A Conversation with Owen about his Heart

Owen loves to ask us questions about his heart, past surgeries, what's upcoming, and all things medical.  I like that he is so involved in his medical care, as much as a four year old can be.  He knows that he has half his heart, that he is on a lot of medications, that he requires oxygen constantly and that we travel to Stanford a lot!  He also knows that we are going to get him a new heart and all that entails. 

The other night, we were talking and I could just tell he was thinking hard.  He said.. "Remember when I was a baby and the nurse cut me open?"

Me: Yes son.

Owen: "Well, she dropped half my heart and lost it and now I only have a half left.  So we are going to put me on a list and they will say OWEN {yelling} we have a heart for you, and then I will go to Stanford and they will put a new heart in.  Then I can be a bigger boy and not need this {pointing to his cannula} or oxygen any more."

Me: Exactly.. well most of it is accurate. Ha.

Owen: "Well.. when does my name get to go on the list?  If I take another kids' heart, then they will need my oxygen."

Me: {A very difficult discussion to have for a 4 yr old to understand}

Well, they won't actually need oxygen because the heart comes from a person that is already going to heaven.
Owen: "Oh.. "  {his little mind was processing the information, but he didn't quite understand}

Owen: "Okay.. so when will I get my new heart so I can feel better?" 

Me: I wish I had an answer.  We will hear back from your doctors at Stanford at the end of the month and hopefully know if they are going to put your name on the list yet.  Then when they call your name, we will go get your new heart.

I am so grateful that Owen can communicate so well with us and he knows that nothing is off limits.  He has been opening up about things a lot lately and while it's hard to come up with age appropriate answers, I try to be as honest as possible.  Love this boy. :)
----------------------------------------------------

After receiving these gorgeous flowers from my main man, we celebrated our Anniversary together at the Keg.  It was so nice to finally have a date night out!  Our waiter asked how many years we were celebrating and when I said 13 years, he replied with "you just don't hear that number anymore."  There are many ups and downs in marriage and when you have a sick child the stresses are monumental, but we have made it work.  It's about never giving up, communication and compromise.  Love you babe!!