What is it like to have a child with a CHD?

Yes, I do realize I have posted 3 things in 2 days, but I was going through some old stuff and found my last two posts. I didn't write these although I certainly wish I did. Enjoy!

You passed me in the shopping mall...(You read my faded tee)You tapped me on the shoulder...Then asked...`"What's a CHD?"

I could quote terminology...There's stats that I could give...

But I would rather share with you...A mother's perspective.

What is it like to have a child with a CHD?

It's Lasix,aspirin,Captopril...

It's wondering...Lord what's your will?...

......It's monitors and oxygen tanks...

It's a constant reminder...to always give thanks...

It's feeding time, calories, needed weight gain...

It's the drama of eating...and yes it's insane!

It's the first time I held him...(I'd waited so long)

It's knowing that I need...to help him grow strong...

It's making a hospital...home for a while...

It's seeing my reward...in every smile.

It's checking his stats...as the monitors are beeping...

It's knowing that there... is just no time for sleeping...

It's caths, x-ays and boo boos to kiss...

It's normalcy...I sometimes miss...

It's asking...do his lips look blue?

It's cringing inside... at what he's been through.

It's dozens of calls to his pediatrician...

(She knows me by name...I'm a mom on a mission).

It's winters homebound...and hand sanitizer...

It's knowing this journey...has made me much wiser.

It's watching him sleeping...his breathing is steady...

It's surgery day...and I'll never be ready.

It's handing him over...( I'm still not prepared...)

It's knowing that his heart... must be repaired...

It's waiting for news...on that long stressful day...

It's ...praying...it's hoping...that he'll be okay.

It's the wonderful friends... with whom I've connected...

It's the bond that we share...it was so unexpected...

It's that long faded scar... down my child's small chest...

It's touching it gently...and knowing we're blessed...

It's watching him chasing...a small butterfly...

It's the moment I realized...I've stopped asking...why?

It's the snowflakes that fall...on a cold winter's day...

They remind me of those...who aren't with us today