In August of this year, Riley went in for some imaging for her heart, to see how it was responding to the Glenn procedure and partial reconstruction they did in 2023. Toward the end of September, we met with Riley's cardiologist and he said that the cardiac team at CHOP reviewed the results they got from August, and everyone was in agreement that Riley was a good candidate for a full heart reconstruction! This is a huge answer to prayers for us! At the time we found out about the specific heart defect she has, we were told that the procedures available didn't go well with children with Down Syndrome, and so we really weren't sure what would be able to be done long-term. As she's grown, and the medical field has too, a full heart reconstruction became a possibility, and we've been praying for that option ever since.  Over 5 years of prayer answered!

The unexpected news we received in September was that Riley's surgeon is so good that she's soon moving on to a more prestigious position at the end of October, so they wanted to get Riley's surgery in before she leaves. So Riley's surgery is scheduled for October 16th. We were surprised by the speed at which they wanted her to come in, but we trust the team at CHOP, and are so thankful to have the surgeon we have.

Please continue to pray for Riley, that she will stay healthy for this procedure, that it will go smoothly, and that her recovery will be quick. After this procedure, her heart should be functioning normally, and her oxygen saturation should be like everyone else's. We are so excited for this opportunity, but also a bit overwhelmed. Thank you for all your support!