Kathy and I have had a great experience with the Pediatric Cardiology team that gave Zak his new heart. One of the surgeons is a strong follower of Notre Dame University. I found this out after wearing a N.D. T-shirt the first day we arrived at the hospital. Then, fourteen days later I was wearing my college team t-shirt of choice, U of W - Madison Badgers.
Did you know most competitive sports games, like college baseball, basketball, and even football are won or lost by just a few points? It's the extra free throw, the missed field goal, or the slide to home plate that can win a game. This is what separates the Champions apart from everyone else!
On August 27th Zechariah was only ONE day out of the hospital from getting his heart transplant. Yes, we have seen great victories in the last two weeks thanks to amazing prayers and continued support. We would not be here without all of the amazing support of our friends, family, and loving God.
Now, we are on the next leg of our journey. The part that separates Champions from all others. In this part of journey, we look forward to establishing a new routine for our family.
This routine includes...
- Helping Zechariah take his daily medicines, multiply times throughout the day.
- Going to the doctor 2x's a week for checkup for the next few months.
- Keeping a "germ-free" home, as best as possible. This includes not having friends or family at our home who are sick with even a sniffle. Wiping down door knobs and drinking bottled water instead of water from a water fountain.
- Zak also needs time to laugh. (This prescribed by his Mom, Dad, and sister.) Check the sidebar -under SHARE A LAUGH - to see how you can help keep Zak's spirit high.
- We will, forever, be avoiding places like the McDonald's PlayZone or Chuck E. Cheese. However, you will find us at the park riding bikes, scooters, and playing at the playground.
- Sanitizing toys after they are played.
We know that we have been surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses to cheer us on. We have felt that we have had "home field advantage" as we have gone through this. We also know that we have a GREAT BIG GOD who cares for us and knows how to handle what we are going through, yet GENTLE to speak to our son and tell him that Jesus' lives in his new heart.
