A year old, miracle baby Karlee thrives
Lou Marzeles
News Editor
Though she can only say one word presently ("Dada"), one-year-old Karlee Jenkins has a message for everyone with a human heart:
It's an amazing thing to be alive.
She should know. Born Oct. 20 last year, she spent the first month of her life in intensive care at Seattle Children's Hospital. The technical term for her condition was Non-Compaction Left Ventricle, meaning her heart was virtually a sponge. Her only hope for survival was a heart transplant. She got one on Feb. 12, this year. Since then, her progress has been nothing short of extraordinary, to the delight of her family and friends, who include many here in the Goldendale area.
"I so appreciate all of Goldendale and my family for supporting us so much," says Karlee's mother, Devon. "This has been the hardest, yet most rewarding, thing we have ever had to experience, and without everyone's support I can't be sure we would have made it through this past year." Devon particularly cites her mother, Deena Amidon. "My mother Deena has absolutely been our savior," Devon says. "She continues to come to our house each week to care for Karlee because I need to continue working for now. She and Karlee have an amazing bond, and I really have no idea where we would be without her."
Karlee's dramatic life, and her support from admirers around the country, have given rise to a web site devoted to her story (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/karleeannjenkins). On the Guestbook page of the site is a long string of messages sent to Karlee for her recent first birthday.
"Karlee is now a very independent one-year-old," Devon says of her remarkable daughter. "She is staying strong and learning so much so fast. She is now crawling all over the place and jabbering 'Dada' all day long. She hasn't said 'Mom' yet, but I have learned to be patient and know it will come when I least expect it."
Devon and her husband Ryan continue to bring Karlee to Seattle Children's Hospital once a month, and she reports that doctors continue to be amazed at Karlee's progress. She is now up to 22 and a half pounds and 33 inches long. "I'm hoping to have a volleyball player on my hands," Devon says.
At one time Karlee was on 34 different medications. Many were to prevent her own immune system from rejecting her new heart. Infections that would be fairly routine in most children still potentially could pose a deadly risk to Karlee. "Her immune system is quite suppressed because we want her body to accept her new heart," Devon says. "This is common with all transplant patients. The downfall is germs. Our goal is to keep her healthy, which means keeping her away from access to germs. This has caused a lot of stress on us-but for Karlee, it's life or death." The process of taking care of a child so easily susceptible to commonplace illnesses has exacted some difficult courses of action for the Jenkins. "We have neglected our friendships and family," Devon says, "but we have faith they understand and know we still love them all."
Today Karlee takes only five medications, no longer requiring the other 29. These five are ones she will likely be on long-term.
Just getting food into Karlee was a problem for some time. "We're still working on the whole eating issue," Devon says. "She is eating more and more by mouth, but she still has to be tube-fed a few meals a day."
All in all, her present condition marks astonishing progress for a one-year-old heart transplant recipient. Devon keeps it all in appropriate perspective. "Karlee has a smile that lights up the whole room and a sense of humor that lets us know she really does belong in this family," she says. "She keeps us amazed every single day. At times Ryan and I look at each other, wondering how we got to be so blessed to have her in our lives. She has taught us and so many other people that life is so precious and we need to stop and soak up every day rather than rush as fast as we can."
Devon pauses to again express her appreciation for friends and family in Goldendale. "I can't tell you how much it means to my whole family that we have had the support of the Goldendale community throughout this unbelievable journey," she says. "I am so proud of my angel, and I want to share her life with everyone. I think Karlee has a long road ahead of her, but one thing is certain: she will have so many people beside her helping her along the way."
Pretenders Theatre presents madcap comedy
The Pretenders Theatre Company will present their fall production, Happy Anniversary Angel! Love Gino, on the Fridays and Saturdays of Nov. 6, 7, 13, and l4, at 7 p.m., at the Columbia Grange Hall in Lyle. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Join the dysfunctional Paolucci family and share in their madcap adventures at Angel and Gino's fifth wedding anniversary party.
Guests will enjoy a lasagna dinner, catered by Beneventi's from Bingen. Pull out those party dresses and put on your dancing shoes for a wild and wacky evening at this audience participation play.
Tickets are $25 and on sale at Klindt's Booksellers in The Dalles, the Lyle Country Café, and Beneventi's in Bingen. Seats are limited to 60 a night. Marshal's Winery will a host a wine bar.
The play is presented by permission of the Samuel French Company, Hollywood, Calif. It is directed by Gail Farris.
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