{"id":3442,"date":"2019-11-17T15:25:09","date_gmt":"2019-11-17T20:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/?p=3442"},"modified":"2021-09-27T19:08:30","modified_gmt":"2021-09-27T23:08:30","slug":"friends-by-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/2019\/11\/17\/friends-by-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Friends By Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_770840186\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"row row-collapse\"  id=\"row-1147838949\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-270862823\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"lead\">The Children\u2019s Healing Center is for kids. It\u2019s in the name. When I started attending story times and movement classes with my son, I expected him to be the one making friends. I never thought it would be a place where, as a new mom, I would find parent support.<\/p>\n\t<div id=\"gap-1249982981\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1249982981 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_951393185\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_0768-1024x683-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_0768-1024x683-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_0768-1024x683-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_0768-1024x683-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_0768-1024x683-1-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_951393185 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-2018613072\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-2018613072 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p>As a way to engage entire families, the Center hosted an event to welcome heart children and their care givers. My family jumped at the chance to see our amazing doctors and nurses outside of the hospital, so we signed up right away. Upon arrival we were greeted with familiar Center volunteers and some of our favorite nurses and cardiologists. I think I started crying before I had even wiped off my shoes or washed my hands. I hadn\u2019t seen some of these people since my son had open heart surgery and here they were- ready to have some fun in a safe and clean space made for PLAY! This wasn\u2019t a check-up or pre-op appointment. There was no blood draw or ultrasound. They weren\u2019t going to deliver any sort of bad or scary news this time. We were simply given the opportunity to spend some time enjoying each other\u2019s company.<\/p>\n<p>We sat together watching all the kids, of varying ages, play together. I started chatting with the mom next to me. Her youngest son was about a year older than mine. Through conversation, we discovered that they both have pacemakers. We kept uncovering details of our experiences with congenital heart disease and learned that our sons have a very similar story starting with their initial diagnosis, then surgical intervention and post-op complications. I felt like I had met my mama soul mate. I couldn\u2019t believe there was another person who could directly relate to what I had experienced (feelings and trauma I do not have the words to describe) not only as a first-time parent but also as a mother whose child has been through some life-saving darkness. This was a friendship of support I didn\u2019t know I was missing!<\/p>\n\t<div id=\"gap-560779472\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-560779472 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-907355265\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-2076952558\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_1343232724\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"458\" height=\"686\" src=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-02-at-4.39.20-PM.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-02-at-4.39.20-PM.png 458w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-02-at-4.39.20-PM-267x400.png 267w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 458px) 100vw, 458px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_1343232724 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"text-1884778921\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<h4><strong>Louis, age 3<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>TGA, DORV, ASD, VSD, pulmonary stenosis, PDA, coronary insufficiency, pacemaker dependent<br \/>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-1884778921 {\n  font-size: 0.75rem;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1864338433\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_2001190153\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_4131-2-768x1152-1-533x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_4131-2-768x1152-1-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_4131-2-768x1152-1-267x400.jpg 267w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_4131-2-768x1152-1-510x765.jpg 510w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_4131-2-768x1152-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_2001190153 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"text-3343498431\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<h4><strong>Logan, age 4<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>TGA, DORV, ASD, VSD, Coarctation of the aortic arch, PDA, mechanical valve and pacemaker dependent<br \/>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-3343498431 {\n  font-size: 0.75rem;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_1615020976\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_9632-1-1024x683-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_9632-1-1024x683-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_9632-1-1024x683-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_9632-1-1024x683-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_9632-1-1024x683-1-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_1615020976 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-235682895\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-235682895 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p>As much as I wanted to, it was hard to relate to my friends because my crash course in parenting included heart and lung bypass machines and survival statistics- things they could not imagine. Frequently, I felt myself tempering my description of my son\u2019s wellness so as not to freak out my friends, who also had young children. This new friendship meant I had someone I could call to unload all the scary parts. Not only could she relate, but she could share her experience and sit with me in my fear. THAT IS SO SPECIAL.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Sometimes you don\u2019t need anyone to say the one right thing. Sometimes you need someone to listen and having a friend who understands that, first hand, is tragic and priceless.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t<div id=\"gap-1944539200\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1944539200 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_1865910071\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"696\" height=\"747\" src=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-7.48.32-PM.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-7.48.32-PM.png 696w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-7.48.32-PM-373x400.png 373w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Screen-Shot-2019-11-01-at-7.48.32-PM-510x547.png 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_1865910071 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-1515076903\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1515076903 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p>As we began visiting the Center regularly, I learned that this type of understanding wasn\u2019t limited to families with the same diagnosis. This community has a deep understanding of medical hardships so we share in each other\u2019s fears because we can relate. We can also champion each other\u2019s milestones and triumphs because we can relate!\u00a0\u00a0Unexpected friendships forged through medical hardship. It turns out, the Children\u2019s Healing Center has been vital to my son\u2019s social and emotional development and to my healing as a parent.<\/p>\n<p>I am happy to report that my son, Louis, attends the Center\u2019s pre-preschool program with his pacemaker buddy, Logan, twice a week. Louis gets to walk through life with a friend who is the same kind of different as him. I don\u2019t know how we would have found that if it weren\u2019t for the Children\u2019s Healing Center. I can\u2019t predict anything as it relates to his ongoing heart care but I do know he will always have a friend with whom he can share his worries and insecurities and so will I.<\/p>\n\t<div id=\"gap-244180293\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-244180293 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_1133255736\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_6412-5-1024x683-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_6412-5-1024x683-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_6412-5-1024x683-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_6412-5-1024x683-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/IMG_6412-5-1024x683-1-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_1133255736 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-722450909\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-722450909 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<blockquote><p>How lucky we are.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1>Nicole Ribbens<\/h1>\n<h6>Center Parent<\/h6>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_770840186 {\n  padding-top: 15px;\n  padding-bottom: 15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Children\u2019s Healing Center is for kids. It\u2019s in the name. When I started attending story times and movement classes with my son, I expected him to be the one making friends. I never thought it would be a place where, as a new mom, I would find parent support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3448,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[71,73],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-storybook","category-member-stories"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3442"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3453,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3442\/revisions\/3453"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3448"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}