Mason Gregory Garka

I think it is official... Summer has ended. This week we have seen our first (of many to come) wind storms and the temperatures have surely dropped. I guess I should also add that we have also seen what else a lot of rain!!!! This weekend as a family we closed out summer with a bang. We spent a long weekend in Disneyland! Of course as I got home I was anxious to download all of the GREAT photos and when I did that I came across some other fun photos so I wanted to share some of our summer fun activities... Of course we should start with our DISNEYLAND ADVENTURE... And yes I wore the ears - Anything to for my son! Auntie showing off her popcorn catching skills... WE MISS BEN AND DREW! Mason talks about them often. This is a picture of their last day with us. SUN LAKES WITH THE FAMILY! A FUN DAY AT THE BEACH We surely enjoyed the sun and hope you did while it lasted... Onto a new seaon...

We have a lot to share as a family. News story #1: We have a date set for Mason's Fontan Surgery.... Tuesday, NOVEMBER 8th is the big day. Of course this news comes with some bitter sweet feelings but we are trying to stay focused on the sweet. This is the last major chapter in this story. We owe Mason's life to everyone at children's hospitial. Especially the Surgeons. So I thought today it would be appropriate if we finally introduced you to our hero's: Dr. McMullan: He is the main surgeon who has completed Mason's Norwood, Glenn and will also complete his Fontan surgery. Since the surgeries are major and complicated there is always two surgeons present in the operating room. The second Surgeon who will be with Mason is Dr. Permut: We would also like to introduce you to Dr. Cohen. He is the head of Cadiac Surgery for Seattle's Hospital. These are the men who take care of Mason in the operating room along with other doctors and nurses. We a...

It was time to start collecting all of the information needed to schedule and prepare for Mason’s Fontan Surgery. So last Friday – Mason went in for his Cardiac Catheterization. (Defined below) Cardiac Catheterization (Heart Cath) is the insertation of a catheter into a chamber or Vessel of the heart. This is done for both investigational and intervention purposes. Subsets of this technique are mainly coronary catheterization, involving the catheterization of coronary arteries, and catheterization of cardiac cambers and valves. (Did you get all of that?!?!?) When we arrived at Seattle Children’s Hospital– Greg was busy checking us in and I sat with Mason in the Surgery Center waiting area. Mason and I talked, I kissed him, I played with him… I pulled out all the stops so that he would not remember that he hadn’t eaten in 12 hours and that he was at his least favorite place – Children’s Hospital. During some point of my “operation distract Mason” I noticed you staring at us from acr...

The big question of the day should I be wordy or wordless on Wednesday? If I go WORDY a post might have quotes such as: - When you are through changing you are through - It takes both rain and shuneshine to make a rainbow - If a care is too small to be turned into a prayeer, it is too small to be made into a burden - We make our plans, but the Lord determines out steps. Proverbs 16:19 - The world at its worst needs a church at its best - The essence of generosity is self-sacrifice - Philanthrophy, like chartity must begin at home - A reject opportunity to give is a lost opportunity to recieve If I go WORDLESS I could share my life through photos... Message me, facebook me, call me, leave a comment or talk to me in person either way let me know your thoughts...

Well... I think we made one of our son's dreams come true! We spent the night outside, camping in a tent! To make it more FUN - It rained all night! You could imagine how exciting this made our little adventure. Nothing has given us more joy in our life than watching Mason live life fully!

I am calling this post five in one since I have a few topics to discuss. I will start backwards and work towards today. (This is going to be a long one) ONE: MASON GRADUATES! For the past three years Mason has been in the birth to three therapy programs. Every week he has seen a physical therapist to help with his fine motor skills and a speech therapist to obviously help with his speech. Kids in this program age out when they turn three and in most cases they move onto another therapy program… Mason has done so well that he has graduated! That means no more therapy! This is sweet mixed in with some bitter. Mason has two women in his life that he has seen consistently that will no longer be coming over to “play”. Mason will miss his time with them both! I remember the first day I meet each of his therapists. Hutch; his physical therapist met us about two weeks after we came home from the hospital (the first time). During the first meeting we discussed how after he turned t...

This family inspires me. They remind me to be THANKFUL for everyday we are given, because it is a blessing not to be taken for granted. This is an AMAZING tribute to an incredible boy!