{"id":3477,"date":"2020-02-14T19:48:34","date_gmt":"2020-02-15T00:48:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/?p=3477"},"modified":"2021-09-27T19:57:04","modified_gmt":"2021-09-27T23:57:04","slug":"not-alone-in-this-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/2020\/02\/14\/not-alone-in-this-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Not Alone in this Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_1791173550\">\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-62157608\">\n\n\t<div id=\"col-591412298\" 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\">My name is Mary Marek and my family has hit the \u201cjackpot\u201d twice in the last three years.<\/p>\n<p>My oldest<ins>,<\/ins>\u00a0Lily<ins>,<\/ins>\u00a0was diagnosed with coarctation of the Aorta and secondary cardiomyopathy at four months of age.\u00a0 We had less than twelve hours to soak everything in. Our youngest, Maddie, was diagnosed in utero with Truncus Arteriosus. We spent four and a half months worrying about her before she was actually born.\u00a0With no family history, this was\u00a0pure luck.\u00a0\u00a0We felt like we were living in a world where no one fully understood what we were going through.\u00a0Two baby girls, exactly 1.5 years apart, and reliving the worst situation\u00a0my husband and I have ever gone through. It was as if someone rewound time and replayed it over and over again. Constant life routines seemed bleak at times<ins>,<\/ins>\u00a0until a nurse explained to us what the Children\u2019s Healing Center was all about.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe felt like we were living in a world where no one fully understood what we were going through.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t<div id=\"gap-1909201499\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1909201499 {\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_1328772288\">\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\/Marek-Family.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Marek-Family.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Marek-Family-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Marek-Family-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Marek-Family-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_1328772288 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"text-792170227\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<p><strong>From left to right: Maddie, Brian, Mary, Lily<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-792170227 {\n  font-size: 0.85rem;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-31504311\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-31504311 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p class=\"has-text-color\">Our lives changed for the better when we learned about the Children\u2019s Healing Center while in the hospital with our second child. It is right then that we realized we were not alone in this journey.\u00a0 The Center has been a positive blessing in our lives over the past 2 years.\u00a0 There are so many benefits of the\u00a0Center from being germ free, letting my girls participate in normal activities healthy children get to do, and connecting us to families who share similar stories.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-color\">We love how our two girls can\u00a0run around like kids without us having to worry about them getting sick.\u00a0 Before the Center<ins>,<\/ins>\u00a0I was stuck at home all winter long with our youngest.\u00a0 Now my children are able to play with other children their own age and make friends.\u00a0This is something they wouldn\u2019t be able to do as easily if this place wasn\u2019t here.\u00a0On top of playing with other children<ins>,<\/ins> they get to take part in normal childhood activities such as meeting Santa and going to preschool.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cOur lives changed for the better when we learned about the Children\u2019s Healing Center while in the hospital with our second child.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t<div id=\"gap-1636534567\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1636534567 {\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_604794596\">\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\/Mareks-Pic-w-Santa-2048x1365-1-1200x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Mareks-Pic-w-Santa-2048x1365-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Mareks-Pic-w-Santa-2048x1365-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Mareks-Pic-w-Santa-2048x1365-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Mareks-Pic-w-Santa-2048x1365-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Mareks-Pic-w-Santa-2048x1365-1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Mareks-Pic-w-Santa-2048x1365-1.jpg 2048w\" 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_604794596 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"text-2408992642\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<p><strong>Lily (right) and Maddie (left) get their picture taken with Santa at the CHC.<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-2408992642 {\n  font-size: 0.85rem;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-2140446471\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-2140446471 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p class=\"has-text-color\">I believe the most loved characteristic of the Center is connecting with other families and sharing our common yet very different medical journeys. These families \u201cjust get it\u201d and understand our journey in a different way compared to other healthy families.\u00a0We have met some wonderful people which caused us to create some lifelong friendships. Our girls have met other kids\u00a0they can relate to\u00a0<ins>(<\/ins>and\u00a0eventually talk to) when things are tough during the many doctor appointments, surgeries, etc.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-color\">The CHC\u00a0is a blessing because I know I will\u00a0never fully understand all my daughters emotions and feelings they will have along this journey.\u00a0 I am sitting on the sidelines trying to be the best coach in this world as I watch my children\u00a0navigate something I have never experienced myself.\u00a0 I wish everything was happening to me and they could be normal healthy children.<\/p>\n\t<div id=\"gap-42816187\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-42816187 {\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_1046551680\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Mareks-Shanecks--600x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Mareks-Shanecks--600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Mareks-Shanecks--300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Mareks-Shanecks--510x680.jpg 510w, https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/09\/Mareks-Shanecks-.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\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_1046551680 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"text-4088500701\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n<p><strong>The Mareks and another member family attend a CHD Awareness event together!<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-4088500701 {\n  font-size: 0.85rem;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"gap-2036054358\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-2036054358 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p>Our life isn\u2019t easy<ins>,<\/ins>\u00a0but whose is?\u00a0 Everyone has their struggles and\u00a0I believe what defines you is what you make of them.\u00a0 Our girls<ins>,<\/ins>\u00a0and all the other children at the Center<ins>,<\/ins>\u00a0are on these crazy medical rollercoaster rides<ins>,<\/ins>\u00a0but still manage to be the strongest and bravest children I have ever met.\u00a0 They make me realize how lucky I am to know\u00a0each and every one of them.\u00a0So, you could say we hit the \u201cjackpot\u201d a third time when we found the Center. Have you too hit a \u201cjackpot?\u201d Share your story with us, we\u2019d love to hear it.<\/p>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1>Mary Marek<\/h1>\n<h6>Member Mom to Lily &amp; Maddie<\/h6>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1791173550 {\n  padding-top: 15px;\n  padding-bottom: 15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My name is Mary Marek and my family has hit the \u201cjackpot\u201d twice in the last three years. My oldest,\u00a0Lily,\u00a0was diagnosed with coarctation of the Aorta and secondary cardiomyopathy at four months of age.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3479,"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-3477","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\/3477","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=3477"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3477\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3483,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3477\/revisions\/3483"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3479"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childrenshealing.org\/beta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}