Baby Maverick

This blog was created to keep family and friends updated on what's going on with the pregnancy, birth, and surgical plan for Maverick. We'll also be able to keep everyone updated during his surgery and recovery and hopefully be able to show you some cute pictures of him, Maddie, Carter and Chloe along the way.

This was the original intent; however, when we started this blog we had no idea the twists and turns our lives would take. Our sweet baby Maverick was born September 12, 2008 with Transposition of the Great Arteries, ASD, and VSD. We expected to have a baby boy to bring home three to four weeks after his surgery. He had numerous complications after his arterial switch and fought through many that would have taken the life from an adult. He passed away February 24, 2009 - without ever coming home.

This blog is now a place I share my feelings, work through the grief, remember Maverick, and try to make sense out of our life without him. I hope in doing so I am giving a name and a face to babies everywhere born with congenital heart defects.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Our little man

Hello, My name is Greg and I am Maverick's father. This is the first time that I have added to the post because this was Juli's way to hope and then, ultimately grieve. Maverick will be three this September, I say his name in present tense because he is alive and waiting for us one day in the land of our Lord. However, time does not ease the pain. Literally can be a physical and mental killer. I do not know how Juli has the strength that she does. Probably a lot of people did not realize that at the same time we found out about Maverick via ultrasound, they found a one inch hole in Juli's heart. We were faced with both of them needing open heart surgery. 3 months after Mav passed, Juli was wheeled into the same waiting room that Mav was last in. They had never repaired with a patch the size and diameter of Jules condition, but it worked and we averted open heart for Juli. This was a big gift from the Lord for Maddi, Carter, Chloe, myself and family. Two months later, she started Practioner school and now practices in Shawnee. We truly felt like Job in the bible. As a father, I can honestly say there is not a day that I do not shed tears, anger, conflict, depression and always wondering "what if". Juli and I frequently spend two nights a week crying still. If you have never lost a baby, please don't say it is time to move on. My brother drowned several years ago and it took 5 months to find his body. In many ways, the similarity of watching your son decline daily for 5 months truly has comparisons. The Lord will continue to heal us, but sometimes the wait is unbearable. I ask that if you know anyone that is going thru a similar story, pray for them, call them, visit them in the hospital. If you are not spiritual, don't worry about advice but just listen. The hardest funeral is one of a little child. Go to the funeral and be supportive. That pain will help you see another side and need of your own family. Even as a christian, I promise your life could be turned upside down and cast doubts on faith. Do not ever fall for this, because we are all promised scriptually that we pass this short life on earth. Hug your children a little more. gc