There is one thing that I wanted to point out before you watch the video. As I was looking for pictures to include in the video and remembering each day, I noticed that through all this Nathan has never changed. He was born a very calm and accepting baby. Allowed all the doctors and nurses to do what they needed to in order to help him. He would cry when he got poked by a needle, but only for a short time. As he got older he hardly flinched. He knows what needs to be done even more than I do sometimes. After each hospital stay this past couple of years the first thing he would do when he got outside was find a flower to smell. Why? I honestly dont know. I thought it was because he just liked to smell flowers. But he doesnt go off to smell the flowers everyday. Just when he has went through something big. It is his way of rejoicing. His way of knowing he made it. And he has made it! He is happy. He is stable. He will have an amazing life because he is choosing to smell the flowers.
I continue to watch him grow and try to teach him about his condition. But the only thing that will give him a chance to live a long life is research. I am including a few facts about Congenital Heart Defects along with a link to the Childrens Heart Foundation. Please take a moment to watch Nathans video and if you could donate to help save the lives of these children who need so much!
http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/donate-now
Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 birth defect
Nearly twice as many children die from Congenital Heart Defects in the United States each year as from all forms of childhood cancers combined, yet funding for pediatric cancer research is five times higher than funding for CHD. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
This year approximately 4,000 babies will not live to see their first birthday because of Congenital Heart Defects
Although some babies will be diagnosed during gestation or at birth, sometimes the diagnosis is not made until days, weeks, months, or even years after. In some cases, CHD is not detected until adolescence or adulthood.
It is a proven fact that the earlier CHD is detected and treated, it is more likely the affected child will survive and have less long term health complications
