We knew this day would come, but now that a date has been set it's become very real, very fast. September 29th, 2020. This is the day that our sweet baby boy will undergo open heart surgery. This will occur just a month after his 1st birthday. One year old. He will have open heart surgery at a year old. The idea is incredibly hard to grasp, and we are terrified to say the least. There is no amount of time that can truly prepare you for the reality that your child (at any age) has to endure a procedure of this magnitude.  

      When Cael was born, he spent his first 30 days of life in the NICU. During this time, the doctors discovered that he had a specific set of congenital heart defects linked to a very rare genetic disorder. His cardiologist later confirmed that he would require open heart surgery (possibly more than one) to repair these defects within a year or so of his birth. The time for Cael's surgery is fast approaching. It will be a delicate and difficult surgery given his age and condition. For this reason, we have placed our trust in the pediatric surgical specialists at a Children's Hospital in California. They have a cardiac reconstructive program specific to Cael's heart defects, so we are confident that our son will be in expert hands. 

      We will be “living” in California for 4-5 weeks, assuming Cael tolerates and recovers well from his surgery. Planning a long-term trip across the country has been very overwhelming for our tiny family. The financial burden alone seems quite impossible. Trying to travel during a global pandemic has just added another level of anxiety to the whole process. However, we are committed to making this happen for our son. 

     Normally, we are pretty private when it comes to our personal life. We're not accustomed to sharing our trials and tribulations with the world. In fact, it's taken us weeks of prayer to feel comfortable enough to share this news about our son. Cael's presence in our life has truly humbled our way of thinking. We've realized that it is okay to share your burdens with loved ones. It's also perfectly acceptable to ask for help sometimes. We would have never been able to get through this past year if it wasn't for the love, kindness, and generosity of our friends and family. Cael's surgery is the next major hurdle for us. This one is especially tough, so we are asking for your continued prayers and support. This would mean the world to us.

    Thank you. We love you. Always be Kind.

                         The Burke Family ❤️