Little Miracles

Dear Friends: My last blog was about miracles. In springtime this is especially evident. Everywhere you look, nature is bursting forth, not just with the plants but also with the animals. It seems everywhere you look also, babies are waiting to be born, who were conceived in the auspicious year of 2012. While everywhere around the world, there can be found stories of great concern politically, economically and environmentally, still there is the promise of new life. If you are privileged to hold a new baby in your arms, there is no question in your mind what is most important, or what has the most value. You are the richest person in the world at that moment. Nevertheless, this kind of wealth, or new life, is achieved only through sacrifice. My own daughter, who is due very soon, has already had more than her fair share of worry and pain. So far, she has had to have 2 blood transfusions. There is still the labour and delivery, and perhaps after that, a bone marrow transplant. The baby's future is yet unknown. Today, however, I heard of a little baby, about 5 months old, who is struggling just to live. This baby's family lives in Kamloops, about a 4 hour drive from Vancouver. His name is Karter. The family made the journey down to Vancouver for his birth, and he had to have a pacemaker shortly afterwards. Now it seems that the mother had stomach lupus, which passed on antibodies into his blood, now affecting his heart even more. He is currently undergoing surgery here in Vancouver to add another lead to the pacemaker, and he will be put on the list for a heart transplant, which will give him a better chance for the future. We are thankful that we live in a time and place where such surgery is available. This is not the case yet in many countries. Heart surgery, especially for children, was in its infancy when I had my own congenital heart defect repaired, so I have a good idea of what a family goes through. I hope you will spare a moment to think of little Karter and his family. Perhaps you also know of a special child facing serious challenges. In a time when we are facing so much uncertainty, it is important to remember what should take priority.