We are very lucky to have lots of people around who care about us, and about the welfare of Rosie. I frequently get asked "How's Rosie?" This is not a rant, but just an explanation of how hard it is to answer that question.
She looks fine. She laughs and smiles, she cries and burps, just like any other baby. Her legs are very strong, and she takes great delight in kicking her mummy and daddy whenever they get near her flailing legs. She chatters happily to herself, when she is not busy shoving toys of all sizes and any cord or wire she sees into her mouth. She loves being held, and loves being put into her buggy and driven around. She delights in seeing and touching new things, and is quite happy to meet new people as long as they smile and play with her.
Yet the doctors tell us she is getting worse. Her heart is not pumping the blood around her body as well as it needs to. The incidents of cyanosis (lack of blood to the extremities) are increasing. We have been told they need to operate as soon as possible. It was heart-breaking to see them wheel her away to just do the catheter test last time. I don't even want to think about how it will feel when they actually perform the surgery.
Anyway, if you see me in the next few weeks or months, please don't ask "how's Rosie?", because the answer is not an easy one to give or receive.
Posted by Gary at June 23, 2004 11:35 AM