Heart Symposium, Durham Bulls, & good friends!

Back in July, me and daddy attended a Heart Symposium at DukeUMC - daddy really did not want to be there but was glad that we went afterwards. We learned a lot of neat stuff concerning the future of heart defect repairs and other good info surrounding congenital heart defects. Daddy was able to show 2 mothers what a 35 year old CHD (Congenital Heart Defect) survivor looks like. Both of these ladies have toddlers born with Tetrology of Fallot (TOF), the same defect as your daddy. Dr. Milazzo, your cardiologist, and Dr. Jaggers (your and daddy's heart surgeon) were there. They both spoke along with several other heart professionals. One 'ole country boy from SC stole the show though. His name is Steve and you can read more about him here; http://tricuspid.wordpress.com/about/ Steve was born with a CHD known as Tricuspid Atresia.

After the symposium, we met up with some friends from an on-line Down syndrome support group at the mall in Durham and got to see Ehtan and his mom Kristen again, Julia and her family again, and meet Payton and her whole family for the first time (in person)! Payton and family had been vacationing at the beach and were driving back through headed home. Julia and family live in the area so they came over to meet with us all. Ethan and his mom drove from Winston-Salem to meet up too.

I felt SO bad that you were not with us Janna, to meet up with your friends and their families, but it would have just been too long of a day for you! Grandma and grandpa got to spoil you for the day. After we all ate at the mall, most of us headed to the Durham Bulls game. They were playing the Norfolk Tides. It was a fun game! I doubt you would have been able to sit still through 5 minutes of it and it was awfully hot. I saw most of the game but i also enjoyed watching your friends play at the small play center area for kids. Payton has a 5 year old brother, Mason, and also a sister that her parents recently adopted from Russia named Nika. Nika has Trisomy 21 just like you and Payton and Ethan and Julia. She has adjusted well to her new family and living in the USA. She was a little sick at the game but i did get one good smile from her at the mall. Eventually she lost her supper and then we all realized why she didn't want a thing to eat at the mall - poor baby girl. It was a long but fun day and so nice to meet up with friends!

Here's some pictures from the day;

Janna's heart buddy, Sweet Julia (Miss 6 heart surgery tough girl!)

I'm not sure who you are lady, but I'll look this way and smile for my mommy!




Eating with a fork - what a big girl!



And then cleaning the table - Janna likes to clean as well :)



Sister Sofie offering Julia a book.




Julia with a big smile during our farewells.



ETHAN! What an amazing boy! Ethan has endured many health issues, including a several year battle with Leukemia. He is now able to use his legs more and showed off some of his walking skills at the mall. And we weren't the only ones cheering him on - strangers were excited for him too!



Happy man!




Ethan about to walk toward me and his (also amazing) mom, Kristen!



Smiley Girl Payton

At first she was like, who are you lady!?



But then she decided, well, I guess I'll smile for you anyway :)






Bethany had to run down her active Payton; i know someone else like this :) i'm sure you and Payton would have had big fun together scaring us all by running off!



A sweet Nika smile with daddy although she wasn't feeling too well.



Nika trying to eat and Ethan's mom Kristen trying to encourage her to eat, poor baby.




Mason - big brother to Payton and Nika.



Sofie, Payton, and Mason having fun!




And here's what all the excitment was about.



Train Time!

Mason, Payton, Ethan, Sofie...



Beautiful Sofie waving!



Ethan having fun and Sofie not so sure about the loud train whistle!



Smiling Payton, Ethan, Sofie...



Helpful Mason letting everyone out of their seats.



Please excuse some of the fuzzy pics - my camera had a film on it from the beach. I've cleaned it since this day :)

Next time we'll bring you along to a meet-up, Janna baby.