Wow. Just wow…

Last week, Mel was at the Fire Department.  (Now as Mayor, he is able to live out every boy’s childhood fantasy and be involved in the Fire Department!)  Often, Mel stops by, usually late night,  and visits with the fire fighters, and even has his own “pager.”  He was talking to one of the volunteers about Mary Clare and explaining her heart, her surgeries and how her heart functions as a single ventricle.  Much to his surprise, a young man walked up to him and knew exactly what he was explaining.  If you have ever heard it explained, it is nothing the average person understands.  I’ve even had to explain it to a few doctors and nurses myself.  So how on earth this young many knew what HLHS is was C-R-A-Z-Y!

He knew because he is an HLHS survivor!  Right here in Hartsville, Mel met a 30 year-old HLHS survivor.  I still can’t believe it!  This is what his precious mother posted to my blog today….  (I’m so excited, I just had to share!!)

Hi Kerri and Mel, before I even began reading your journal I felt such a connection with the two of you. I am the very proud Mom of an almost 30 year old son who was also born with HLHS. Mel, you met him about a week ago in Hartsville. He’s a paramedic working part-time in Hartsville. His name is Brandon Butler and he is the oldest survivor of this particular heart defect. He also goes to MUSC for his cardiology checkups. Just wanted you guys to know that there is a Mom out here who knows exactly what you are going through. The first seven years were awfully hard but God has been so good. Thankfully Brandon has had only minor problems in the past 22 years. His Fontan was done at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in 1986 and we spent approximately 6 weeks there. His surgery went great…no problems at all. I’m sure that Mary Clare will be just fine. She is such a precious little girl. Kerri,I would love for you to meet Brandon and see “my miracle”. One thing these children have is the drive to pack everything into life that they can. Brandon never stops! He’s a full-time paramedic with Marlboro County Rescue, part-time with Darco and Scotland County and also helps a friend of his in Horry County with his transport service. I’d like for him to rest some but that’s totally out of the question! … If you ever have an questions or just need to talk please feel free to contact me….My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
If anyone else reading this blog needs someone to talk to or just to see that there is a light at the end of this long tunnel, please don’t hesitate to call.
Jackie Butler Nolan

She even gave me her phone number!  Guess who I’m calling tonight?

Wow.

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