The Pratt's Guide to Heart Warrior Parenting

Doctors are not infallible and they’ll be the first people to acknowledge that fact, but so many of us treat them like they have it all figured out and it is often at the expense of our health that we do so. Since my son was born with an incredibly rare Congenital Heart Defect, I’ve been on the frontline of this reality with a host of specialists who are all busy and difficult to schedule or get in touch with. The simple fact of the matter is, as Americans, our healthcare system exerts a certain amount of force, often compelling parents and children to wait excessively long periods of time before they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Here’s a recent example: I needed to get Liam in to see a particular specialist and we get the referral almost same day, but two weeks after the referral, we have received no call to schedule the appointment. So, I call and learn they are back logged 6 months and the nurse clinician who determines which kid sees which specialist is on PTO until nex...

After a really great anatomy scan last week for our third child, the universe felt the need to throw us a confirmed curveball. I say confirmed because we have been watching some blood panel levels since I started experiencing itching in the palms of my hands and feet at around 12 weeks. Now 7 weeks later, my slightly elevated levels have doubled even on a medication that is supposed to help. The docs call it “intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy” (ICP) and it’s not supposed to present until the 3rd trimester, yet here it is, putting our family back into an uncertain season of anxiety and worry.  One of the biggest risks to this pregnancy-induced liver condition is stillbirth, so after initially being surprised by the news of a third child in our future, we are now faced with the possibility of never meeting her. Logan and I find ourselves in this protracted season of being continually reminded this world is indiscriminately cruel. It sometimes feels like we’re playing against an ...