Niawen:kowa

Niawen:kowa,

On February 19, 2013, our son, Christian, underwent open heart surgery at the Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, VA.  Christian has a heart condition called cardiomyopathy.  A result of the cardiomyopathy is an enlarged heart with an irregular heartbeat.  The damage caused by this condition resulted in Christian getting an artificial heart pump, which now pumps the blood in his heart to his other organs.  Christian has been placed on the heart transplant list and is now waiting for a new heart.  This wait may be for three years.  The artificial pump will be a bridge to the time he gets a new heart.

We thank the generosity of the community of Akwesasne, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, our co-workers, friends, and most importantly, our families for the support we have been given.  Thank you to all those who participated in the fund-raiser held, it is extremely appreciated.  Thank you to Sherry, Edith, Ryan and Shelby for being the masterminds behind this and for all those who donated food and helped out.  Thank you to the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department for providing the venue for this fundraiser.

Thank you to Babette Herne who has been very helpful to us while we are in Virginia.  Thank you to Emily, Kim, Murray, Scott and Doreen for being with us during the surgery.  Your support through this tense and scary time for us will never be forgotten.  Thank you to Aaron, Ryan, Edith, Sherry, Lori Thompson, Terry Cree, Patti Herne and Brent Herne for coming to see Christian, it truly lifted his spirits.

The prayers and support given to us is truly remarkable and we cannot thank you enough.  Christian is now recovering at his home in Virginia and is doing well.  We will be with him another month to make sure he is really on the road to recovery before we go home.

Niawen:kowa from Craig & Vicky Jock.