Finding Normalcy

Grace continued to grow and thrive. She became a preschooler, and our family made the move to Newport, Rhode Island in the summer of 2003. We were lucky enough to be seen by Dr. Frank Cecchin again, who had moved to Boston Children’s Hospital. Overall everything looked good. Grace participated in weekly swim lessons and ballet. As parents, Bill and I began to relax with the understanding that Grace was living a good and normal life.

The challenge I found was mentioning “pacemaker” on any school, child care, or sports form. Organizations get nervous, and understandably are concerned about care and/or liability. Over time, I found it is best to always get and have on hand a letter from the cardiologist giving Grace a green light to participate in activities. As she has grown, the concerns have lessened.

In the summer of 2004 we journeyed back across the country to Fort Lewis, WA. We were grateful to have Dr. Puntel again at Madigan Army Medical Center as Grace's Cardiologist. He followed us for our next three years in Washington. We were also seen again for pacemaker checks at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Grace participated in cheerleading and gymnastics. She did well in school, both socially and academically. Her father deployed to Iraq and returned safely.