Being a heart family brings many challenges and struggles, but it has also brought many moments of joy too. Meeting other heart families, building friendships and seeing Jessica bond with other heart children has been one of the biggest positives of this journey. To be able to talk to another family who understands the rollercoaster ride that comes with a CHD diagnosis makes the journey a little easier.
Having heart family friends is a huge gift. Our normal is their normal. We don’t have to explain, or justify anything, or deal with well-meaning, but completely inaccurate assumptions. We can just be ourselves. For a moment, we are no longer different.
Yesterday, we enjoyed a day out with another heart family who we met for the first time at a heart family Christmas party last year. Jessica and P both have a similar heart condition. Jessica has hypoplastic left heart syndrome (where the left side of her heart is underdeveloped). With P it is the other side of her heart that is affected. Between the two of them, they have one whole heart. I have to say, looking at them together, that whole heart is a pretty big and loving one.
That’s lovely. Must mean a lot to share. Such a cute photo xx
Thanks Susan. It was so lovely to see the girls together – this was such a special moment 🙂
I always learn a lot about amazing things the heart can do from your posts. Looks like such a lovely little reunion x
It certainly is amazing how well Jessica copes considering hers only half works! It was so lovely to see her having fun with her friend 🙂
Such a lovely photo of the three girls together! It’s funny how adversity can sometimes lead to great friendships being formed.
Thanks Tim – it is lovely to see how they’ve formed such a lovely friendship despite only having met once before.
What a lovely photo, and wonderful that through Jessica’s heart condition you are able to meet others in the same position and build friendships that will last.
Thank you Alan – it is lovely to meet other families and to see Jessica making a friendship like this is wonderful 🙂
That’s a beautiful photograph Louise. I loved your words about them making one heart. Thank you for sharing such a moment. It’s very thought provoking and just shows how wonderful it is to have support.
Hugs to you all 😀
Thank you Neesie. It was such a lovely moment with the three of them having a big hug together. They had such a wonderful time and it is so lovely to make friends with other families who have had similar experiences x
What a lovely connection between them, it must melt your own heart to see them all embrace like this. I hope you had a good day together.
We had a wonderful day – the three girls had so much fun together and I loved that they all had a big group hug when it was time to say goodbye. Such a special moment 🙂
Hi Louise, it must be nice to be with people who know exactly what you are going through without having to explain or answer questions. That is a lovely, warm and fuzzy photo.
xx
Thanks Debbie. It is so lovely spending time with other families who “get it” and seeing Jessica making friends with other heart children is always such a joy x
I can imagine it must be a huge comfort for everyone. The girls look like they are very close. #MySundayPhoto
It’s lovely how they’ve made friends so quickly 🙂
Beautiful shot! what a wonderful capture you can feel the love #Mysundayphoto
Thank you Catie, was such a lovely moment to capture 🙂
What a beautiful photo. My heart is melting just looking at it.
Thank you Sarah. It was such a lovely moment to capture 🙂
It’s always good to have friends that understand what other may not, I hope their friendship flourishes. xx
Thank you Anne, it’s lovely to see how quickly they’ve formed that friendship 🙂
What a beautiful photo and what a great connection the girls appear to have – I think it is always important to have people in your life who understand you x
Thanks Vicky. So lovely to watch them having so much fun together and we had a lovely chat with P’s parents too 🙂
Ahh! I have found a lot of support with other heart families….Especially when my girls were having surgery.
That photo is adorable. I hope they had a fab time together x
Thanks Kim, so glad you’ve had such good support with other heart families too. We had such a lovely time catching up with P’s family and the girls had so much fun together 🙂
Ahh that’s so lovely. So nice to see sibling love <3
Thank you 🙂
What a really lovely post and photo.
Thank you for linking up
Thank you Darren, always a pleasure to link up 🙂
That’s such a lovely photo, and even more so when you read the story behind it. It must be lovely to have those friendships #MySundayPhoto
Thanks Mary – it was such a special moment to capture 🙂
Lovely photo. Looks like the girls are going to such firm friends. #mysundayphoto
Thank you – I hope so! 🙂
Aww what a lovely moment to capture. xxx
Thank you Sarah – so glad I managed to capture it 🙂
What a sweet story behind the photo x we love cuddly shots #MySundayPhoto x
Thank you – cuddly shots are always nice 🙂
This is just so lovely Louise, how amazing that Jessica has a little friend that understands what she’s going through and you have the support of another family too.
Nat.x
Thank you Nat, it was so lovely to see the girls having fun together and seeing that friendship blossom 🙂
This is adorable and lovely that you can all offer understanding and support to one another x #mysundayphoto
Thank you, having that support makes such a difference 🙂