A Don McCormack column: AFFAIR OF THE HEART

DON McCORMACK
Star Beacon

October 12, 2008 02:19 am

— You’re Jim Timonere, a bear of a man who those who know him will tell you the size of his heart surpasses that of his frame.
You were a participant and are now a coach in the most physical sport of all, football.
Your wife Janice has just given birth to your second child, a gorgeous baby girl, but something’s not right.
Her skin has a pinkish tint.
Her tiny feet and hands are balled up like she’s experiencing cramps.
You look at her and your heart begins to break as a soul-turning ache roars like a monster in your gut.
In a private moment, your breath is taken away.
You hit your knees.
You pray.

A difficult start
Jenna Ashley Timonere was born on a Monday morning, Sept. 8, just before 8 at Lake East Hospital in Madison.
She was 7 pounds, 5 ounces and 19 inches long.
Jenna was born under “code pink,” which is ironic because her older brother, 3-year-old Jimmy, had an idea.
“He always said if we had a ‘girl baby,’ her name would be ‘Pink,’” Jim said.
Timonere said the doctors and nurses at Lake East were on top of their games.
“They noticed right away the swelling in Jenna’s hands and her feet and in some other places,” he said. “Some of the symptoms they saw suggested Turner’s Syndrome.”
Turner’s Syndrome affects approximately 1 in every 2,500 baby girls.
“Our doctors were absolutely fabulous,” Timonere said. “They ordered an echocardiogram because one of the issues with Turner’s is heart conditions.”

A crucial decision
Turns out, ordering the echocardiogram saved young Jenna’s life.
“The really terrifying thing is, we could have taken Jenna home and never knew the condition existed,” Timonere said.
Which leads to tragic circumstances, ones that lead to 90 to 95 percent of the infants afflicted with Turner’s to not even come to term.
Couple that with the fact Jim and Janice had experienced two prior miscarriages and...
“It gives me goose bumps even thinking about it... what could have happened,” Timonere said. “Thank God for our doctors and nurses.”

On the move
The results of the echocardiogram were sent “all over the place,” according to Timonere.
And the conclusion reached was devastating.
“Jenna needed heart surgery,” Timonere said.
She was born with a narrow aortic arch.
Within seven hours of her birth, Jenna was being Life Flighted to the Cleveland Clinic.
“They told us though the surgery takes four to six hours, the actual repair takes only about 30 minutes,” Timonere said.
He said because of all the tests, Jenna was allowed to be fed only once in her first three days.
“Janice and I were able to hold her for just a little bit right after she was born and just before the testing started later that day,” Timonere said. “It was so, so hard not to be able to pick her up, put her in our arms and make it all better.”

Moment of truth
“Talk about being on pins and needles,” Jim said. “As we watched her being wheeled through those steel doors, my heart dropped.
“I remember having asked my mom, should we have had her baptized before this?”
The good news... the best news is, Jenna came through the surgery with flying colors as the doctors were able to make the repairs to Jenna’s tiny heart.
And, almost unbelievably, on Sunday, Sept. 14, she was welcomed into her Ashtabula home just before 6 p.m.
That’s six days after being born... and four days after undergoing heart surgery.
“I don’t have the words to describe the miracles of modern medicine, and I’m not one who is often at a loss for words!” Jim said with a laugh. “What these doctors and nurses do — and do on an every-day basis — is miraculous.
“Honestly, it’s a miracle when you think about it — four days after having surgery on her tiny little heart, we’re holding Jenna in our arms at home.
“It’s kind of staggering, when you think about it in those terms.”

Ultimate teamwork
Jim and Janice have been overwhelmed by the support from family, friends and the entire community.
“We’re having tough times in this area, no doubt about it,” Jim, the president and CEO of the Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce, said. “But in times like this, it’s when a community shows its heart, and we truly have been blessed.”
Jim has been keeping a blog — www.jennatimo.blogspot.com — and through Sunday morning, it had 4,323 hits.
“All of the thoughts, prayers and well-wishes... I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to us and how important it’s been,” Jim said. “I’m being kidded all the time to update the site more often.”
Jim didn’t have to look far for guidance in terms of dealing with real-life issues and football. Heralds assistant coach John Buskirk’s courageous battle against leukemia has inspired the area the last several years.
“John and the entire staff have been incredible,” he said. “I knew I didn’t have to worry about anything in regards to football. John and the guys were handling everything.”
For what it’s worth, since Jenna was born, Timonere’s Heralds — who started the 2008 season with four straight losses — have won two of four games, including Friday night’s 26-14 victory against visiting Ledgemont. It marked SJP’s first home win in almost three calendar years.
“Maybe our little Herald is a good-luck charm,” Timonere said with a laugh. “She’s definitely a fighter, and she’s going to have the horns, just like her brother.
“She’s a true Herald.”

Moving forward
Monday marked a big step for Baby Jenna. A genetics appointment set the course for the immediate future.
“We have been told to basically take the next six months to a year and enjoy our new life with our two children.” Timonere said. “Yes, there are some things we need to be more aware of.
“We could start hormone therapy as early as 9 months and then estrogen therapy when Jenna is 12. There are so many things that can happen, but we will continue to be educated on her condition.”
Timonere said life is returning to a sense of normalcy — at least as much as a home with a newborn baby can — and Janice will return to work as a social-studies teacher at Lakeside after the Thanksgiving break.
“Jimmy loves being a big brother and he’s already so protective of Jenna,” he said. “Watching him hold her for the first time... my heart just warmed.”

Appreciation
Timonere is still amazed at the people and facilities that, one month and four days after being brought into this world under some of the most difficult circumstances possible, have allowed Jenna Ashley Timonere to be a wiggling, crying ball of energy.
“The Clinic is absolutely amazing,” he said. “We are so lucky to have that facility so close, and to have an affiliate in ACMC in our neighborhood.
“There is no doubt, the wonderful doctors and nurses who were with us saved my daughter’s life.
“Because of them, we can enjoy our precious little gift.”

McCormack is the sports editor of the Star Beacon. Reach him at donmac@suite224.net.

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