Well, we officially made it to Senior Year of High School. I know that many, many transplant families are not so lucky. So, while a lot of parents are sad about their child growing old and hitting these milestones, I view every one of them as a bit of a gift and I am so happy that we've made it here with a relatively healthy, incredibly happy and all around great kid!
I haven't written here since before Covid and that was a bit of a rough ride for us. But, we all made it through that time. She was out of school a bit longer than everyone else, but successfully returned and actually didn't end up getting Covid until a year and a half after returning to school. Online school was rough. The adjustment back after almost a full year out (she returned in February 2021) was a little rough as well. But she was so happy to be back it made up for any added anxiety.
Her first couple of years of high school both saw pneumonia in the Spring and substantial amount of time missed at school. This past Spring, she was diagnosed with colitis after two emergency room visits followed by days in the hospital. But, she is doing well on the medicines and was able to pass her two AP exams and finish out school with decent grades despite all the challenges.
Tomorrow, she is driving her new-to-her car to school for the first time! She has painted the windows of her car and her parking spot. She has been doing the Career Technical Education program for Child Development and worked in an after-school program at her elementary school last year. As part of that program, she also has worked in an inclusive preschool and is considering a future in Child Life or Occupational Therapy. But, she also really would love to work in the educational area of Monterey Bay Aquarium. We were lucky enough to do a weekend trip a couple of weeks ago before her most recent heart cath to visit the CSU Monterey Bay campus, the aquarium, and we stayed in San Juan Bautista. It was a great trip to finish out Summer and look toward a possible future. Right now, she plans to stay home and go to Community College next year and then decide if she wants to transfer after the first year, or stay for a second. I'm fine either way!
So, although we've had some ongoing health issues with the recurring pneumonia, concerns about heart pressures that caused her to have to have three caths in the past year instead of staying with the every two year schedule we were put on, and the colitis. But, they've been far outweighed by the great things. She is still involved in Girl Scouts. She babysits a little girl with a seizure disorder that is non-verbal and she loves it. She has great friends with many different interests. She dabbled in doing debate a little last year and is hoping to compete in speech in Community College. She doesn't do 5Ks anymore. After doing cross country in Middle School for one year she decided she was not a runner.
Overall, this update is a joyous one! I am so thankful for her donor family, all the doctors and nurses and echo techs and electrocardiologists and so many more. And if you're reading this after the long hiatus, thanks for checking in! If you're new, please go back and read about Bean's early story!
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