~Mikayla Marie Garvey~

Welcome to Mikayla's heart.  What you are about to read is just the beginning of hopefully a long journey in life for our baby girl, Mikayla. She was born with a very rare and most severe heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome.  In an easier way to understand this...she is missing part of her heart.  She was diagnosed with this condition in utero.  We were given three options.  First was to terminate the pregnancy, second was "compassionate care," which is to let her be born and take her home to die.  The third was to head to Children's Hospital in Boston where they can surgically repair, but not be able to fully correct in a three stage surgery.  Our daughter would need three open heart surgeries.  Her first only days after being born.  When we found this out I was already five months pregnant.  We already knew she was a girl with her name to be Mikayla Marie, and I could feel her everyday inside me, kicking, swirling, even hiccupping.  How could I possibly let her go?  There was no doubt, we had to meet with Children's Hospital.

I've been told by many people that God only gives us what we can handle and he gives us these things for a reason.  Well, so far I have learned that I can handle this, even though everything we have been through to this point has been extremely hard, like handing her over to surgeons, not knowing if she will be coming back and all the other ups and downs.  As far as the reason part, I am baffled as to why us and I don't know if we will ever know what God's plan was for us.  But what I do know and have learned so far is to never take life for granted.  Life is a precious gift from God.  Live everyday to its fullest. Love my children and not let anything else get in front of them.  Their little bad habits or fingerprints on windows are minor, we can fix those.  We cannot fix if they are taken away early.  Love, love, love is the only thing we need
anyway.

I want to thank our family and friends for all your prayers, emotional support and your love.  To my Mom and dad...I love you very much, thank you for all that you continue to do.  You have always gone above and beyond for me.  I only hope I can give to my children as much as you both have given me.  I also want to thank the wonderful nursing staff in the ICU at Children's.  You are great!!  To Dr. del Nido, if it wasn't for you, Mikayla wouldn't be here.  Thank you for giving her life, I owe you mine.  To Dr. Marx and Dr. Tantengco, thank you for having patience with us and all our questions, we still have many more.  You both always take your time and give us your all.  Thank you for all the continued care you give little Micky.

Mikayla's journey has now begun.  I do not know how long God will allow her to be with us, but I do know that I will cherish her each and everyday that I can.  Please read on about the first chapter in her life.  Please come back from time to time as we will have many updates.  Her second surgery is just around the corner.  I just ask that everyone continues to pray for her, for us. 
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Please navigate our pages by using the menu to the right, and when your stay is over please leave us a message in our guest book so we know you have paid us a visit.

Love Kevin, Jennifer, Kelsey and Mikayla.