Bryce's Precious Heart

On January 23, 2011, I gave birth to a precious 7 lb., 6 oz. 21 inches long baby boy at 10:15pm. After delivery, he didn't cry out, just a few squeaks here and there. Immediately, my mom (a respiratory therapist), knew something wasn't quite right. At this point, Jon and I were oblivious to the fact that anything was wrong and were overjoyed as we should have been at the birth of our son. At first, they thought it was just his lungs. After a bit of trying to suction his lungs with no strong cry, he was wisked away to the nursery at ECM for further evaluation. After about 4 hours at ECM, lots of suctioning, an oxygen hood, and chest x-rays, he was sent to Huntsville Hospital by ambulance for further evaluation. Quickly after arriving in Huntsville, Bryce had an echocardiogram (because they suspected it may be his heart) that was read by the pediatric cardiologist over his iphone (yes..really!...he was on a ski vacation) who quickly diagnosed Bryce with transposition of the great vessels. A quick explanation....the aortic valve and pulmonary artery are switched. After the diagnosis in Huntsvlle and the phone call from Jon letting me know our son had a heart defect and was going to have to have an operation, Bryce was sent immediately to UAB hospital where we waited 2 weeks and 1 day before he had full blown open heart surgery to correct the problem. Jon was so wonderful through it all. We had arrived at ECM Hospital at about 8:30 am on Sunday, Jan. 23 where he had supported me through a wonderful labor all day long and then chased our precious miracle baby all over the place until he eventually got to UAB Hospital Women's and Children's Center (Regional Neonatal ICU at 3:00 pm the next day. If you are wondering where I was during this time, I had to stay at ECM Hospital to recover for a bit. I was released by Dr. Keith on Monday to go and be with my precious son and husband. Although scared to death, pain medication on board, and running on adrenaline, I was overjoyed to finally arrive at UAB Hospital (around 8:30pm Monday night) to see my husband and son for the first time since delivery. Jon said it was amazing seeing Bryce perk up when I was finally there to hold him and talk to him. He knew his mommy had finally arrived! :) This was just the beginning of our journey...more to come! This picture was taken as Bryce was leaving ECM to go to Hunstville Hospital (still thinking it was his lungs at that point)