Zoe

Zoe was diagnosed at 18 weeks in-utero with HLHS. We were amazed after 2 years of trying to get pregnant, that this would happen to us, to our baby. My husband and I were immediately referred to Boston Children's Hospital, where we met all the people, who would soon make the difference of a lifetime. Everything was so incredibly overwhelming. We didn't know what to do, where to start, or how to feel. So we decided the best thing to do was to make as many contacts as we could, find out as much as we could, and have more hope than we ever had.

Our pregnancy was wonderful, all went well, and we were just ready for Zoe to finally be here. I was scheduled to be induced a week before my due date. Everyone wanted to be prepared, and to have everything ready to go. On January 23, 2003 at 10:57pm after only 7 hours of labor, Zoe Beyla was born. She was absolutely breath-taking?at 6lbs 15oz and 20.1 inches long, no one would have ever know she had a life-threatening heart condition. She was beautiful. Corey and I were able to each hold her for only about a minute each, but to finally have her in our arms, to just look at her and know she was ours, and to see the strength in her eyes, we knew Zoe could do it. We knew she would put up one of the fights of her lifetime.

On January 28, Zoe had her first of 3 open heart surgeries. Se could never have imagined it was going to be as hard as it was. It was a day that we could never possibly be prepared for. About 5 hours later she was returned to the CICU, and we were able to see our beautiful girl.....our beautiful girl with an open chest. I didn't think I was going to make it?my husband was my strength, he told me that I needed to be strong for Zoe, that she needed us to give her strength. He was right. From that moment on, we gave our baby every last drop of hope, energy, and love that we could find inside ourselves. We weren't settling for anything less that what she deserved. Two days later she had her chest closed, two days after that she was off the ventilator, two days after that we were on the floor, and finally 2 days after that......we went home. Zoe wanted to come home just as much as we did, she is an absolute miracle. We had visiting nurses come to the house for check-ups, and they were amazed at how well she had been progressing. She was eating and gaining weight like a champ. It was like a dream compared to what we had expected, and life was somewhat normal.

June came quickly, and after 5 months of normal baby stuff it was time to start "preparing" for her second surgery. So, the day came....we dreaded it but knew it had to be done. We felt ok about it, we had all the faith in the world, not only in Zoe but in everyone else who was involved. We knew we would be bringing her home again. June 23rd, Zoe had her bi-directional Glen, flew through it, and 4 days later...we were home! Knock on wood, everything went according to plan, Zoe played by the rules and was "a good girl"!!!!

So, here we are today one year after she was born, and I am finally able to write this, not only for my family, but for everyone out there who has gone through or who will be going through a similar situation. Zoe is just like a normal child. We just have to take a few extra precautions, and that is ok. You learn to live the life that you were given, and God does not give you anything that you can not handle.

Zoe is 1 year old, weighs 23 pounds, is 31 inches tall, eats enough for two small children (hee, hee). She crawls, walks holding onto hands, furniture or anything she can get her hands one. She is amazing, the light of our lives, and we love her more than we thought possible. Zoe is stronger than her daddy and I ever thought a child could be, for that...she is our hero!