Grace Needs Pacemaker!❤McKiernan Family NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Story

We are the McKiernan family. Our little Grace is a Heart Warrior, and will be 8 in July. Grace has three siblings Haley 19, Conner 15, and Emelyn 5. At 28 weeks, Grace was diagnosed with D-TGA (her two main arteries, aorta and pulmonary were backwards), requiring medical intervention within minutes to save her life. She had an ASD (a hole between the two upper chambers), and VSD (a hole between the two lower chambers). ALL would require immediate temporary fixes at birth, and open heart surgery just days old to "permanently" correct the issues. At just 4 hours old she had a Balloon Septostomy (Dr’s added a new and strategically placed hole in her heart to allow more oxygenated blood to flow from one chamber to the other). The day before her surgery, 6 days old, she coded (flat-lined) every 45 minutes. After the 3rd time, the medical staff showed us tickling her feet or gently shaking her would get her to take a breath and combat the severe sleep apnea attacks causing her to flat-line. At 1 week old, Grace had the Arterial Switch Operation to correct her D-TGA. Dr’s put her on bypass (removing her heart to switch arteries to correct placement and then putting it back). Upon completion of that surgery, it took the doctor's 4 attempts to get her off of bypass. During one of those attempts she suffered a stroke. We didn't find out about the right-sided hemiplegia (Cerebral Palsy) until she was 2 and learning to walk was difficult. She is partially paralyzed on her right side and always will be. We have followed up with her pediatrician and cardiologist on a regular basis. Pediatricianay say too much... Out of nowhere, Grace has started becoming overly tired, and easily winded. During school, she has had some incontinence issues. She also complained of feeling dizzy and nauseous with blurry vision, unbeknownst to us, and, even knowing her medical history we were not told and she was not sent to nurse! Instead, she was just told that she was fine and needed to sit down!! We were even told; she's just tired or she must have stayed up too late! When we were finally told (by Grace), we made her a pediatrician appt. Her pediatrician didn't find anything wrong with her. Luckily, her annual cardiac checkup was already scheduled for April 15th which was 2 days later. Upon arrival we had 5 minutes to get from Reynolds Tower to Ardmore Tower then up 7 floors to the cardiologist's office. It's normally a 10 minute walk, in other words, we were running During check-in, she should have had an elevated heart rate above 110 (from running), when Grace’s heart rate was checked it was 33! Her blood pressure was 77/55, and her blood oxygen saturation level was 79%. All not good and very close levels to Heart failure territory. Technicians were able to capture this event on the EKG. During the ultrasound, she had another event that was also captured. After the Dr completed examination, the diagnosis given was Sick Sinus Syndrome, AKA Sinus Bradycardia. The Dr sent her home with a temporary heart monitor that Grace had to wear for a week. It produces a report that the Dr’s can use to determine type of pacemaker she needs, and the parameters it will have to be set at. Her doctor also emphasized how important it is for us to have two heart monitor's for Grace, one for nighttime and daytime. Sick Sinus Syndrome is caused by a sinus node injury that controls the electrical changes of the heart, and the only way to manage it, is to have a pacemaker implanted. Dr’s also told us to plan on an inevitable heart transplant. Shock, disbelief, and worry has immediately overwhelmed us..... The next day we met with her school. Grace needs constant access to an AED (defibrillator) wherever she is. That need will prohibit her from riding the bus to/from school when she is able to attend. 3 days after this meeting it was decided that physically going to school is too dangerous, so momma quit her job to stay at home and do what's in Grace's best interest. Recap: we need an AED smart Defibrillator for our home, in addition to the other two heart monitors needed. As well as many other changes (new bed, desk, home schooling supplies, ect.) and a list from cardiologist for other medical necessities. Recovery time for imminent pacemaker surgery is 6 to 8 weeks, amounting to significant wages lost, after momma had to willingly give up her income to teach and care for Grace! The cardiologist is 3 ½ hours away adding gas, food, and lodging expenses as well. We estimate this first surgical event, with expenses and the at-home equipment we need right away to be roughly around $10,000! What this fundraiser will be used for: monitors and defibrillator (alone around $3k), remaining necessary medical supplies on docs list, incurred expenses for 1st surgery, and household bills due to lost income. That amount actually will not cover everything but as long as we have a roof, power, internet (for monitors and entertaining 3 kids), and food of course we can make due. Reality has set in, and not knowing if Grace will make it through the night, or day for that matter, is a kind of breath taking scary we don't wish on anyone.....then you add not knowing how long this will be going on and how long before her heart fails and she needs a transplant...it's suffocating and painful. There's not enough money in the world that can change Grace's cardiac needs, that can calm our minds and soothe our worries, or that can guarantee what happens tomorrow. Until she gets her pacemaker, we are in constant terror! Because the honest truth is, Grace could go to sleep at night or take a nap and not wake up. Without the monitors its possible we wouldn't know until it was too late! This is why this equipment is so important to have and why we are asking for YOUR help! According to cardiologist, the items on the list lower her danger risks by 35%! SO PLEASE PRAY PRAY PRAY! Then Donate whatever you can! PLEASE DONATE DONATE DONATE!! Then share everywhere you can! Thank you and God Bless Everyone. Lord, we pray for everyone who has taken the time to read this far, look at our baby's pictures, shared, donated, or prayed for our family. We ask that whatever their need may be, please fulfill it. Whatever prayers they pray, please answer them. Whatever healing may be needed, please heal them. Lord we come to you humbly and without malice, begging for another miracle for sweet Grace. We cry out for complete healing of her heart Lord! Lord, we know you can move mountains and we know only you can reverse her heart damage and heal it. Lord if not a complete healing, please be with her when we can't. Get her through this surgery with minimal recourse and shorter recovery. Lord we pray to you asking for peace in our minds and hearts, strength to keep putting on our happy faces while we feel like we're dying inside, and guidance to know what needs to be asked. Lord we pray, DONT TAKE OUR BABY GIRL. WE'RE NOT READY TO SAY GOODBYE AND SHE'S TOO YOUNG! In Jesus's name we pray!! Amen.