Today marks the one year anniversary of Olivia’s fontan. We are celebrating by Olivia having cupcakes with her friends at school and depending on scheduling we’ll be taking her out to dinner. She requested Outback as she LOVES their green beans.

In honor of this special day, I sent this to CCMC’s website (there’s a “contact us” link), Dr. Heller, Dr. Friedman, and Dr. Mello.

A year ago there was a little girl who was three. She was very limited in her activities. She couldn’t walk up the driveway. A flight of stairs would leave her winded. Blue lips, purple fingers and toes were the norm.

March 24, 2008 changed all that. That was the day of Olivia Belfonti’s Fontan (heart surgery) at CT Children’s Medical Center. Within two weeks she was running UP the driveway. She could sprint 3/4 of a mile. She runs down the driveway, arms extended and says “I can FLY!” while her blonde hair flies behind her.

The little girl who was limited now takes swim lessons and attends gymnastics class. She has boundless energy. She bounces and twirls around the house nonstop to the point that we actually ask her to stop jumping. And then we laugh and rejoice that she CAN jump and twirl.

If you are reading this, you are to thank for all of this. You gave us this amazing child and saved her three times. You’ve allowed us to be a complete family. One who will never take anything for granted.

From the bottom of our hearts we thank you, thank you, thank you.

Life is good.

February 21/22 was Huskython 2009. We had the pleasure of being invited again this year. However, this year we learned our lesson and booked a room at the Nathan Hale Inn on campus so we could come back the morning of the 22nd.

For our new readers – Huskthon is an annual dance a thon that is sponsored by the students of the University Of CT (UCONN). Last year they raised $56K that was donated to CT Children’s Medical Center. They dance from 6pm until 12noon the next day – no sitting or anything!

When we walked into the actual field house there was a group of students lined up on either side of the door and they were cheering as we walked through. Try NOT to cry – it was a very emotional moment.

We were sponsored again by Delta Gamma. They are a GREAT group of ladies and it was a pleasure spending time with them again. They had 40 dancers this year and they raised over $8K themselves.

It was great watching my girls have such a fun time with everyone. They are already talking about next year’s event! And the best part was when they announced the total for the event… Over $100K was raised for CT Children’s Medical Center. Yes, I cried

Pictures for Huskython are here.

Articles:Daily Campus – UCONN paper

The Blog of the President Of UCONN, Mike Hogan

I’m participating in 102.9 DRC-FM Miracle Makers. This fundraising event benefits Connecticut children’s Medical Center (CCMC), the region’s only academic medical center devoted exclusively to children.

Without CCMC Olivia wouldn’t be here today. She wouldn’t be bouncing around my living room pretending to play guitar and jumping every time the thunder cracks.

My good friend Laura and I have created a team called “Heller’s Heart Beats” after our favorite cardiologist, Dr. Heller. Without Dr. Heller we wouldn’t have met. Dr. Heller is an amazing doctor who truly takes care of ALL of us and not just Olivia. Our lives are truly better for having her in them.

Connecticut Children’s is committed to providing the highest level of care to the most children possible. This is accomplished through a unique family-centered approach that plays an integral role in the planning and delivery of treatment. In an effort to make kids better, faster, independent research is conducted and the latest technologies and procedures are utilized. Fun and play are used as therapeutic tools to help reduce fear, build trust and speed recovery.

You can help support me by making a secure online donation using your credit card. Click on the link below:

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=1900827

For more information on how YOU can participate in 102.9 DRC-FM Miracle
Makers, please visit us at

https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/startup.aspx?eventid=20178.

Don’t forget to tune in to 102.9 DRC-FM’s sixth annual Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon benefiting Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, August 28th – 30th.

I hope you will support my efforts so that together we can make a difference in the lives of the children and families just like Olivia, Lily and our family.

Olivia is going to be featured on fliers that will be hung up at Miracle Treat Day participating Dairy Queen stores here in CT.

