Elizabeth Gwen Lopez is a 4-year-old fighter. She has a rare chromosome disorder, a heart condition, tethered spinal cord, and hypoglycemia. Elizabeth is non-verbal but trust me that does not stop her from trying to communicate in her own way! She also doesn’t walk on her own but that also does not slow her down. She loves to keep her momma and daddy on their toes that’s for sure. Elizabeth has two older sisters named Makenzie and Harlie and they just love her. They help out so much and I am so thankful to be blessed with my amazing girls.
Elizabeth’s chromosome disorder, chromosome 3q duplication disorder, is so rare that there aren’t really any medical studies on it. We were told that she could be in the medical books because they had never seen someone who has this plus hypoglycemia with it. Elizabeth was born with pulmonary stenosis and Tetralogy of Fallot. She had surgery to repair her heart when she was 6 months old, and still has the pulmonary stenosis. But the awesome thing about her heart is that it’s on the opposite side of her chest. Elizabeth’s heart is flipped, and her arteries are also on the opposite side, and I find that so fascinating!!!
Elizabeth loves to be outside and loves to be in the water. She’s my water baby; we call her Squirtle! She also has a very high sensory issues so she likes to swing or spin. She likes to do what we call “ultimate warrior” where she stands in her medical bed and leans back and does this until she feels like she’s done. She also likes toys with different kinds of lights. She especially likes the lights that spin or have different patterns and colors. Elizabeth loves her Rocket Raccoon from Guardians of the Galaxy; we have to take him everywhere. She also loves Cocomelon, Yo Gabba Gabba, and super simple songs.
The only fight we have with Elizabeth is with her nasal cannula for her oxygen, but I mean who really wants things in their nose? I know I don’t. She also has physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy and there are days where she’s like ‘nah not today’ but at least she loves her therapist! She has 5 doctors in Lubbock, 4 doctors in Dallas and one doctor in Houston. So she loves to travel.
In all honesty Elizabeth is my hero. She has taught me so much in her little 4 years of life. She has taught me to be a better mom, a better wife, and a better person. She taught me that even though we have a plan in life, sometimes it just doesn’t go that way and that’s okay.
Elizabeth is a Godsend. She really is. And if I had the chance to change anything, you know what? I wouldn’t. Because she is so amazing, she’s so awesome, she’s a rockstar!