Prayers needed

When Dylan was having heart surgery (at the tender age of 2 days old) to repair a coarctation of the aorta,  we stayed at the Chicago Ronald McDonald house for about 10 days. While there we met a very sweet family, the Herricks, who have a very precious little boy named Max who was born with severe heart defects. Max is 6 months older than Dylan. Max's room was a few doors down from Dylan's room at Children's Memorial Hospital.

To deepen our connection to this family Max had a heart transplant on December 14, 2006 - on Dylan's 2nd birthday. It was like a rebirth of sorts for Max, a gift of life and we thought it was wonderful that he shared that rebirth on Dylan's birthday. Since then they have been on a non-stop rollercoaster ride as Max's health has gone through highs and lows. They got some very stressful news this week and my heart goes out to them. In case the link doesn't work (you might have to register) here is an excerpt from the post on their Care Pages site:

Max has PTLD (Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease) which happens occasionally in children after a major organ transplant, such as Max's heart transplant. This sometimes is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, but Max is fairly negative for that virus. The PTLD has evolved into a form of cancer called Lymphoma........ whether it is Hodgkins or non-Hodgkins is yet to be determined.

I feel so helpless when I hear news like this. The only thing I can think of doing (besides giving my boys extra love and kisses) is to ask everyone I know to please include Max and his family in your thoughts and prayers. They really need some positive energy right now.

Thank you.

This is Max on his 2nd birthday (before the heart transplant). His mom always has the most AMAZING birthday parties and cakes for him -- yes, that's a cake!