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Welcome to Katja’s blog. A place for information, updates and our “laugh instead of cry” humor of living with a child with CHD (Congenital Heart Defects). Take a seat and prepare for a long emotional journey of our ups and downs. Feel free to browse posts about Katja, her heart and her previous surgeries. Newest updates are available below:

Updates


  • As I always say… “No news is good news”.

    We spent the summer blissfully appointment and hospital free. Katja was doing great and we very much enjoyed the break.

    Two months…. We got two.

    Early Sept I started to notice her a little off. I had hoped it was just the Tween years upon us. Then we saw Transplant…..

    There is significant changes to her pulmonary donor valve. Some minor/moderate ones to her aortic. Then her DSA’s (donor specific antibodies from her donor) increased with new types showing. Yesterday she had repeat labs. Her BNP (measures heart damage) increased 3 times in 2 weeks. Her immunosuppressant levels plummeted too.

    Seattle is consulting with DC and Boston. We still don’t know what rejection looks like in PHT kids. We have no way to test the tissue either. Her teams are scratching their heads as to what is causing this.

    For now, we are continuing to repeat labs, repeat her echos and watch/wait. Pray for Katja, she needs a break. This kid has suffered so much through her short life, she deserves a break 💔


More Updates

  • The Calm In Our Storm

    The Calm In Our Storm


    A question I get asked often is “How are you so calm about Katja?” The answer is, well, complicated. To understand why we take all of this in stride, you first have to understand Katja’s journey. We found out at 19 weeks pregnant that Katja’s heart was not “normal”. We had months to learn, prepare…

    Read more: The Calm In Our Storm
  • A Partial Gift With Significant Risks-PHT

    A Partial Gift With Significant Risks-PHT


    That big “T” word that makes everyone’s heart flutter just a bit. It’s scary, it’s unknown but when it’s spoken out loud, you just know, something is wrong. Transplant. There I said it. Did your heart skip a beat? Mine does, every time and I’ve been saying it a lot lately. So let’s talk about…

    Read more: A Partial Gift With Significant Risks-PHT
  • Save Katja’s Heart: Urgent Flight for a Rare Transplant


    Help Katja! Spread the word! https://gofund.me/33c1e6e5

    Read more: Save Katja’s Heart: Urgent Flight for a Rare Transplant

About Us


We are a fun loving family of 7. I’m Jenn, the Mom and words behind the blog. Dad Jori is the IT backbone of making sure I don’t go crazy over features. We have 5 beautiful children. Nevaeh (17), Twins Arianna & Araceli (15), Katja “Our Mended little Heart” (9) and Gryffin “Finn” (4).

Save Katja’s Heart: Urgent Flight for a Rare Transplant

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