I’ve been reflecting the last couple of weeks on how social media never tells the whole story. I can assure you, on my part, that is never the intention. The truth is, I have historically struggled to focus on the positive, and posting the positive helps with that. When you are going through something difficult, it is imperative that you focus on what is good and true, or the fear and the struggle might just take you out.

Passing 100 days

I wanted to post today because Isaac hit 100 days on the transplant list a few days ago. I felt this was a milestone worth acknowledging. The truth is, some days I’d like to not think about “the list” at all. As we ring in the new year today, it is sobering to think that Isaac will get a new heart in 2025. Each day we draw closer to the 6 month mark on the list, and I feel a little more nervous. We have no idea when that call will come. It could be anytime, really. It could be closer to 9 months from now, but, Isaac is EXCITED! I am so grateful he is excited to get a new, WHOLE heart. He is looking forward to a life with fewer limitations, and he seems prepared to endure the fight that will certainly be his in the early months after surgery. I have the same hope for him, that this heart will leave him feeling better than he has ever felt in his entire life, but I have to fight back fear. We have yet to have a happy ending in our family when it comes to heart surgeries. When my hope is waning, I am thankful that others are praying for Isaac, and for us who support him. I am thankful that others hold out hope with us.

Giving Thanks

So, we continue to be thankful that Isaac is experiencing no heart failure symptoms and that he has had no complications with his PICC line or pump. We are thankful he can travel, do school, go to youth group, hang out with friends, do chores, be at home, and all the things that we may take for granted if it weren’t for this looming alternative.

We thank you for your prayers, which have truly carried us up to this point, and will surely carry us through when Isaac’s new heart comes.

Our friend who was taking our family Christmas photo at church snapped this photo. It is one of my absolute favorites. I like to call it “getting ready,” and that’s our “messy in the middle of the wait, preparing for the next thing, not-so-polished social media look” for 2025.