Meeting the Specialist

What a day. I thought today would be easier because of how challenging the first appointment in the city was, I was wrong. It was much easier when it came to the travel, I knew where to go and how long it would take, but once we got there it became challenging. Let me break it down for you!
We got to the train station and got our ticket with 2 minutes to spare. It was bitterly cold outside, but Liam was bundled so well (despite his red nose) when we got to the hospital he was sweating.

Once there we were seen for his EKG within 30 minutes. But after that I guess the list for echocardiograms was behind, so we ended up waiting an additional 2-1/2 hours in the waiting room. By that time it was beyond nap time, while doing the echo he ended up falling asleep. He was so sweet, and we moved him around and he didn't even blink a lash. It broke my heart to wake him up to go into the waiting room again.

By that time it was beyond nap time, while doing the echo he ended up falling asleep. He was so sweet, and we moved him around and he didn't even blink a lash. It broke my heart to wake him up to go into the waiting room again.

We finally saw the doctor about 40 minutes or so after that, and she was great! I really feel so confident and happy with his doctor and her team of nurses. It was so reassuring considering we moved here without even meeting his specialist.

But boy was it great to meet her...it also may have been the news she brought, it seems that Liam's stats have improved significantly. His oxygen levels are at 100% at room air (this has never happened in his life). As well as the pressure in his heart has decreased significantly, and the doctor is hopeful that with the surgery he will be getting later this month to help with his respiratory system and some medications he can show even more improvement. This is all good because it could mean that there is a treatment that could work for him and could lengthen his life indeterminately. We will have to continue to follow up after this next procedure, but I feel so confident and pleased with this team we have.
It was an emotional time for me because it became so real for me today. I only broke down twice into tears, which was probably from exhaustion/hunger/hormones(I can always blame those, it's my right as a woman right?!). But it also reaffirmed to me that this crazy HUGE change we made, on what may have seemed a whim that could help our son, was the right decision. It showed to me that our Heavenly Father answers prayers, and more significantly for me, my prayers. But it also meant that this is our future, there is no going back to Utah and my friends/neighbors, this is our home, this is our hospital, this is my commute and new people that surround me. It was such a bittersweet moment, that I was brought to tears.
But I held it together a little longer and went to get in line for a chest X-ray, blood labs (they literally took 14 vials, I was shocked!) and urine sample (of a 19 month old...yeah, that was crazy!).

By the time we were done we had to race to catch our train, which we got to with 2 minutes to spare. Liam was so tired he fell asleep while walking/jogging through Harlem and stayed asleep for over an hour, even after getting on the train and dressing down. It was then that I was able to think back on the day, relax, and let my emotions take over. I am do grateful for our blessings, as I was so stressed to catch our train or frustrated with waiting at the hospital I got to sit and play with Liam, hold his hand, kiss his head, and I was and still am so overwhelmed with love and gratitude for him being in my life. He is a blessing everyday, even when he is grumpy and I often forget that. But today I remembered. I am grateful that we could follow the guidance we begged for since we found out about his illness and that we came to the right place, his results were proof of that today.

All said and done we left our house this morning at 7:40am and got back around 5:30pm, quite the day for a doctors visit.