This year, Melony wanted to be Wednesday Addams, and her mother imagined the moment she would finally dress her up, seeing her daughter’s small hands slip into the iconic outfit and the smile that could light up the darkest hospital room.

The past two weeks had been filled with highs and lows, brief moments of relief followed by despair.

Her mother sometimes had to shut down emotionally just to process everything, feeling emotions too heavy for words, and praying silently for the tiny life she cherished more than her own.

Monday brought a small miracle: the breathing tube was removed, and for the first time in seven days, they heard her daughter’s voice again.

A larger VAD machine had been placed to manage higher pressures in her heart, and slowly, the X-rays began to show improvement, evidence that progress, though small, was being made.

Melony no longer needed intubation, but she still relied on CPAP throughout the day to help her breathe.

She could not eat solid foods or drink liquids due to the CPAP, but her feeding tube ensured she received adequate nutrition, and even in her sadness, she prepared for the moment she could eat again, filling virtual carts as if ready for the day the doctors allowed her to enjoy meals.

Her birthday was approaching, and even in the confines of the hospital, excitement sparkled in her eyes.

Cakes and surprises were on the way, symbols of joy amidst a long and grueling journey.

Her mother could not wait to see her smile, the kind of smile that had always been a source of strength and hope.

Doctors promised that Melony would be able to eat cake on her birthday, a small but meaningful victory in a life filled with challenges.

Each day brought updates from the medical team, and with each step, there was both relief and renewed anxiety.

Her mother kept her fingers crossed, praying that the X-rays continued to improve, that the fluid in her lungs would clear, and that Melony could be relisted on the heart transplant list.

Every procedure, every monitoring, and every beep of the machines reminded her mother of the fragility of life, but also of the immense courage her daughter displayed every day.

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