The Story of a Loving God and One He Loves... Our Precious Ethan Carter
Our Precious Ethan Carter
Ethan Carter Lane was born on March 12, 2010, perfectly healthy except for a rare congenital heart defect (Supravalvular Aortic Stenosis and Supravalvular Pulmonic Stenosis) that has been passed down through the generations in my family. His sister, Emily (born November 22, 2004), has the same defect. She had two cardiac catheterizations with balloon angioplastys and open-heart surgery, all before the age of one. She is a happy, energetic little girl who has never been sickly (you would never even know she has a heart defect) and has an incredible future. Her little brother Ethan was expected to follow a similar course. He was a "normal baby"... he never looked or acted sick, never struggled, never let us know just how severe his heart defect really was. On June 4, 2010, at two months and three weeks of age, Ethan underwent his first procedure--- a cardiac catheterization with balloon angioplasty. Only they never started the actual procedure. When someone is put under general anesthesia, their blood pressure drops. When the doctors put our precious Ethan under, his heart could not handle the drop in blood pressure. He went into sudden, unexpected cardiac arrest, and teams of doctors tried everything they knew to save him. But, Jesus did the saving that day in His Own special way... and Ethan went to live forever in Heaven. This blog is simply one mother working through her grief and reconciling a Loving God with One Who allows us to suffer the loss of a child. It is also one mother wanting the world to know about her incredibly special son--- and the God Who loves him.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
To: Ethan, Love: Sissy. I Love You, Ethan!
(Sissy and her Little Brother watching cartoons on March 30, 2010.)
I love you, Ethan. You're my Little Brother. I love you, Ethan. Daddy love you, too, and Mama. I love you, Brother--- this is Sissy talking.
Emily is so, so sweet. It sounds like she thinks of her little brother often...what a beautiful heart she has :) You all are on my heart and in my prayers so often. Love to you all and to your sweet Ethan...
Danielle, I am so glad Emily has her own special bond with him! Please pray her memories of him never fade. Josh, Emily and I talk about Ethan every day, and we love repeating the stories of our life together. Emily especially loves hearing about his poop-and-pee-spraying episodes, complete with sound effects... and he was talented, let me tell you! Once, while I was changing him, he shot poop and got it on his changing table/dresser (including in one of its drawers), lamp, diaper pail, laundry hamper, carpet, wall, door, and woodwork--- all in ONE SHOT! :) Memories like this make my heart smile so big! I know you had even less time to make memories with your sweet Aaron than we did with Ethan, but I know your bond is JUST as strong, your love JUST as deep, and I am confident you made so many memories... and that they will last for your entire lifetime. I love reading your blog, and your honesty grips at my heart. You and I are so much alike, I think. Much, much love to you and Precious Aaron Matthew!!
Emily is so, so sweet. It sounds like she thinks of her little brother often...what a beautiful heart she has :) You all are on my heart and in my prayers so often. Love to you all and to your sweet Ethan...
ReplyDeleteDanielle, I am so glad Emily has her own special bond with him! Please pray her memories of him never fade. Josh, Emily and I talk about Ethan every day, and we love repeating the stories of our life together. Emily especially loves hearing about his poop-and-pee-spraying episodes, complete with sound effects... and he was talented, let me tell you! Once, while I was changing him, he shot poop and got it on his changing table/dresser (including in one of its drawers), lamp, diaper pail, laundry hamper, carpet, wall, door, and woodwork--- all in ONE SHOT! :) Memories like this make my heart smile so big! I know you had even less time to make memories with your sweet Aaron than we did with Ethan, but I know your bond is JUST as strong, your love JUST as deep, and I am confident you made so many memories... and that they will last for your entire lifetime. I love reading your blog, and your honesty grips at my heart. You and I are so much alike, I think. Much, much love to you and Precious Aaron Matthew!!
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