After our kids received their heart transplants and they were stable enough to return to our home in Eastern Oregon we first had deep and lengthy conversations with our children’s heart doctors, social workers, and other care givers. We asked how we should act, where we should move, and what our kids can do with a life time of immunosuppressant drugs and a transplanted heart. At first we thought we would need to ‘constantly’ sanitize our kids and keep them sheltered from the outside elements. We saw a world of protecting and harboring them from infection and sickness. To protect them at all costs, we thought our kids would (or should) wear a mask to school or be home schooled. However, with the advice and council of trusted local and Stanford medical professionals, we made a very conscious decision to let our kids live their lives.
We have a responsibility to protect our children, but we also want them to
experience their childhood. We wanted
them to participate in school, play sports, go on wilderness backpacking trips,
attend church missions, and experience new places. With their immuno suppressed systems, we
could limit what they do and where they go, but we still want them to
experience life. These kids are only ‘kids’
for a few short years. Stacy and I made
that decision, and continue to hold to it.
This is how Stacy and I feel about this whole government shut
down thing. It’s impossible for the government
to totally protect us. Our kids need to
be able to experience there childhood and these once in a life time
opportunities. Yes there is a risk, life
is a risk, but it should be something we as individuals make a conscious decision
on. The fact that the Government ‘forces’
us and makes ‘our’ decisions is wrong.
Just like Stacy and I made a conscious and educated decision regarding
the health and activity of our heart transplant children, we as parents and a
society can make our own conscious and educated decision regarding our health.
If we feel we are at
risk, or that our children are at risk, then we can make the necessary steps to
protect us and them. We can mask up,
keep them home from school, church and other activities, and take other steps
as we fill necessary. If we are at risk,
then we need to protect ourselves. But
WE should be able to make that decision, NOT the government. We know the risks just like Stacy and I know
the risks of our transplant kids. We made the decision that we want our
children to experience life. We want
them to experience school, friends, dances, sports, church, missions, summer camps, all-star
games (Roper), college life, weddings, and other once in a life time
activities. The risk of Corona or other
diseases will always be there AND we accept that risk and consequences. We know what it takes to protect ourselves, and we should be able to make that decision ourselves. If our kids get sick, we acknowledge and accept
the responsibility, but that is our decision.
This country was
founded on the principles of freedom; freedom to act and live, and ultimately
accept responsibility for those actions.
We hope our government, schools, churches, sports organizations, and
other activities open back up. Allow
our children to live, experience and learn!
Limiting the kids is not right! We know the risks, we accept them, so let us
move on!
Having said that......, here's a brief update on the crew.....
Well its been over 7 months since an update. So much has changed in our lives as has yours I am sure. In all this craziness, I am happy to report our kids are doing great! They have all had checkups in the last couple of months and they are sitting with ZERO rejection and great heart function.
Lindsey Lou’s heart is also doing great. She has biopsies only ONCE a year. She is home, working at a pizza joint, and looking forward to school, friends and volleyball.
Having said that......, here's a brief update on the crew.....
Well its been over 7 months since an update. So much has changed in our lives as has yours I am sure. In all this craziness, I am happy to report our kids are doing great! They have all had checkups in the last couple of months and they are sitting with ZERO rejection and great heart function.
Sierra served a mission for the church until Corona hit. Unfortunately, she was released after only five and a half months. She had originally signed up for 18 months of service. She is now home, taking online classes from BYU-I and dating this critter named Mason (stand by for that one).
Lindsey Lou’s heart is also doing great. She has biopsies only ONCE a year. She is home, working at a pizza joint, and looking forward to school, friends and volleyball.
Gage Aurelius is also doing awesome and looking forward to returning to school as a 6th grader and playing whatever sports he can.
Megan is in Logan somewhere going to USU and working 2 jobs. Hunter is growing like a bull thistle and is looking forward to his freshman year, football (maybe?) basketball, a 30 mile hike next weeks, and seeing his friends.
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