I have always wanted to be a godmother and I’ve always loved kids. For some this may come as a surprise, because of my patience to wait a couple of years before having children of my own. The brutal reality is that having a child can dramatically change your lifestyle and bank balance. Can I hear the parents say, “Amen”?
They are not something that you can pick up and put down for a couple months, like a fresh new Hermes handbag. Children need time, love and dedication, things we all know to be true. That is why when I got asked to be the godparent to some of the kids I hold dear, it was a no brainer for me. However, I also realised that my involvement in their lives wouldn’t just be wittled down to just birthday and gifts. They would sometimes need an extra sounding board and even a firm talking to if they were getting out of line.
With all that being said on the 31st March 2014 at 10:34am Nailani Hornback was born.
My God-daughter.
Diagnosed at the 20 week scan as having Ebstein’s Anomaly. A very rare heart condition, that accounts for only 1% of congenital heart defects but its impact is significant, especially to those directly affected. Nai, as we like to call her, had a BT shunt procedure / operation at 8 days old at St. Thomas hospital after being on a ventilator and 10 different intravenous infusions to keep her alive since birth. Without that operation she wouldn’t have been here today. The ‘shunt’ allowed blood to flow to the correct parts of the body so those parts, organs could function properly. She remained in hospital a further 3 and a half weeks and was then discharged home for the first time where she did nothing but thrive and growth healthy and strong!
In August 2015, at only year and a half, she under went the first stage of a three part surgery called a Fontan. Nai now functions on basically uni ventricular heart (half a heart) system as they have bypassed the right side of her heart through this procedure. She now has 6 monthly check ups and takes daily aspirin orally (dissolve tablet) to thin her blood and make sure she doesn’t get blood-clots.
At nearly three years old she has been through so much and is an absolute fighter! She is a daily reminder to me of God’s grace and blessing. We as adults sometimes take life for granted, but she has had to fight so much, but you wouldn’t know it by her cheeky smile and shy nature.
For the month of March, I’m taking up the #DeChox challenge for the British Heart Foundation. This will involve me abstaining from ALL chocolate products, so that means no chocolate fudge cake, no chocolate fingers or even a hot chocolate.
Please support my efforts to fundraise by donating here
I’m trying to raise £350 for this amazing charity, in order for other young children like Nailani to also have the amazing start to life that this precious girl has.
I’ll be updating my journey on all of my social media channels via #DeeDeChox and you can follow me via
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cmypassion
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsherpassion
JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/denisepowell
Snapchat: cmypassion