Amelia's Story

Most of you are familiar with Amelia's story. For those of you who are not, here is what happened. She was born a beautiful, we thought perfect, little girl. Upon her discharge examination, her peditrician heard a very, very faint murmur. She said it was probably nothing, but it turned into a life saving moment. She was then sent for blood pressure readings, and none could be detected in her legs. We then were sent to Children's Heart Clinic for an assesment. After an agonizing, for her parents, two hour ultrasound test, we were told she will not be going home. We then walked across the parking lot to Children's Hospital to the PICU. It is a bit of a blur after that. She was hooked up to IV's from every possible access point, and we were told to go home and get a night's sleep-HA. We got a call the next day, saying it was worse then they thought, and she was being added to the surgery schedule that day. So at four days of age, our amazing little girl underwent life saving coarctation surgery. They cut out a narrowing (or collaspsed part) in her aorta, and sewed it back together-completly mind boggeling to us! After a few days on the ventilator, she was able to breathe on her own. If I remember correctly, her surgery was on a Thursday, and she was discharged the next Tuesday! (They were actually holding her a little while, waiting for her Mom to get discharged as she was re-admitted with pre-eclampsia, worsening to HELLP syndrome-a whole other story.) She is now a very energetic 8 year old, who enjoys life to the fullest!!

We also walk in memory of Chris's Uncle Dick Ruhberg, who was and always will be, a part of Amelia's Army. He passed away from a dissected aortic aneurysm a few of years ago.