The Six Pack

Dear Dr. Bove, Two years ago God sent a little miracle into our family. And two years ago you gave our little Zachary a second chance at life. On Christmas Day, 2008 we finally brought our baby home, and our understanding of the true meaning of the season was forever changed. Today Zachary is a happy, rambunctious, and healthy two year-old little boy. He has no trouble keeping up with, and in fact often runs circles around, his four older brothers. There is no evidence of all he has endured but the faint scar and battle wounds that mark his sweet little chest. This past June Zachary made what we hope will be his final visit to the U of M. This time, his stay was short but the memories of our time in Ann Arbor will forever linger in our hearts. We cannot express our gratitude to you and your staff, the doctors, nurses, caregivers, and supporters at Mott for all you have done to mend our son’s special heart and to make our family whole. We want you to know that ...

Dear Family and Friends, We hope our greeting finds you healthy and happy, eagerly anticipating the joy and magic of this most holy season. This year we decided to save a little time and money on our holiday letter and go electronic! Thanks for visiting our website, and feel free to check in on us throughout the year for more family adventures. Our little Zachary had a more "normal" year in 2010 with far fewer hospital days than the previous year. Around Easter he finally started walking, and has been unstoppable ever since! In June we once again traveled to Ann Arbor where Zachy underwent the final planned surgery for his unique little heart. He amazed us with an uneventful and quick recovery, and we found ourselves heading home just six days after the procedure. Our miracle boy continues to amaze us with his strength, his wit, and his adorable personality. He recently celebrated his second birthday, and we look forward to watching him grow and enjoy a "normal...

Tomorrow our miracle baby is turning TWO YEARS OLD!  That's right... our sweet little Zachary is growing into a healthy, handsome little boy. Zachary gets around like any other two year-old these days. He keeps up with his older brothers, and in fact he's often one step ahead of them! And lately he is very good at communicating, as his vocabulary is finally taking off. He still doesn't put two words together often, but you would be surprised at the things he says nonetheless. "Tractor," of course, was one of his first words. But these days he'll point out "popper!" when he sees his favorite John Deere old two-cylinder "Johnny Popper." Like most two year-olds, his favorite word seems to be "no," but it's often said less in defiance and more as a matter-of-fact response. For the first time in eleven years, we took down our baby crib. Zachary now sleeps in his toddler bed, or at least starts out there during the night. He...