basically incompatible with life. We decided to remove her from life support and just hold her and kiss her little face and hug her. My boys and family were devastated. My husband and I were broken, but even worse our boys were destroyed. They sobbed. I know that anyone who has older children knows how hard it is to see and hear them cry.

It is still hard to think of her not here with us. We had so many plans and dreams of her being a part of our lives. I know one day we will see her again. It is just hard, as many of you know.

We are now just able to socialize with our friends again. We know we must get out of bed everyday because we have three awesome sons to live for.

Many things have helped us. Donations to our church and to Children's Mercy in her name. We are blessed to have supportive friends and family as well as a church family that has been extraordinary.

We would like to offer our prayers for all of the little one's and their families that have been affected by CHD.

Kenney & Christina Parents to Our Angel, Mercedes Margaret DORV, Kurt 19 HH, Ryan and Rodney 17 HH's.