...and let's just call her "C"

Part Deux. I guess that's what you'd call this installment. Of course, that just reminds me of an incredibly terrible (worse kind of terrible in all that is terrible) Charlie Sheen movie from back in the day...so let's just walk away...seriously...don't even look it up.

I told you yesterday a little bit more about the condition of "J" so I thought the natural follow-up would be to tell you about our little sweetheart, "C." It actually benefits those reading that this blog wasn't started back in January because we know far more about her condition now than we did then. Initially, all we knew was that she had a heart condition of some sort with only 70% oxygenation levels...the key being that the problem could be a simple, quick fix or something irreparable...we just had no idea. And truthfully, we really won't know the full and accurate scope of her medical condition until we bring her home.

After receiving her medical file from the adoption agency, we were able to get it immediately in the hands of a pediatric cardiologist at a large hospital. Again, we are so thankful for the people God has placed in our path since moving to Iowa that has made things like this possible.  The news is unnerving at best.  I still don't claim to have my head around all the medical lingo, but I know it's significant and time-sensitive. As a matter of fact, Chris even got his laptop out the other night at dinner and pulled his "Mr. Carr lecture voice" out of nowhere and tried to explain the situation to all of us. Of course, the kids and I had some fun teasing the "prof," but it was very helpful to visualize the problems.

C actually has 3 things wrong concerning her heart. I know I'll get something wrong if I try to list them so I'll just summarize. A portion of the heart is missing, a dividing "wall" missing between the right and left sides, and there is a very narrow opening in the "tube" that moves the blood out to the lungs. I know all you docs and biology gurus are disgusted with my description above, but it works just fine for the rest of us. Kids are known to have these birth defects...surgeries are common to repair them...but there is nothing minor about these surgeries.

Does that make this any easier? No. Does this mean it's a simple fix? No. Will this be an in and out process? No.

Breathe in, breathe out.

Did God call us to this process? Yes. Did he lead us to this very little girl in need of not only a family and medical care...but also a Savior? Yes. Will we continue to press on knowing the Ultimate Physician is bigger than a missing ventricle? Yes.

Because you see, in all of His precise shaping of her, God did what only He could do. He has saved her life to this very day...every moment has been a gift. Let me explain. If C only had the first complication, she would already be dead. No question. The children that are diagnosed with this disease are done so shortly after birth. They don't survive much past that if it's not dealt with immediately. She is 2. It's nothing short of a miracle. SHE is a miracle.  But in the shaping of her sweet little body, God also included the other two "problems"...which have saved her life to this point. All three conditions have literally worked together to keep her alive to date. Eventually the heart won't be able to take it and will give out...but for now, she's a happy, active toddler who loves to sing and smile and play. God's grace is amazing...and sufficient. I honestly had to keep telling myself that as I listened to the likely diagnosis.  He...is...sufficient.