Stories of Lost Children
Miracle Angel Jessica
by Deborah Davidson, Rockmart, GA, U.S.A.
Jessica Erin Davidson was born October 23,1995. Following birth she was sent to CHOA where we learned she had a very serious heart defect called Hypoplastic Right Ventricle and also Complete AV Canal. She also had Downs Syndrome. We were given a slight chance that if she had the three stage surgeries she might survive, but there were no numbers for us to measure her chance of survive. At the age of 7 days Jessica had her first surgery she went through it with flying colors, did very well afterwards. In May of 1996 she had her second stage she did very well also. In October 1997 she had her third stage and just amazed everyone at how well she did. Jessica was never sick other than the normal childhood things. Jessica was full of life, happy, loved to explore new things. She never met a stranger; she stopped to speak to everyone. We always kept Jessica busy taking her places and letting her explore the world. Disney World was her favorite place to go. She could walk the entire Magic Kingdom for 12 hrs plus and never get tired. We wondered how could our child have this serious heart defect. The day of March 9, 2004 changed our lives forever. Jessica was watching TV with her brother Colin. Her dad went to the den to check on her and yelled for me to come there. Something was wrong; Jessica could not move her left side. I knew in my heart that she had a stroke. I called CHOA and they agreed with what I thought had happened. She was airlifted within the next 30 minutes to CHOA where they found that she had a clot at her fontan sight; this clot continued to give off smaller clots which resulted in more strokes. On March 12,2004 we were told that she was in multi organ failure but they were going to try and bring those back. As they started the machines Jessica continued to code over and over; her little heart just couldnt take it any more. So with her mommy and daddy at her side holding her little hands we told her it was okay if she needed to go and that we love her very very much. Jessica took her last breath within one minute of us telling her that. Jessica Erin became an angel at 3:18 am on March 13, 2004. I learned shortly after her death that she was one of the only, if not the only long term survivor of the CHD that she had. Also she had Down's Syndrome. I would not trade those 8 years with her for anything in the world; she taught us so much in her 8 yrs. The days seem so long without her, the nights so short because that's the only time I don't think about her is when I am asleep. Jessica was our hope, our reason for living and being. She was the glue that kept the family together you could always look at her and she was smiling no matter how bad of a day you were having. Its only been 6 weeks since she left us,it has been the hardest 6 weeks of my life. I feel so empty and lost.
I go to the cemetary every day to talk to her. I kiss her pictures every day and tell her how much we love and miss her and that one day we will see her again. Jessica we love you and miss you so very much. Even though you are not here with me I carry you deep inside my heart every minute of the day. You will always be our baby.
If anyone would like to share your story of CHD or Down's please feel free to send me an email at drld959@charter.net We love you, Mama, Daddy, Emily and Colin
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