Welcome Munchkin

At 6:52PM on May 19th Katherine Alexa Manning was born in Milford Hospital.  Katie was a very healthy 6 pounds 14 ounces and 21″ long.  As you can imagine, she was immediately the center of attention for both Mom and Dad.  Vickie and I have had a very strong relationship to date and always thought that we led “happy” lives, but we never before felt the abundent happiness that Katie immediately brought to our world!  She epitomizes perfection- angelic glow, soft skin, and a visible innocence that has brought all who have been lucky enough to meet her to their respective knees!  In short, she is Mommy and Daddy’s little munchkin.

After a whirlwind Monday night and a perfect Tuesday, Katie was all set to be discharged on Wednesday morning so that she could go home for additional dotting from her smitten parents.  The stage was set- go home, get kissed, kissed, and then kissed some more by daddy while mommy rocked her back and forth.  Then, we’d sit back and watch Man United kill Chelsea in the Champions League Final so that Katie could laugh at her daddy jumping around, yelling at a bunch of men in short shorts!  Unfortunately, we never quite made that step.  Due to some discoloration during the night, and corresponding tests, Katie was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital because of what looked like an enlarged heart.  After an exhausting day of tests that saw resilient little Katie get prodded and poked, she was finally diagnosed with a congenital heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS).  Understandably, in a matter of hours, our world was turned on its head.  The simple and very ironic explanation of HLHS is as follows-  Katie has only half of a functioning heart that is enlarged beyond the size of a “normal” heart.  Only half of the chambers in little Katie’s heart are developed enough to function causing strain and enlargement. 

The plan?  Without immediate surgery sweet little Katie would have only had at most 2 weeks to live.  In every effort to save the first grandchild to all sets of grandparents, and the first born to both Vickie and I, we obviously agreed to undergo a 3 part surgery that began with the Norwood Procedure.   At 7:30AM this morning 3 1/2 day old Katie had a 6+ hour surgery that the lead surgeon described as “the most difficult type of surgery he could complete.”  At 4PM  our hero emerged from surgery with a very positive prognoses.  That being said, the next 24 hours are going to be very high risk as our little warrior has to reactivate her heart and hope that her other organs can sustain the trauma of her difficult day.  Sunday night I would have guessed that Katie’s first real test would be getting one over on Mommy and Daddy, learning to crawl, or learning how to be flexible enough to survive being pulled at by 2 overjoyed parents, 6 adoring grandparents, and an endless cast of admirers!  Little did we think that less than 96 hours into Katie Manning’s life that she would be lying in her second hospital, heart exposed, fighting for a chance to be held by her mommy! 

Come what may, Katie is an absolute hero who has battled an unfair afflication since the dawn of her time on earth.  We all remain strong in prayer, but understandably find ourselves asking WHY, WHY, WHY?  Today was the first MAJOR step in what looks to be a tumultuous couple of years for Katie.  This blog is set up to keep you all aware of Katie’s condition, but more than that, it is Mommy and Daddy’s feeble attempt at being involved.  I always knew that I’d be THAT proud father, I just thought it would be because our Munchkin was our Munchkin.  Now?  Now, I am proud of the courage, resiliance and drive Katherine Alexa has and will continue to show…hopefully for a long time into the future.

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  And for those of you not “sucking the marrow” from this short life- do me a favor-  get up, go out, and make today count…inside outside upside down!