Personal Stories
Atticus's Story
(submitted by Atticus's grandmother
Maryanne)
My grandson, Atticus, celebrated his third
birthday on April 8, 2008. This is a medical
miracle.
Atticus was born without a left ventricle
in his heart. On Nov. 13, 2007, he entered
the Stollery Children's Hospital for his
third open-heart surgery with the hope
of a full lifespan ahead of him. ... We knew
that a transplant might be needed later,
but after two very tough operations and
delayed recovery, we were full of hope that
this time he would sail through the operation
and recovery and soon be back with his
sister, Jordan.
That was our hope. ... [but] his failing
heart left us all feeling devastated and
Atticus in heart failure.
Although he was
high risk for a heart transplant, on Jan.
24, 2008, he had his heart transplant.
After
four months in pediatric intensive care,
he was released from Stollery on Easter
Monday. On April 8, he celebrated his third
birthday by clowning with his five-year-old
sister and eating chocolate cake. He is off
oxygen and is the same loving, inquisitive,
friendly little fellow he was on Nov. 13.
Atticus
lives because of the skills, dedication
and caring of the many health professionals
we met on our four-month voyage through medical
care in Alberta. ... His surgeon took two
holidays that I am aware of during Atticus's
crises and each time phone calls and e-mails
were exchanged Ñ some holiday. Some doctors
continue to be available 24 hours a day
for Atticus.
There were many very special
doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals
who stood out during Atticus's stay. One
doctor continued to visit Atticus on her
own time weeks after he had left the intensive
care unit, even though the doctor was no
longer assigned to that unit.
The true hero
of this story is Atticus. He has a will
to live and thrive that allowed the medical
professionals to work their miracles.
Maryanne
Excerpts of a letter which appeared in The
Edmonton Journal
Monday, April 14, 2008
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