• Notes from Mary, Noah and Nicholaus, and Molly

  Breakout! Molly (and I) have now been out of the hospital for a full 24 hours (although we did just get back from a horrible outpatient visit). Since my social skills are returning after having been sequestered for 15 days, I wanted to attempt to convey my gratitude to all of you.

  Firstly, I did have a recent chance to review the words of support, concern, prayers, and love. To say the words, thank you, seems amazingly trivial. The depth of assistance we have received is unreal; so many people have fed, clothed, transported, housed and loved us. For those of you who didn't know, we left our home in the mountains around 4:30 am three Tuesdays ago. We had absolutely nothing with us but the pajamas we were wearing. Kevin's hustle was the first in a series of fortunate events which saved Molly's life.

  Our gratitude for all your kindness is huge! All of you are precious people, and you have each touched me deeply. Just when I would get it together from being completely stressed about Molly's stability, a family member would bring tears to my eyes again because they cared so much.

  Molly is mostly done here at Stanford. Today we took out her last stitch. She still has an improving infection in the wound itself, and she may need an angioplasty or other follow up procedure, but we have to wait and see how she grows. In the meantime, she will be going home with us tomorrow. We have an appointment with the surgeon and cardiologist in Sacramento next Thursday to see about how the heart is functioning and if she is gaining weight adequately. The most difficult things I had to deal with during this were: missing my older children terribly, starving Molly (six full days where she was not allowed to eat, yet was awake and we attempted to console her), and being in a large, teaching hospital where continuity of care did not exist.

  I am very thankful of the gift I have received and realized after all that time in a Children's Hospital how fortunate we are to be dealing with this particular condition. Molly was transfused at least four different times with blood and received lipids when she was forced to fast. Blood and lipids must be carefully screened for kids and have a short shelf life. If you can, donate blood. But most importantly, whenever you think of Molly or us, please say a special prayer for the familes that are still at the Hospital caring for their children.

  I love you all! Mary

  Thanks to Aunt Foxy for letting us ride your horse! Thank you Kathleen for
  letting us spend the night and my first real Comic Book!. Thank you Aunt Sarah
  and Dominic and Katy for giving us toys. Thank you Aunt Boom for letting us
  swim in your swimming pool. Thank you Connor for playing with me with your trucks. Thank you Grandma for taking care of us. Thank you Aunt Lori for buying us clothes and thank you for buying toys for us (the train pads). Thank you Aunt Lori for buying us the Lightening McQueen bag too. I love you guys! [Noah and Nicholaus dictation]

  Thanks to Dr. Reddy and his team for my new heart and life! Waaah! [Molly dictation]

  Cowboys Photo Album

• Miss Molly: What a welcome you have had to this world, but you picked a good family to join. They'll take good care of you. We are so thrilled to hear of your progress. Thank you Auntie Boom for sending us your web page. Hugs and kisses to all your King relatives. Kay and Rae Swanson