Sometimes answers are giraffes

Seeing from here to there is difficult sometimes.

Some seek heart, some seek coincidences, and some hold tightly to giraffes.

Neck in neck is pretty common there.(Giraffe Clinic Mural.O’Dwyer/DearwaterDesigns.com)

Does the Hallmark Channel prowl the web for potential movie plots? If so, one small Italian girl should be expecting a call.

Annamaria Di Tonto of Naples, Italy hasn’t had a typical childhood.

Born with a defective heart valve, she had her first surgery when one month old, and another when she was three. Without those open heart surgeries, blood wouldn’t flow to her lungs properly.

Tricky stuff as the body doesn’t have zippers and a “pause while parts are replaced” switch.

Last June, her doctors determined she was outgrowing her heart valve and needed a replacement. Each time she goes under the knife, it makes the next one more risky. And Annamaria will probably be facing at least two more upgrades before she is an adult.

Her parents desperately searched for alternatives.

Her grandfather, being like any grandfather, sought help in any place no matter how unlikely.

Mauritzio Di Tonto managed to arrange an audience with the Pope.

During the meeting, Pope Francis gave the eight year old girl a rosary he had blessed for protection and bestowed a kiss.

Great emotional story, but didn’t fix the heart valve.

But oddly things began to happen.

Like a child’s train track snapping together, events clicked quickly.

In step with you. (Italian glass floor tile design by O’Dwyer/DearwaterDesigns)

Her grandfather reached out to an old friend who was now a long way from home.

This man, Mario Ferrari, turned out to be currently the CEO of Methodist Research Institute in the Medical Center, Houston, Texas.

Through the magic of Skype, there were conferences with parents.

Then Ferrari contacted Dr. Hule Lin (Specialist treats adult with congenital heart defect) who then talked with Dr. John P. Breinholt (Pediatric cardiology chief, Children’s Memorial Herman Hospital and UT Health Medical School).

More video conferences.

Dr. Breinholt felt Annamaria didn’t need open heart surgery.

He spotted a narrowing of the blood vessels to her lungs that could easily be fixed by minimally invasive surgery.

The Doctor shuffled and cleared a spot on his calendar, in Houston.

Stunned, the family found themselves on a plane within two days. (Medical emergencies have their own visa rules.)

Rushed, Annamaria brought two important possessions: the rosary and a stuffed giraffe she’d had forever.

Her nervous mom, Francesca, felt more settled by the “warmth and support and great humanity” of those who gathered around the family upon arrival.

Then another quick intake of breath in surprise upon arriving at the hospital.

Annamaria was handed a stuffed mascot for the hospital: a giraffe.

While both stuffed giraffes had to wait in her room as doctors worked on Annamaria last Monday, she did carry that rosary for protection.

The surgery went perfectly – and it was kinda like when you remodel a house, while you’re there you might as well fix….

From a catheter threaded through vessels in her leg, Breinholt used balloon angioplasty to open the pulmonary artery, and also fixed a problem with a stent already in place.

Her prognosis is excellent and future valve replacements should be done with a catheter.

She’s already up running around.

If one giraffe is good, then 2 is twice as nice. (Annamaria Di Tonto. J.Nielsen/HouChron)

Hallmark movie material, right?

Oh, wait.

Annamaria left a gift for other children: the rosary.

“I asked them to keep it so that it might also bless and protect the other children who are treated here.”

The rosary is being framed along with a picture of a small girl being kissed by the Pope and will be placed on one of the walls in the cath lab as she asked.

It’s nice to share.

Muddling along.This looks Christmas-y, right? ©

And now leaping over muddles and puddles, time for more sharing and answers from last Friday’s contest.

(Staff: Wait, RC Cat. No Paws of Fury! No Paws of Fury! Here – take the microphone.)

It is a ceremonial duty!

In what Realm would Staff make important announcements?

As RC Cat of the Realm, it gives Us great pleasure to applaud all the clever, the brave, the insanely bored and the astute who ventured a guess in Our contest.

And the envelope, please.

The winner of the “Guess how unbelievably destructive the Molly was and still could be if not sternly lectured by Ourselves many Easy Walk Harnesses the Molly test drove before determining just the right one Who does the creature think she is? Goldilocks took less time!

Carrie Rubin with her guess of 6 harnesses.

We are very concerned that this writer/doctor either has a hidden camera located in the Realm, listening devices, or there’s a snitch. We suspect that Sasha cat next door.

While the Molly has redesigned multiple harnesses from multiple manufacturers, she managed to munch only 6 from the Easy Walk Company. We have run out of claws to count the total number of collars, leashes, and harnesses totally deactivated.

We did pen a letter to Easy Walk suggesting that perhaps the Molly should become part of their design staff, but have yet received a response.

We suspect Staff lost the letter on the way to the mailbox. Or they are afraid the company does not have enough high shelves to protect their inventory from Molly’s assistance.

Once you develop a taste for harness, it’s hard to stop. (Snort. joke, right? Don’t tell the cat) ©

Now for the winner who puzzled out the truth of the mystery picture with the rainbow. Oh, that one gave Us such a giggle.

Martha Schaefer guessed: “…looks like a prism set near the litter box”.

Exactly. Obviously a person of great experience and knowledge of the world.

We must admit We were not initially pleased when the Realm relocated. 

But Staff had assured Us that these new accommodations would please even without the Upstairs and Downstairs.

And there was a level of elegance to Our personal quarters previously not offered.

A sunny wall of glass bricks splashes diamonds and rainbows across the walls – even through a narrow door-hinge gap by Our personal facilities (To box it in polite terms.) 

Somewhere over the rainbow…Molly, get out of there! Not food. Not food.©

Yes, Yes. Upon seeing that rainbow, We gave Our Paw of Approval.

Recognition that RCs are special – even the Universe knows.

And that even the most ordinary objects can be elevated with a little effort to fine art.

What? Stop that mouthing. Now what is the problem?

Gold at the end of the rainbow?

Of course the chemical-free, biodegradable, soft to the paws wheat is worth it’s weight in gold, Dunderhead.

Oh. We were just making a little joke! Of course We understood.

A glimpse into Our Inner Realm ©

Yes. Yes. Prizes shall be sent to the winners.

Staff shall send that delightful author Susan Toy necessary information.

And a cheery thanks to all that participated.

Such a delightful group, Our Readers…who always remember their manners.

But We are tiring.

Permission to withdraw, granted.

Our paw has waved.

Do not forget to leave the tribute of an open can of food in the doorway.

That is all. Waving!

Adieu.

 

 

 

 

I am RC Cat and I approve this message.

New to RC Cat and the Realm?

Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with Staff. Brave enough to venture read one of RC’s other posts? “Dereliction of duty. Usurper”

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