Libby Kate is Five!

Five years ago today, do you remember where you were?  I certainly do.  I was in the Savannah area having consultative meetings with churches in the region and dodging all sorts of St. Patrick ’s Day celebrations that area is known for.  Then I got THE call!

Ben called me and announced that LIBBY KATE EDFELDT had entered into my life and into the world!  And, once again, my life had changed dramatically! I had a granddaughter and, sight unseen, I was beginning to become wrapped around her tiny little finger.

I remember pulling over into a parking lot so I wouldn’t become a traffic hazard as I eyes filled with tears of joy.

Then a secondary sensation came over me as grief suddenly appeared alongside my joy.  I was still in my first year of grief events over the loss of Jacob.  Those are significant days that we were now experiencing without Jacob; my first birthday without him, the days remembering his two heart transplants, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc.  And now here was another first – a niece who would never be able to be held or to play with her adoring Uncle Jacob.  This was inevitable, life moves on, but the thought was still painful.

Jacob and I

Later in the day, Ben called back and the tenor of his voice was quite different. I asked what was going on and he explained that they were on their way to Ft. Worth to Cook’s Children’s Hospital because Libby Kate’s heart was in distress. Once again, I pulled over as tears of concern and rage came over me.  NO! THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING! NOT AGAIN! 

We made plans to fly out to Ft. Worth as doctors gathered around Libby to devise a strategy for treating what they had discovered to be wrong with her tiny heart.  The doctors found out that sweet little Libby Kate had Coarctation of the Aortic Artery – a narrowing of the artery which inhibits blood flow to the lower part of the body.

Libby and I

I won’t drag you through the details of the ensuing days. We got out there; Libby Kate underwent a successful surgery to expand the artery and eventually made it home.  Obviously, Ben and Beth were shell-shocked and Karen and I fought back waves of déjà vu as we stood by her bedside in PICU. Both of us had a sense that Uncle Jacob was by the bedside as well, whispering to Libby Kate that she would be OK because he was going to look after her.

Now we fast forward five years.  Today Libby Kate celebrates her fifth year of vibrant life. Her physical heart is regularly monitored and, so far, is doing well. But it’s her heart for life that is mammoth.  She knows of her Uncle Jacob and is adored by her Aunt Katie (as well as by her Kandler side of the family).  She is Mimi's constant delight. She celebrates EVERYTHING with a string of pearls around her neck, a smile on her face and dance in her step.  Her eyes twinkle with the intensity of the stars and her creativity knows no boundary. And her little finger is firmly and proudly wrapped by her Pops. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET LIBBY KATE!!!!