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If you are interested in helping to make a difference in Connor's life as well as the life of other
CHD affected children..please click on the link for Connor's heart page and join our team by making a tax deductable donation
to the american heart association...thank you!
Connor's Heart Page ~ Heart walk 2003 Sunday May 4th at Rockland Community Collage ~ American Heart Association
Connor is now 3 years old and a wonderful happy and cheerful boy. He always has a smile
for anyone he meets, and just has a way of cheering people up instantly...
On February 13th 2003, Connor started complaining of chest pains. We took him
to the pediatrician and then on the 14th took him back to Westchester Medical Center for an EKG. The EKG showed he has
an irregular rythme and so an echo followed which showed a slightly enlarged left atrial. We have no idea at this time
if these are new problems or left over damage from before his surgery, so the PC has decided to take a wait and see approach.
So we are back to having to worry over each new EKG and every follow up echo....I will update with more as we learn it, but
for now please keep my precious boy in your prayers!
Thank You
| Connor James |
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| 3 years old ~ 3rd birthday picture |
| Connor James at 3 years old |
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| February 8th 2003 |
| Front page of the newspaper 2/12/03 |
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| Supervisor and Mayor signing proclamations for National CHD Awarness Day... |
In this picture is Town supervisor Tom Murphy, behind him is me holding Kyle (remember Kyle was born
with and ASD as well), next is MAyor Joe D'Onofrio and next to him on the table is Connor holding his paper heart up!
In this photo the mayor and supervisor were signing proclamations declaring February 14th as National CHD Awarness Day and
stating that our town and village would recognize them as such. The paper had a wonderful story about my boys and CHD
awarness and it was very informative and so well written. I am so grateful to my community for being so incredibly
supportive of us...
| CHD'S AFFECT CHILDREN WORLDWIDE |
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Here on this page you will read Connor's story
| Connor "CJ" James |
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| Here he is at 3 months old and chubby as could be...couldn't you just eat these cheeks??? |
This is a page dedicated to telling the story of a very sweet
and precious baby boy. Connor James born January 5th 2000 has touched so many with his charm and sweet disposition,
but he has touched so many more with his heart...
Connor was rushed to the hospital on feburary 13th (his
big brothers birthday) 2001, due to turning blue, running a high fever and having an unusual rash all over his body that would
sweep up him and then disappear. After a full week of tests, spinals, blood work, catscans and x rays they finally did
an EKG on him. When the first EKG came out bad they did a second, then a third then finally after 5 bad EKG's they did
an echo cardiograhm on him. They saw the hole pretty quickly, but were amazed he had no murmur. Connor had a congenital
heart defect (CHD) called Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). Right away they started telling us in a few years he would need
surgery and he was not a candidate for the less invasive new catherder procedure that has come out. His hole was way
to large already.
| Connor in Nyack hospital Feb. 2001 |
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| This bear was a gift from his nurses, because he was *their* angel patient... |
| Connor at 1 year old... |
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| still wonderful, chubby and just so happy!!!! |
| Nyack Hospital Feb 2001 |
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| Helping the nurses clean up... |
Well every few months they would do echo's on him and each echo would reveal the right side of the
heart growing larger. This was a concern as the left side is the larger side, as it is the work horse side of the heart.
Also I should mention his blue spells started growing in intesity and increasing in frequency...
Connor was unique in that most ASD's do not come with sympthoms, his did. We called them "blue
spells" and first it was just a few times a month, then towards the end it was many times a day. You cannot imagine
what it was like as a mother to see your child turn blue before your eyes.
| Another 2nd birthday picture |
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| Maybe he'll choose the arts...whatever his choice he'll touch many hearts!!! |
| Connor's 2nd birthday pictures |
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| Future quaterback or what??? |
On April 16th, 2002 Connor underwent his open heart surgery. The surgery went without a hitch
(thank God in heaven) but... the surgeon told us the hole was even worse then they had thought and it was resting on a major
artery in the heart. His heart didn't have 2 years left on it without this surgery. They had to make a patch out
of his parcardium sac (the sac that surrounds the heart) to repair his hole.
| Connor April 16th 2002 |
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| Minutes after coming up from recovery... |
| April 18th 2002 |
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| 2 days post op and finally off oxygen... |
| April 18th 2002 |
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| Connor is finally able to be out of bed...this was his mode of transportation! |
| CHD awarness Quilt ~ Connor's square... |
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| Quilt 18 block A4 |
Connor's recovery had many ups and downs the first 2 days, but after that he was doing wonderfully!
