#HeartWarrior

This week is CHD awareness week. Congenital Heart Disease. CHD is a category of heart disease that includes abnormalities in cardiovascular structures that occur before birth. Types of CHD problems include heart valve defects, defects in the walls between the atria and ventricles of the heart ( atrial and ventricular septal defects ), and heart muscle abnormalities that can lead to heart failure.

Our Sophie is a CHD baby. Look how beautiful she is! This is when she was about 4 months old, in Fujian, China. She is a #HeartWarrior. She is a strong and brave little girl. She underwent open heart surgery in China, without Scott and I there to love on her. Once out of the hospital and back in the special care unit at the orphanage, she recovered quickly. In 2 weeks time, she was placed with her foster family. Although we were not there, I KNOW the nannies took amazing care of her before, during and after her surgery. I KNOW they loved on her and helped her heal quickly.

Fast forward almost 2 years. Here she is waiting for her yearly cardio exam. And, she's looking good! Her heart repair is looking great and her warrior scar is healing beautifully.

We are very fortunate that Sophie has healed so well from her heart surgery. Some kids are not so lucky, and suffer much, much more. We may not have been there to love on her after surgery, but we are now making up for lost time! If you have a loved one that is a #HeartWarrior, share some love...they are true heros!