Kennedy

The night before the surgery.

Corbett came to see me!

looking at my bear

They fixed me right up!

With all the tubes.

I still sleep like a princess!

opening my eyes...becoming more aware

coming off the drugs

resting peacefully finally

SO cute!

WHAT did you just do to me?

I finally got to hold her!

Somehow I let go of her long enough to let Cody hold her.

On Monday, August 2nd, we had an appointment with a cardiologist at Primary Children's Hospital. We had no idea what that would bring. We expected a short appointment with some information about Kennedy's heart murmur, which she has had since birth. After taking some tests, a chest x-ray and an echo-cardiogram we were put in a room waiting for the results of all the tests. The doctor came in and told us that our daughter had been born with a heart disease called Truncus Arteriosus. I was in shock and disbelief. Open heart surgery was scheduled right away and our whole world as we know it has been turned upside down ever since. We had a day at home and then returned to Primary Children's on Wednesday for some pre-op labs and a sedated echo-cardiogram. Surgery was on Thursday August 5th. We waited in a room with several other families who were waiting for a child having some surgery or another. Doctors came in and out with updates on surgeries. We were given updates about every hour. With every update came more relief. She did SO well! We have been living at the hospital and Ronald McDonald house ever since watching and waiting for Kennedy's recovery. She is making every milestone she should be and is now looking like herself again (with a few extra tubes). She started with SO many tubes and has gradually worked her way down, she still has several though. Tomorrow should be a good day and they will take out most of the rest of her tubes and she will be moved out of the ICU. It's been a whirlwind of a week and we have to pinch ourselves to make sure it's not just a dream, wish we could wake up from this one. However, we've learned SO much in just 4 days. We have so much to be grateful for, including...
OUR SWEET KENNEDY! I am so blessed to have her for my daughter. I don't think I could possibly love her more! She's a fighter and is doing so well. At home she was a complete joy.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS! We cannot possibly count the number offers to help and services from our families, friends, and even people we've never met. It has been humbling and overwhelming to see the goodness in people and their desire to serve. This has come from every direction and it is amazing!  We were humbled and grateful each time we heard of our loved ones fasting and praying for Kennedy.  There were SO many prayers going up for her this past week, we are very grateful for that! 
I also know her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents love her and she is so blessed to have them in her life. They've been coming every chance they get to see her and show their love.
MODERN MEDICINE! Because of this my sweet Kennedy's life can be spared. I don't know why I'm so blessed to live where and when I do. The hospital we are at is wonderful, the doctors are amazing, and technology is so advanced that there is a way for us help Kennedy.
It's hard to see Kennedy in pain and not be able to explain it to her but each day she has progressed and it gives us so much hope to know it won't be long and she will feel well again, even better than before.
HEAVENLY FATHER!  I know she is a daughter of God and that Heavenly Father loves her SO much.  We called on the priesthood multiple times this week for Kennedy and for us.
I hope as I dress Kennedy each day I will see her scar and remember how precious she is to me and how great it is that she is still with us and will be for a good long time! She still has surgeries in the future but is able to have a fairly normal life otherwise. The doctor has advised us to let her go and see what she can do, not hold her back in life! We expect she will do EXCELLENT!