We thank God for all the wonderful doctors Dr. Lester Permut (Thoracic surgeon), Dr. Karen Seligman (cardiologist), Dr's.
Sackler & Weisman (pediatricians) and all the wonderful loving nurses and support staff at Westchester Medical Center
(aka Valhalla Childrens Hospital).
| April 20th and the chest tubes are out!!!!!! |
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| FINALLY we see the light at the end of the tunnel...as Connor sends a kiss out to "Ria" |
We would also like to thank our dear and special friend Maria for leaving her family to be with us
and help us through what was a very tough time in our lives. All of our friends who prayed, visited, cooked, babysat,
supported and helped spread the news of Connor's recovery...both the good and the bad. I also want to add a special
thank you to my dear friend Ann for being with me in the hospital and bringing me everything I could have needed...Ann you
are a dear friend!!!
We found through this that we are so very blessed with a wonderful group of friends, and the most
incredible and loving families!!!! We wish we could name everyone who touched us through all this, but to name everyone
would be impossible...just know how much we love and appreciate all of you!!!!!
A PERFECT HEART
BY DONNA SALVA
God gave to me a special boy, who's heart is pure as gold
a perfect boy so full of
love, and here's his story told...
On a cold, gray winters day, the doctor's came to me
a problem with his perfect heart,
is what we fear we see...
so as his mom and as his dad, there's choices you must make,
but first the word of just one
doc, we ask that you not take....
So on and on we talked and saw, more doctors then you'd know,
and each of them all
said the same, his problems worse will grow...
His little heart it has a hole, and his bluing is one sign,
and many
more will come his way, as it worsens over time...
Now surgery is all there is, thats left for us to do,
and though we know you're scared
to death, it's now he
most needs you...
Be strong for him and keep your faith, it's getting near the date,
as scary
as this all may seem, it really is his fate...
God gave to you a perfect boy, with a heart as pure as gold,
know in your heart he'll
be ok, and as his story is now told...
He'll touch the hearts of many more, then if he had been whole
and touching hearts
is quite a way, to comfort someones soul!!!...
The message here I got from God, is that we never knew
his hearts been perfect all
along...it's just had a job to do...
written for my precious Connor James by his mommy
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GODS CHOSEN MOTHERS
BY DONNA SALVA
A child is born with expectation, a child is born with joy...
a child is born into
our hearts, yes every girl and boy
a child is born of promise, commitment and true love...
a child is such a precious
gift, sent to us from God above...
so when a mother holds her child, it's joy which she should feel
as she looks into
the tiny face, which made lifes promise real
the promise of a family, a precious little one to know...
to hold, to love,
keep warm & safe, and watch them as they grow...
But some children are born special, more special then the rest
because their born
with different needs, and surgeries and tests
these babies that are special, are unique in many ways
they spend their
time just struggeling, to live from day to day...
Thats why God in Heaven had to choose so carefully
the very special women
who these babies moms will be
it wasn't just by chance, and though there was no clue
God knew this special baby, would
need a mom like you...
you were chosen for your kindness, compassion and strong will
God recognized your
special, and knew you'd fit the bill
he looked for strength & wisdom, and ability to deal
with all that was to happen,
and this child was to feel...
I see all of Gods wisdom, as I come here everyday
the women on this special board,
who help in every way
you share with all your pain, and your very special story
and with every childs achievement, you
celebrate with glory...
God put us here together, but not cause we've done bad
he put us here to share with
all, the gifts he knew we had
he knew we would share comfort, and hold each child dear
and celebrate each precious step
the children reach each year...
So to God above in heaven, I ask of you today
for peace and joy to bless us all this
year, each and every day...
This poem was written to and about the mothers I have met through parents places wonderful
& supportive heart defects board....though each heart may be different, each tear shed is the same...a mothers pain!!!
 
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