A post about the other kind of hearts on Valentine's Day

Almost three years ago, I wrote this post.

Hope for Haven 
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010 

A 7-pound baby was born 3,000 miles away today, and I haven't stopped thinking of her once. 

Baby Haven became the newest member of our massive family back when McMister and I were on our honeymoon. In a shockingly quiet hotel on a shockingly quiet Sicilian beach, I took a few minutes to check my email - I know... romantic right?

I got an email from my cousin who was about five months pregnant describing a critical problem with her baby's heart. We all found out then that this tiny baby would need open-heart surgery at 2 days old... and then 6 months old... and then 2 years old and that her chances of survival were slim. My cousin was told to go on with her pregnancy like any normal mom would, and everyone involved knew that could never happen.

I was heartbroken. I couldn't (and still can't) even begin to imagine how my cousin felt. 

When McMister and I started trying, I realized the bittersweet truth of the cliche that making a baby is miracle every time. After our initial euphoria wore down, I thought of my cousin and her terrifying situation. 

My thoughts were utterly selfish. "What if that happens to us?" 

Entirely self-centered. "Will she be hurt when she finds out about our baby?" 

And full of guilt. "Why wouldn't this happen to us?" 

We've known for months now what could lie ahead for this baby and her loving parents, and today it all became very real. She has days? months? years? of hardship in front of her and family all across the country who are praying for her at any given moment. 

Seeing those first glowing pictures of her and her family today would bring tears to anyone's eyes. And for those of us who have loved her for months already, it brought tears to hearts.

Today, that cousin, the bravest mom I've ever met (times 10 million), the funniest person I've ever read, and the best experienced-mom-advice-giver I've ever texted writes her own blog. Some posts focus on the medical aspect of their lives. Some are so funny you will have to work hard not to pee your pants (esp. if you've given birth recently - or in the past few years - and don't exactly have those muscles back up to snuff). Like this one, so so funny.

Since February is Heart Month, Children's Hospital of Boston (the best children's hospital in the country according to industry experts and more importantly, my long-distance miracle cousin-niece) featured Molly and the stunning success story of her little Haven.

And today, Molly posted this short, but critical video about what most preggos think of as The Sex Ultrasound, but some think of as something infinitely more important. She's the adorable one with the bangs and dangly earrings.

Three things that stick out for me:

1. Heart defects are the most common kind of birth defect.
2. More kids die from heart defects than all childhood cancers combined.
3. My cousin is awesome.

So please, share this with anyone and everyone you want.

And in closing, here are my little lovebugs this morning when I was trying to get a picture of them in their Valentine's outfits with my phone for McSister. Obviously, this is my Happy Valentine's Day pic for facebook.