VIDEO: Hattie’s Story: Assistance helps family following surgery
Our daughter, Hattie, was born February 15, 2019 with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) along with a heart defect. Her particular defect is known as a complete balanced Atrioventricular (AV) canal defect. This would require open-heart surgery at three months old. On May 21, 2019, Hattie underwent surgery at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital.
Overall, the surgery went well. It was a very long day because the surgery took a total of about 12 hours, so we were glad to see her after. Her recovery, however, is where we hit a lot of speed bumps. Our hospital stay ended up being over six weeks long and they originally estimated a 5-10 day recovery. She ended up going in for two more procedures, a Heart Catheterization to inspect the repair that was made and a Gastrostomy feeding tube (G-tube) placement surgery. These were performed to assist on her road to recovery.
We cannot thank the Anderson Assistance Foundation enough for their donation to our family. Because of it, we were able to spend over a week in a hotel. Living and sleeping in a hospital room can take a toll on you mentally and physically. Having this escape at night was just the thing we needed to be able to reset as parents from the long days in the hospital.
Hattie has been home for a few months now and is thriving. She is smiling and laughing every day. She has been an amazing first child for us and we couldn’t ask for a sweeter daughter. Thank you to everyone that has kept us in their thoughts and prayers.
Thank you again Anderson Assistance Foundation!
We appreciate it more than words!
Tim, Ashley & Baby Hattie
