Special Request

Like Patty, I'm far from being a Drama Queen as well - I try to avoid drama at all costs.

However, I would like to make a very humble request from my NASCAR friends. Our 7-month old niece, AnnaSophia (my husband's brother's child) has been given a death sentence from the doctors unless they can find her a heart in about 2 months (it takes about 3-4 months to find a heart on average). They're going to ship her up to the Childrens' Hospital in Denver (they live in Colorado Springs) and keep her there indefinitely. We've gone through the whole heart scare on an off - continuously - since she was born, but this time seems "for real".

I and my extended family would appreciate any positive thoughts you could send her little way. I'm not asking for anything personally, but mainly to keep my in-laws together and keep them strong physically and mentally.

Thank you so much - I love you guys!

Having a sick child is no fun.... I pray that she will be ok!

Thank you!

Here she is in the hospital - that's me in scrubs. Everyone has to be completely protected because her immune system is almost crashed. The scar is from her first open-heart surgery - at 3 months old.

she;'s cute and you're making me tear

I'm sorry.

But you know, this is a no-win situation. It's either her or another baby (to get the heart). That just sucks.

I think of all that the NASCAR guys do for sick children and that always makes me tear up. God bless them.

your in-laws must be strong people to have to deal with all of that.

I think my father-in-law's taking it a little better. Neither Ron nor I have spoken with Ron's mother in a while. Mainly because she's always over at their house taking care of their other 2 kids right now.

They've called over their pastor to "dedicate" AnnaSophia (as their religion calls a baptism), so Ron and I agree that they're preparing for the worst. It's this waiting, not knowing what's going to happen that's the worst.

My prayers and thoughts are with your family 12. Keep us up to date!

Thank you so much, Rowdy18. It really means a lot to me (and us).

The latest on her blog isn't much. They were able to get the IV in, but the medicine may or may not help her heart. Hopefully they'll update it often.

aww i'm so sorry to hear about you niece! i will definetly be thinking about all of you

Thanks, Drina! I will check their blog again this evening to see if anything's changed. The blog is blocked by my company...grrrrr.

that sux that its blocked at work. yeh, keep us posted

Well, here's the blog because I can't explain it on my own.

Despite their best efforts, the staff was unable to get the pic line inserted into AnnaSophia today. This was after more than an hour of attempts. So, the team has decided to try again on Monday at 1 p.m. with something called a, "cut down pic line." The doctor cuts away tissue to expose the veins and to more easily insert the line. The line would most likely be placed in her arm. AnnaSophia doesn't seem to tolerate any kind of sedation very well, so we're extremely concerned about any option that involves heavy sedation or general anesthesia.

If the second attempt at a pic line doesn't go well, other options mentioned to us are much more involved and include surgery. Surgery is not good for AnnaSophia right now. We need prayers that this second attempt at a pic line works and that the line holds. This is the only way to get the Milrinone medication into her system once she goes "home."

Finally, I think the Ross Procedure vs. heart transplant issue is resolved. We are committed to a heart transplant and have found peace with the decision, including the risks associated with the wait and the transplant itself. We know this decision gives AnnaSophia the best chance of survival.

aww, i wish the best for AnnaSophia. hopefully everything will work out and she'll be able to go home soon.

Yea us too.

I feel guilty sometimes that I put this in here because it's depressing. But I just feel that you guys are special to me (you're my NASCAR buddies!).

dont feel guilty at all. we're all friends and we support each other

There's no new news yet; they're probably so exhausted today to post anything new. I figure no news is good news.

yeh, thats what i say too, so hopefully everythings ok

please update us on annasophia, 39. hows she doing now?

She's doing all right, just celebrated her 1st birthday last month. She had her first transplant several months back and their bills are running about 2 million. Insurance should cover some of that but not much I'd imagine. She seems to be doing all right right now, but they're taking it day by day. That's why I don't post much about her, because it's like the weather - one minute it's OK and the next it changes, so it's very hard to keep up with.

But thank you for asking!

Awwww!!!

Ill definitely send some good vibes her way. She's so sweet

Thank you all for your thoughts! Steve and Mary are keeping records of all the prayers, etc. to show to AnnaSophia when she gets older.

Thats so neat. I cant imagine growing up and seeing all of that....

Me neither. I can't imagine having a heart transplant at 6 months old! And open-heart at 3 months. They're already saying that she's gonna need another open-heart in a few years. I swear.

Isnt that usually the case?
I dont know much about heart transplants, but I always kinda thought it was an 'every-few'years' kinda thing...