melissa and kate.

Meet Melissa. (She doesn't usually dress up quite this fancy. She was just modeling her prom dress here.) 

Melissa was one of my very best friends in high school. I can't really remember when we became friends... or how... Drill Team, maybe?? We were the tallest, so we always stood next to each other in the kick line. 

This might have been a ski trip?? I love how your curl makes it look like I have a black eye. 

But there were 5 of us that were pretty much inseparable my last two years of high school. 4 of us still keep in touch. (Thank you, blogs and Facebook!)

 I think this was  "Reason" tour. Did we have matching pajamas?? 

"Music Man" (This may have been the night I had 102* fever)  

Melissa was such a special friend to me. We must have spent HOURS on the phone some nights... talking about homework, or just talking. =) She used to borrow my clothes all the time... even when no one was home. (How did you do that, Melissa? Did you have a key?? Or did we just leave the back door unlocked all the time??) I love that we have been able to reconnect these past few years. We got together for the first time in 10 years, maybe... and it was just like old times. We sat and talked like no time had passed at all. I love that.

 This is my favorite picture of us! 

This is what Melissa's life looks like now... how sweet are these 4 little people?!

This is Miss Katelyn. (How much does she look like her momma?!) Kate needs some prayers. She is having a pretty big surgery on Wednesday and although she doesn't really understand what is going on... her mommy and daddy do... and the whole idea of surgery has her momma pretty terrified. 

Kate was born with a heart murmur.  We took her to a cardiologist when she was a week old and were told she had a hole in her heart and also a subaortic ridge.  We were told then that surgery was likely.  The hole closed up by the time she was 6 months old, however this ridge has grown in size.  A subaortic ridge is a tissue mass in her heart near the aorta valve.  This mass causes the blood to get turbulent near the valve and this has caused mild valve damage.  The surgery is to remove this ridge and hopefully stop any further damage to her valve from occurring.  There is no guarantee surgery will work.  It is possible she has an aortic valve disease, however there is no way to determine this until they do surgery.  And also there is a possibility this mass can grow back during her childhood years.

So will you pray for this little miss? Pray for her doctors, nurses and surgeons? Pray for a quick recovery time? And just as importantly... will you pray for her momma? I know that Melissa is so worried about this surgery. Melissa remembers my friend Hanni and her sweet little girl, Hadley. Hadley had what was supposed to be a routine heart surgery, but instead of coming home to her family, she went home to Jesus. As hard as she tries, Melissa can't seem to think about Kate's surgery without the thought of losing her. Can you imagine how agonizing that must be? Add to that a 3 month old... maternity leave that is about to run out... 2 busy baseball-playing boys... no family close by... and you have one stressed out momma. Melissa lost her mom several years ago... and it's times like this that a girl needs her mommy. No matter how old she is. Oh, how I wish she could be there with you during this, Melissa! (and to see what an amazing job you are doing with these 4 little people!)

Also frustrating is the fact that doctors refer to this surgery as elective. But it's not, really. Elective is cosmetic surgery, not heart surgery on your baby. If it was elective, Melissa and Jerry would just say no.  But how can you tell parents that waiting could cause worse damage to your child's heart and then expect them to do anything but agree to the surgery?? I can't imagine. 

Kate appears to be so healthy and isn't affected by her heart condition in any way. That makes it even more difficult. No parent wants to put their seemingly healthy child through a major surgery. Melissa and Jerry have complete faith that God could heal their baby girl. Could. But at this point, He hasn't. They are following their doctor's advice and doing what the doctors say she needs... even though it is terrifying for them. 

Danielle has told me several times how comforted she was by the thought of so many people praying for Britton before her surgery. (And I've decided I have too many friends that have babies having surgery!) So can you do the same for Melissa? Pray for peace to calm her heart and mind... pray for her as she tries to care for all these little people that she loves so much? And pray that Miss Kate will come home to her family and be running around with those big brothers she loves so much soon! 

"You (God) will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!" 
Isaiah 26:3

I stole this verse from your blog, Melissa! Keep your thoughts fixed on Him and trust in Him. I'm praying He will give you that perfect peace you need right now! Love you!