Sadness & fear...

It is becoming all to real how fragile life is, especially when complicated with a CHD. There have been so many deaths this week. From infants to adults who are CHD patients. Unfortunately its a grim reminder of sin in the world.

First it started with a beautiful little girl by the name of Bailey Jill Reynolds. She was just 15 months old & had had her repair for TOF. She was doing well. In short, she was at a doctor's appointment & doing okay, but within a day, she became a lovely angel. According to her parents, they aren't sure of the cause of her death, but signs are pointing to an infection.

Just this past Thursday, a fellow by the name of Jason Cleveland also passed. He was a 36 year old, also with TOF, & also had been doing well. He was a member of a support group on Yahoo! that I also belonged to. He was vibrant & full of life from what his friends have said. He was involved in raising awareness about CHD's, and was planning to be a counselor at a camp this summer. They believe that he had a fatal arrythmia that caused his death.

Just a few minutes ago, I read on one of our heart friend's pages that another little guy lost his battle with CHD. 8 month old Caleb Gholston went home this afternoon to be with his almighty Father. He had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, which is an underdeveloped heart (basically), and had spent his entire life in the hospital. From reading his page, his parents are very strong in their faith in God, and continue to be despite their great loss this afternoon.

With Nevaeh going in for her 3rd open heart this week, to see all of these tragedies really makes the "what ifs" come to the forefront in my thoughts. I can only trust in God to know that His plan is ultimately what we have to live by, despite not knowing the outcome. I have seen Vaeh on the brink of death twice in her short life, & both times I have given her back to God. I have felt that she is only on loan to me from our Heavenly Father, so who am I to keep her from returning to His loving arms if He is calling her home! I ask that you please keep all of these families in your thoughts and prayers as they are faced with these terrible losses. I know that I will be praying for them, which will help keep my mind off of Vaeh's pending surgery! I took great comfort in a line from a post on the TOF message board by Bailey's mom, Angie. I think it sums everything up perfectly - Thanks, Angie! "The will of God will never take me where the Grace of God will not protect me!" Thank you, Father!