Happy Birthday Drew!

Dear Drew,

Today is your birthday. I can't believe that you are five years old! So much has happened since that early Monday morning when you made your first appearance. We had waited with so much eager anticipation to meet you, to see which one of us you resembled, to hold your little body in our arms. You were a beautiful baby! You had a full head of black hair, long delicate fingers, and your daddy's toes. You had chubby little baby cheeks and you looked so pink and healthy. When you were born my world changed forever. I became someone's mother. I take the heavy responsibility of protecting you very seriously. I delight in your every accomplishment and my heart breaks with every trial you must face. I know you are going to do incredible things with your life. You have already touched so many people with your amazing story of triumph and perseverance. God created you just the way you are and has a great purpose for your life.

This year was an eventful one. You had your third open-heart surgery at Stanford. The surgery was a complete success, but unfortunately you experienced some complications that kept us in the hospital for six weeks. You were not very happy in the beginning, and who could blame you? But as time went on you impressed everyone with your good attitude and brought smiles to many faces as you rode your tricycle through the hospital corridors. Despite all that time in the hospital you still accomplished many things this year. You've had so much more energy since surgery. You rode your bike to the river and back, learned how to swim and walked the entire one-mile loop at the Heart Walk this year all by yourself. You and Ava became closer friends and playmates. And a big first this year: no hospitalizations outside of surgery. We visited the beach, and made our first family trip to Disneyland! We visited three of your friends in the hospital having their own heart surgeries. We registered you for kindergarten next year and signed up for t-ball.

Drew, I am so proud to be your mommy. I have learned much more from you than I have been able to teach you. I look forward to each year that we have together. I can't wait to see all the things you will do with your life. I love you forever.

Love,
Mom