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Thanksgiving Stories Of Joy

photo by Rachel Holmquist Little Gannon Holmquist is full of joy and love and is starting his Thanksgiving season without a chest tube for the first time. There is a great deal of joy, thankfulness with Gannon home and on the mend.

Monday November 24, 2014

By Cookie Steponaitis

The youngest members of the assembled generations gathered around the Thanksgiving table often garnish the most attention. Comments like ‘Isn’t that just precious’ or ‘can you believe all he has learned to do since we saw him last,’ are mixed in with praise for the meal, congratulations about jobs, college plans and other family sharing. And for some families, the simple presence of a child at the Thanksgiving table is one of pure joy especially when there once was a shadow over that possibility.
    Gannon Paxton Holmquist was born on March 19, 2014 with Hydro Plastic Left Heart Syndrome. His mother and father were told Gannon would develop much slower than other children and that he would have to undergo many high risk surgeries. At 7 lbs. 5 ounces at birth, Gannon not only topped the scales for size for HLHS children but has spent over one-half of his eight months of life in the hospital. “Gannon was born at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts,” shared Gannon’s mom Rachel Holmquist. “Shortly after birth he was moved across the bridge between the two hospitals to Boston Children’s Hospital. His first five days had ups and downs and his first open heart surgery was on March 24th. The second open heart surgery was done on September 4th.”
    While mom Rachel and Gannon have been together every day, dad has only been able to be there for three weeks and the family treasures their time together. While Gannon has other surgeries ahead, he is currently on the mend and attaining milestones including sitting up on his own, rolling over, pushing up on his hands and working on the beloved word ‘momma.’ The Holmquist family sends both encouragement and thanks and wants those struggling with their children’s health and spending days, weeks and holidays in the hospital to take heart and keep strong in faith, love and family. “There’s always a bright future ahead,” concluded Rachel Holmquist. “We are so thankful and blessed that God has chosen us to be Gannon’s parents. We were told that Gannon only had a 50/50 chance of making it through the first surgery. Sadly most children with HLHS are either lost during surgery number one or between the first and second stage at home. Some people never get to meet their hero, and I gave birth to mine!”
    Little Gannon came home for the first time on May 4th and the couple was warned that he would likely have to go back to the hospital because of the complications he had. Not only did little Gannon get to stay home, but he blossomed and it has been a blessing to his family to see him so happy and continuing to gain ground. While Gannon is at present not quite old enough to add his own personal comment, the smile on his face and joy he seems to exude seems to tell his story for all to see.

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