The back story is behind the cut along with an attachment of the flyer.

(more…)

After 4 years of tears, of heart ache and fear…
After 3 heart surgeries, 1 stomach surgery
After 28 days in the hospital…
Countless stitches and blood draws…
After watching Sleeping Beauty 109x in the last 8 days…
1 pkg of M&Ms to use as bribery for medicine taking…

I got to walk out of this hospital. With a beautiful healthy, rosy cheeked little girl who now has pink fingers and toes and a gorgeous complexion. While I knew she was “blue”, and they told me I’d be amazed, I am FLOORED at how gorgeously pink she is.

Her spirit is still intact. She cries when they poke her and yet says thank you when they are done. So many people have complimented us on what a great job we’ve done with her. I don’t believe it was us … it was all God’s doing. She was meant to be here and we just gave her a chance to live.

We used to think oxygen levels of 80 – 83 were high. Today the monitor was beeping … why? Because she was hitting 100%. HA! To have it complain about 100 … who’d have thought it?

God is good. God is GREAT. My beautiful child, the one I was told to terminate because she would be so sickly and have all these problems … she’s came home today 9 days post surgery and she finally belongs to us.

Last night Dr. Heller stopped by and hugged me … I got choked up when I said “Thank You” because it really isn’t enough to say how grateful we are for her. There aren’t words available to say how grateful I am to that woman. How do you say thank you for the gift of your child’s life? I mean really … Thank You is nothing.

I haven’t really cried yet. I thought I would lose it pulling into the driveway. I got choked up when Maddie walked in the door and hugged me “I missed you so much!”. We’re a complete family – today is the first day of the rest of our lives!!!

And that’ s no joke!

It took ALL day (until 9:30PM) but we finally got the tube out! It had really stopped draining and we now know why … it was twisted two times over right near her stomach! (eek!) Katie took it out and after I asked if Dr. Mello would have removed it anyway. She said yes.

So tomorrow is the big day. Release day. We get to go home and live our lives forever and always … without anything hanging over our heads anymore.

Sorry for no update today but I kept waiting so we could post this.

We walked and walked and walked some more today. I think we did at least 7 laps today. She was cracking up the nurses because they would hear her coming. A lot were very impressed with how mobile she is but then again, this is our Olivia we’re talking about!

Even Katie commented on how frequently the fontan kids lie in bed for 2 weeks waiting for the chest tubes to dry up and then they forget how to walk … Olivia’s been cruising the halls since she came up here. Plus I believe it’s been really good for her to drain while being up. She didn’t nap long today and was WIPED out by bedtime. By 9PM she was snoozing away. Woke up at 10PM to pee and then immediately back to sleep.

Kate was our nurse today and she pretty much gave us free reign to walk. We were disconnected for hours today which allowed us to come and go as we pleased. We still had to use the grocery cart to put her chest tube drainage chamber in (and at one point even the IV pump for her antibiotics) but it was well worth it. Olivia really enjoyed the change of scenery as well.

Eating today was almost normal: She had a blueberry waffle and bacon for breakfast; blackberries for snack (yummy); a hotdog and ice cream for lunch; popsicle for snack and then she picked at dinner today (spaghetti with sauce, chocolate chip cookie, shake).

She has been fighting us (well, me) on taking medicines – even TYLENOL. So we had to start bribing with M&Ms. The coumodin has to be crushed and we finally found the magic potion — apple juice in a syringe. We told her it was in there because I didn’t want it coming back out.

No blood draws or chest xrays today. It was pretty much a mellow day. The cardiologist covering the floor, Dr. Salazar, didn’t see a point in sticking her today to check her INR levels since somehow she got less of a dose than was originally prescribed (we were supposed to be given 1.5 – up from 1.0; she was given 1.25). No need to check it since it wasn’t the right dose. I like her thinking .

