It is a curious experience sitting in a doctor's office and being thankful about something that sounds so horrifying as a hole in your baby's heart. Yet, I couldn't help but think his mother and I have every reason in the world to be grateful. Our baby boy has a ventricular septum defect. That part we knew from when he was brand newborn, understanding from the pediatricians then that the hole most often closes on its own. And in the six months since that initial diagnosis, he's been healthy and happy. It's clear just by looking at the kid he hasn't missed many meals.

Still, it was scary when the doc and EKG tech told us that, yes, the hole was still there. Chances are still good that it will close on its own in the next few years, but even if it doesn't, he'll still be completely healthy, with no effect to his quality of life or life expectancy. How blessed he is that the hole is tiny - the tech said it's closer to 1mm than 2, that it's situated on the septum in a place that doesn't cause any complications, and that what little blood passes through it travels only left-to-right. I mean, if you've got to have an extra hole in your heart, that's not a bad one to have!

About the worst news we got from the EKG Tech was that if the VSD never fully closed, he wouldn't be able to scuba dive as an adult, and I'll be honest, that one hurt a bit. That's something I've looked forward to doing with our children, once they're old enough, ever since they were born. And then the doc even reversed THAT bad news, letting us know that because of its small size and location, there would be no added risk to him diving either.

It occurred to us that the chances of a serious medical problem at some point throughout their lives is actually a much lower with the VSD our baby has than the peanut allergy his older brother has. Shoot, we had a near-miss with peanuts just last freaking night.

When I think of the severe medical trials that many people face, it makes me so thankful that our children have been blessed with overall great health, and leaves me in so much more awe of the children and their parents whose radiance shines even through tremendous challenges. Thank the Lord for such a silly little thing as a hole in the heart.