2-1-2006

First, let me apologize for not getting this out sooner! I have not sent an update on Aliyah's condition since, I'm not sure when! I do know that she has visited the hospital since my last note to you. I will copy here an e-mail that Owen sent out to his contact list. If you have heard all of this there is no new news to tell, but she is scheduled to go back into the hospital during spring break and get another check-up to see if her heart has improved more. At this time the anticipated date for removal of the VAD is sometime this summer. We cherish your prayers for this ongoing situation and many still pray for total healing for her. Thanks for everything you do for our family! Please know that we appreciate everyhting anyone has done for us during this challenging time in our lives.

Love,

Dana

Hi,

Aliyah is doing somewhat better. Sorry you've had to wait so long for information. The last few months have been crazy. Noah and Aliyah are both freshmen at Purdue and Dana or I have to be with Aliyah everywhere with her backup VAD driver. We are finally getting things balanced out a bit. Aliyah is doing well in her computer graphics program and has made several friends. She also continues to work two or sometimes three days a week at the Carpenter's Son bookstore. She is also taking her quitar lessons, but doesn't have as much time to practice as she'd like.

Anyway, in June her cardiac stress test had a score of 22, she recently went back into the hospital for tests over October break and her score had increased to 27. The doctor's were all very pleased and pleasantly surprised at the large increase. I am not even sure what the number means, but Dr. Wozniak (The Woz) even joked that he probably wouldn't have done as well. Also in June her ejection fraction was at 20% each time the heart pumped and now it is in the 30 to 35% range. The doctor's were also happy and surprised by that level of improvement.

Right now it appears that Aliyah will likely go in for more tests sometime around January before they make any final decisions, but the game plan is now to wean her off the VAD and then remove it. Certainly better than the heart transplant that seemed all but certain last April when she first left the hospital. It will mean another open heart surgery to remove the VAD, but keeping her own heart is a welcome thought.

We are very grateful for the all the remarkable doctros and nurses at St. Vincent's who helped her so much. We are thankful for all your thoughts, prayers, and support, without which I am not sure how we would have made it through. Most of all I am grateful for grace from above that comforts our hearts and loves Aliyah dearly.