Welcome!


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

  • Goal Smasher

    Goal Smasher


    Katja didn’t spend yesterday progressing… She spent it leaping past her goals 😳 Within 2hrs of her mask being reduced to nasal cannula, Katja got up. OT came in to see how she was doing and she decided she’d had enough laying flat watching Moana 2. She made the 6 steps over to a chair…

    Read more: Goal Smasher
  • I Believe

    I Believe


    She believed and so she did 💪🏻❤️

    Read more: I Believe
  • A Feisty Warrior

    A Feisty Warrior


    It’s been a long night. I haven’t slept more than 3hrs in the last 3 days. Katja had a bumpy night. Her body is still having a hard time purging the additional CO2 from Bypass. Her blood gases have been really high all night. With all her rejection meds, steroids and epi her glucose was…

    Read more: A Feisty Warrior

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

Help us help Katja!

Search our Blog


Subscribe


Recent Updates


Recent Posts