Olivia’s back to acting like Olivia. Sweet; shy; loving; giggly. There is nothing more beautiful than hearing her sweet giggle which she shared with me all day. We sat and watched Chicken Little and she giggled away. Oh I love this child!!!

Poor Maddie was really praying we’d be home tonight. She was angry that she couldn’t come up to see us but after school, drama club practice and homework … there really wasn’t much time. Add to that Arnie coming in late and she’s dragging in the morning. I told her we’ll be here at least two more nights because I cannot break her heart again . Hearing her cry made me want to cry. It is tough because it’s “crash” week for the drama club as their opening night for their play is Friday night. Tomorrow night they’re practicing until 8PM so she’s going to be wiped out still.

So that’s where we’re at. I’m hoping tomorrow is “the day” … but if two more days guarantees me that we don’t have to come back in because it was too soon, then I’ll wait. I’ve not got cabin fever just yet . Olivia and I are just craving home – the food, the comforts, our beds, our Maddie & Daddy.

I’ll post again tomorrow to let you know what’s up!

Olivia drained a lot yesterday so it looks like we may be here for one more day. BUT she’s doing awesome otherwise.

She’s making the laps around the floor – walking the entire floor. We did THREE laps today already before spending a good half hour in the playroom. She uses the toy grocery cart to store her chest tube chamber and away she goes!

Olivia is insistent that she will be able to take home the chest tube. She’s not looking forward to having it removed.

There’s still a slim possibility that we’ll be discharged this afternoon but it’s more likely than not we’ll be here another night.

Update: we’ve drained 90cc since 10:30am (when we walked around). So it’s 99% likely we’ll be here one more night.

It’s been a GREAT day. And you know what? Tomorrow might even be BETTER because there’s talk that … WE.MIGHT.BE.COMING.HOME…TOMORROW!!!

Dr. Mello came in to find Maddie & Olivia in bed together. Maddie was playing with playdoh and Olivia was drawing with markers. Kind of looked like this:

but with markers and playdoh. Note: this was taken yesterday

Dr. Mello is VERY pleased with Olivia’s progress. Said if he weren’t so conservative we’d be heading home today! (insert a fainting smile right here ). But he anticipates we’ll be out of here either tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest!!!

Olivia and I had a good night. I got her to finally sleep around 9:30PM. She woke up around 4AM and after peeing and drinking more she watched Sleeping Beauty twice while I “snored” according to her . She ate mostly fruit for breakfast and then ate half a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch. Progress…

We went to the playroom after she walked about half the floor. She’s having a great day. Took a nap while Arnie watched the UCONN game. Now is watching Garfield with Maddie and just hanging out.

So we’re almost done. ALMOST. And I cannot wait to bring my baby girl home from the hospital for the final time!!!

Last night I went home with Maddie, thus no nightly update as Arnie didn’t do one.

BUT, our little Miss is doing fantastic! When I left last night she was heading down the hall in a wagon to take a ride around the wing. Then she went into the playroom (FINALLY) and got to play a bit with the puzzles and a few toys. She made friends with Abby, a little girl on the floor who has leukemia.

They both slept well last night and were woken up by xray. Katie stopped by and pulled ANOTHER chest tube (hooray!!!). So we’re down to one chest tube. AND she’s off the blow-by oxygen!! Her oxygen is 93% on regular room air (hooray!!!).

Olivia WALKED the floor this morning. She used a kid sized grocery cart and she took a walk up and down the hall. And then went into the playroom and spent a good amount of time playing.

She ate a decent lunch (most of a hot dog, a ton of strawberries). Breakfast she inhaled (eggs, bacon). She’s now watching Sleeping Beauty, nibbling a munchkin and talking to Auntie on the phone. Maddie was lying next to her in bed before but just got up to give Olivia another munchkin. All is well and we’re having as perfect a family day as you can have in the hospital.

Dr. Salazar says the only thing keeping us here is that last chest tube. As soon as it’s out we’re on our way HOME!

More info later if anything changes.