Paityn's Video

Watch a sweet video of Paityn's life so far HERE...

Donations

I am working on getting a Paypal button on this blog, but should you have the desire to donate, she has a special account at Chase.

The account number at Chase is 979599701... Just use that number on the deposit slip.

Also join us at Costa Vida on Rittenhouse and Ocotillo this Thursday from 2pm to 9pm. 15% of your total bill goes to the family. Paityn and her family will be there from 5-7 to meet those who want to meet her.

Please remember to mention Paityn at the register.

Meet Paityn Harper!

Paityn was born on September 8th 2011. Her parents, Katy and Chris, had been informed early in the pregnancy that she would be born with heart defects, though the doctors couldn't tell them the extent. After she was born it soon became clear that she had a total of 5 defects.

She would certainly need surgery, and the doctors told Katy and Chris that they wanted her to get a little bigger and a little older, since heart surgery is risky enough without the added factors of a tiny heart with tiny valves and arteries.

She resided the first 3 months of her life at Phoenix Children's Hospital, enduring procedure after procedure, and rarely free from multiple tubes and sensors, making it difficult for her parents to hold their newborn.

It was painful for us, as a family, to watch this ordeal play out. It didn't seem fair that this new baby, with no understanding, should have to endure such pain and hardship. She must have wondered if life was going to always be this way. But we all prayed and fasted and did everything in our power to help.

She was visited often by her older sisters Hannah, Daisy, and Maylee.

And all her aunts and uncles and cousins.

Callie

Her little cousin Remy, who was born only 2 weeks before her.

But she mostly just slept through it all, always recovering from a procedure or surgery.

We found ourselves wishing after awhile that the doctors would finally recommend the big surgery. She would get a little better, then her condition would get worse. There were a few times we all thought she wouldn't make it to the surgery.

Finally the call came and she was scheduled for open heart surgery on October 21st.

The surgery went well, and though she continued to have other issues, she progressed well until the day they said she could finally come home.

Some of the family went and planted flowers in the flower bed in front of the Harper's house as part of their welcome home celebration.

The welcome home was a wonderful day. It was such a feeling of relief to give this baby the opportunity to be held by her family, to sleep in a regular crib, and to be surrounded at all times by those who had been praying for her and who loved her.

Since then we have delighted in watching her grow and change. She has come to life, and her eyes show a wisdom beyond her years. She laughs like she is much older than she is when her daddy tickles her. Paityn is a joy and we are grateful for her. She reminds us of the blessing of creation, of the ever watchfulness of our Father in Heaven, and the little tender mercies that give us hope.