In January of this year, we found out our daughter would need heart surgery before she was even born.
We didn’t know what to think. We have been blessed with incredible doctors and to live in the best city in the world for children’s heart care but still, the fear crept in. The uncertainty. The noise. It was overwhelming at times.
When she was born, things looked better. She was healthy and happy. For ten months we prepared for the surgery, but when it finally came last week, no amount of preparation could make it easy.
Thanks to the world-class team at Texas Children’s, she came through an invasive open-heart surgery and began to recover. One evening in the ICU, still coming off of her sedation medicine, she opened her eyes, looked at me, and smiled.
I broke down. I went downstairs and bought her a stuffed Dumbo. My mom laughed and said “She’s already got you wrapped around her finger.”
To me though, her smile everything. The fear, the waiting, the what-ifs, all of it lifted in that moment. I knew she was still her. I knew we were on the other side.
Parenthood isn’t always logical. You can know things will be okay, yet still doubt until your heart finally believes it.
Her smile made me believe. God, what a gift the power of a smile can be.