Posted in Other Ramblings

I have spread the word on TJ Wilson out to various people over the past few months and thought I would blog about him since there was a great article about him and his family in his local paper on Thanksgiving day.

"Family Gives Thanks for a Hearty Child"   in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Lori and Randy lived here until about 2 years ago.  I first met Lori when she was the manager of a local piano store.  Little Miss took piano lessons there and Lori and I would sit and chat while I waited.  She was pregnant with her first child and I answered a lot of her pregnancy questions.  Then I did a private childbirth ed class for her and Randy and became their doula.  I was with them with Lori gave birth to TJ in October 2005.

When Lori returned to work she brought TJ with her every day - a wonderful accomodation the store made for her.  So I got to see him  - and her  - regularly.  Until she told me she was moving home.

We e-mailed periodically and TJ was always happy and healthy.  Imagine my shock when I got a frantic e-mail last June asking for prayers for TJ, who had almost died but was then on a heart-lung machine, after what appeared to be a simple stomach flu.

TJ received a heart transplant in August and is doing well now.  But will have a lifetime of struggles ahead of him.  You can follow their updates  -and hear the full story on Lori's blog at http://www.cotafortjw.com/