October, 1984... Shauna was just 4 years old...
I was driving a truck delivering medical gases to Loma Linda Hospital. Driving north into the campus, as I came over the railroad over crossing, there in front of me was the largest collection of media I had ever personally seen in one spot. I was not surprised to see them there, only surprised at their number. Why were they there? They were following the story of "Baby Fae", the baby who received the transplant of the baboon heart. This was the result of ground breaking research by Dr. Leonard Bailey. Research he pursued because, early in his career, he got tired of having parents told, "Your baby isn't going to live."
One year later Dr. Bailey transplanted a human heart into four day old "Baby Moses", who is alive and well...
Twenty-six and a half years later... our granddaughter needs open heart surgery. And who is her surgeon? Yes, the very same Dr. Bailey...
 |
| Dr. Leonard Bailey holding Reagan |
Back when I was right there every day delivering to the hospital, walking the halls in research, talking with these medical pioneers about what they were studying and doing, and following "Baby Fae's" story up close and personal, did it ever occur to me that one of my family would ever be a patient of Dr. Bailey?? Not in my wildest dreams.... but God knew!! And now I am returning there again... in just two weeks. When Reagan gets her heart fixed by the hands of a man whose life-time passion has been to save the lives of babies born with congenital heart defects.
And another story comes full circle...
Papa
Scott you and your family are amazing. God Bless you all during this very hard time. And please know your all in my prayers. Lynn
ReplyDeleteSO excited about your sneak preview (email!) and can't wait to hear how it goes!
ReplyDeletePraying for sweet Reagan, so glad she is in excellent hands! :)
I love the "full circle" post and it is a reminder to me that life goes along as it should.
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that by the way?