Answers to your Questions Part 2!!!

Here are some of the Answers to Questions I have recieved from all you wonderful Heart Parents! Please, if you have any questions for me just leave me a message or e-mail me at: lceleskey 87@ gm ail.com (just delete the spaces in my e-mail... I had to do the spaces to keep from computer robots sending me spam) and I will answer them in a future post! =D


Q: When did you realize that you were different from the other kids (as far as your limitations go)? I am sure that your mom did an excellent job letting you know of your condition and limitations but when did it really hit you?

A: First off, my mom did an awesome job of telling me about my CHD and my limitations. She always gave me just enough information at the appropriate ages at the right times. Though, when it came to gym class activities, playground fun, or having fun with my friends she never told me that I could not do something because of my Heart Condition. My mom ALWAYS told my to listen to me body, if I don't think I can do it then don't or when I get tired STOP. She also told me that when something doesn't feel right TELL someone RIGHT AWAY! I still follow these rules today. These rules made me feel more like I could be a normal kid, but gave me the understanding that I was responible for my body as I'm the only one that can feel what's going on and when something is wrong then I should do something about it right away.

I realized I was different early on in elementary school, probably as young as 5 or 6 years old, but I didn’t have a full understanding or grasp on my condition and limitations. I'd say I was in about 3rd grade or about 8 years old when I knew the limitations of my Heart Condition made me different from other kids, which was hard to fully accept. It would be tough on any young kid. Though the realities of my CHD really hit me when I was 16 years old when I woke up early one moring during the summer itching, A LOT. I thought it was a lot of mosquito bites as mosquito’s love me (I can swell up sometimes) and I had been outside in the after humid damp rain the night before. I quickly realized that I didn’t have a lot of mosquito bites, I had hives ALL over my body. I cried myself back to sleep sitting up in my bed, I was scared. My mom found me hours later and she knew that something was wrong. The hives were so bad! They were on my joints so it was hard to move and on the bottom of my feet, so hard to walk and everywhere else you can think of. In those moments of the early morning is when it hit me that my health can change on a dime. I finally understood the realities of my heart condition. Luckly, after three months of a strong steroid and being watched carefully, especially since I had to be taken off my heart medications, I was fine and the hives have never come back. They never did find out how I got them, I was tested for just about everything and nothing was found, a mystery it was, but an experience that changed my life.


Q: Has God always played a large role in your life?

A: Yes, he has. I look to him all the time to help give me strength. I was raised in a Roman Catholic family and went to a private school through high school. I don’t agree on everything thing in the Catholic religion, but I have always believed in God and good values. God is great and knowing he is here with me makes everything seem ok. I’m not perfect though and I have strayed from him from time to time and still do, but I know in the back of my mind and in my heart that God is the reason I’m here and I will spread the messages he wanted me to through my special heart. I truly believe God is the maker of heaven and earth; he makes no mistakes... everything has a reason.


Q: Are your eye muscle disease/surgeries linked to CHD?

A: Yes and no. My grandpa has the same eye muscle disease and had 2-3 surgeries himself growing up to fix it. My mom also has a less serve form it as well. But most CHDers come with other issues, especially if their heart disease is complex like mine, though that’s not always the case. The doctors and my family think it is a mix of both genetics and my CHD that I ended up with an eye muscle disease.


Q: I would like to know if your older brother ever resented or felt left out because of your heart condition.

A: That’s a hard one to answer as I’m not my older brother. He was 4 1/2 when I was born and I know he was excited to have a little sister. My parents said he had a hard time when I was in and out of the hospital because he didn’t understand why I was there and why he could see me or mommy and daddy all the time. As I got older we had good and bad times like any other siblings. He did always hate that I got more attention sometimes and that my parents listened to me more than him when we got in a fight. My parents tried their best to give him everything he needed and attention too. They always made sure to spend some kind of one on one time with him. My dad did sports with him and as I got older they did a lot more together then my dad and I did, but they are boys, I understand. My brother says he doesn’t resent me at all and though it was tough at the beinging when I was born, as I got older and medically stable, we were like any other family for the most part. He is now a daddy to a little girl and I know he will be a great dad! As for my little brother, I was 11 when he was born so he never really had to go through anything my older brother did. My little brother knows I have a heart condition, but has never felt left out or anything. He has been treated almost like an only child because my older brother and I were almost grown when he came along.


That's it for right now... looks like there will be a Part 3!!! That will be coming SOON!!!
Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!!! =D
Sending prayers and warm **Heart Hugs** to Everyone!!!


With LOTS Hope, Love, and Faith,
♥