Leuven Love

It’s the best time of year; it’s the worst time of year.

Isaac and I headed to the hospital in Leuven for his final annual cardiology appointment in Belgium. Isaac is growing so ridiculously fast—he gained four shoe sizes in the past 12 months—and it’s during these growth spurts that they’re most concerned the scar tissue from his previous repair on his aorta could fail to grow at the same pace as the rest of him, potentially causing another pinch.

No worries, the doctor said: “He is functionally perfect.” As usual, everyone always compliments his repair and says it’s the smoothest one they’ve ever seen. I asked about the thickening near the valve that doctors here in Belgium and previously in Hawaii have made notes on and recommended follow-ups for. Everything thankfully looks really good. In fact, once Isaac is done growing, he can maybe space out the time between visits. “Of course, as cardiologists, we will never tell you not to see a cardiologist,” the doctor said, shrugging, “but it can be less often after age 19 or so.”

Isaac was first diagnosed 10 years ago this fall. If you’d told me then that in a decade, there would be weeks at a time (or at least days) where I didn’t think about my one-year-old’s heart surgery, I’m not sure I would have believed you.

Side story: When we moved from Japan back to Pensacola, we went back to the same church. We saw a friendly, kind man who was the first person to introduce himself to us the first time we attended back during flight school. He came over and said hello, recognized us, and said, “Well let’s get you caught up with what’s happened since you left…. so-and-so retired, the such-and-such family moved away after living here forever, and lots of flight students have passed through… Do you remember them and them? They’re still here, right over there! Let’s see… the pastor is the same, many of the members are the same, there hasn’t been any big drama since you’ve been gone, my wife’s cancer is still in remission….” This is pretty much the best news to “come home” to, and I found it absolutely delightful. A lot had happened, but not much had changed.

That’s how Isaac’s appointment felt too—A lot has happened, but in the very best way, nothing has changed.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up all their wounds.” —Psalm 147:3

Afterwards, Isaac wanted to celebrate with McDonald’s in Leuven. “Something good for my heart, then something bad for my heart!” He held up his Big Mac and laughed. We ate fries on the steps of the town hall building and listened to the cathedral bells. Then I took him back to class, because nothing has changed!