Anna-Marie

We really wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who supported us during Anna-Marie's recent operation. It meant a lot to us to be covered by the prayers of those dear to us at Immanuel, Buck Run, Riverbend Bible Church and our friends and family here. The doctors were very pleased with how everything went. Hopefully it will be at least 8-10 years before she needs the pacemaker replaced and many, many years before she needs any more open heart, valve repair or replacement surgery.

She is recovering very well. It has been five weeks now. She is still quite sore but is back at school and coping well. Probably one of the hardest things for her now is getting back into school and catching up. This is made even more difficult through the effects of being on a bypass machine. Having this kind of surgery can effect your concentration and ability to think clearly for up to six months. She is finding school quite hard in this regards at the moment but will hopefully recover from this quickly since she has youth on her side.

It was encouraging for us to watch her trust the Lord during this difficult time. She was incredibly brave about everything she went through and we are very proud to be her parents. She is a very strong young lady with a faith in God that reflects in her life. Many nurses commented on how polite and sweet she was even at the worst of times.

This is a picture of her and Matthew just a few minutes before she was wheeled away to surgery.