Quinn

In December 2003 we received the best Christmas present—confirmation that our many months of treatment had resulted in pregnancy! Our due date was summer's end 2004. During our first big ultrasound, the technician noted his frustration at his inability to visualize the entire aorta and pulmonary artery. We were assured that it was just a matter of utilizing more technical equipment—and stunned to find out that the real problem was not the machines, but our little boy's heart.

The entire pregnancy was filled with extra doctors' appointments as the pediatric cardiologist franticly tried to determine whether our baby was without an aorta or a pulmonary artery. We were regularly reassured that regardless, doctors are now blessed with the ability to repair such defects.

On August 5, 2004, Quinn was brought into this world three weeks prematurely, because he'd stopped developing three weeks before that. Doctors later discovered development had ceased because his umbilical cord was only about one-quarter the normal length. His preemie status added to his heart complications.

At one week old, Dr. Mee at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital performed corrective heart surgery because pulmonary atresia was making our little guy so sick. Quinn had to remain open-chested after the surgery due to swelling. For several days it was very touch and go as his body kept retaining fluids. Then, overnight, he began to do better and they tried to close him at two weeks old. The procedure was only temporary and the doctors were forced to open him again because of the swelling.

On August 26th, just hours short of three weeks old, we held him as he passed from our world into the arms of God.