Sarah and I want to thank you for praying for Bowen today. God looked after our little man and everything went exactly as we hoped for! We also want to thank the health care team at MOTT Children’s Hospital for their care in coordinating his procedures.
Because of our troubles with regulating Bowen’s blood sugar, we knew that placing him under anesthesia, and the fasting associated with it, could be our greatest risk. Our team at U of M actually coordinated it so that he could have three procedures under one sedation. So today, the doctors took out his sternal wires, put in ear tubes, and performed and echo cardiogram all within a couple of hours. We entered the hospital at 6:30 this morning and left at 2:00 this afternoon with a happy, healthier little man!
Again, thank you for your prayers; it means so much to our family!
Judy
April 17, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Wow, PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!! Wow! Just dancing with joy for you all!
The Fussell Family
St. Peters, MO
Susie Michaud
April 17, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Thank you for letting us know that all went so well!! 3 procedures and an outpatient ~ alright! Praying that Bowen will sleep good tonight and heal up super fast! Mandi sneaked up behind me,saw the bandaid picture, and said, “Mommy! Is that Bowens’ heart!?”
Piper
April 17, 2012 at 10:22 pm
I’m so glad things went well and you were able to take care of three things at once
Mallory Fields
April 17, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Matt and Sarah,
Words cannot express the pictures you have put up on this post. Bowen looks so good it really makes me feel good knowing that Im helping you guys get through all this stuff that at times is very emotional, depressing, and sorrowful at times. God did a wonderful job today with making Bowen’s surgery go as well as it did. I believe God put both Bowen and I at Michigan for our heart conditions for a reason. I truely and honestly believe God put our little lives in the right places, also he pur our little hearts in the right hands of the right doctors and nurses and the rest of the Mott staff. I believe God truely will let and make Bowen make it through all four of his heart sugeries just like I did. I am here if you guys ever want to e-mail me, message me on facebook, if you ever want to send me a message in my inbox on my facebook. I will be gladly to answer as much questions as you guys need answered. I hope the recovery gets better! Glad you all are doing excellent espcially Bowen.
Maria aka Rockermom
April 17, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Praising the Lord for His faithfulness and favor on Bowen. Much love and blessings for the whole family!
Lisa
April 17, 2012 at 10:43 pm
God is SO Good!
The Gessley family
April 17, 2012 at 11:08 pm
The Lord is good!! I’m ecstatic to hear that things went so well. May God continue to bless your family, as your faith has been SUCH a blessing to mine. Thank you for letting us share in this journey with you. I look forward to years of positive updates about Bowen, the girls, and the new baby.
Much love, in Him,
Heather
Micah Peacock
April 17, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Bunches of prayers for you Bowen. Bunches and bunches and bunches.
Love,
Micah
cynthia beech
April 17, 2012 at 11:17 pm
So thankful that all is well! Awesome news!
Dan Adams
April 18, 2012 at 2:54 am
Matt,
First I want to say thank you. Your song “Lead Me” has touched my heart in so many ways. My wife and I are going thru a very tough time right now. I have spent many years being a crappy father and an even worse husband. When I thought everything was OK…i didnt know she was hurting on the inside.
She went outside our marriage and sought comfort and solice from another man. This was a real eye-opener for me, and now i recognize my faults and I am working on them. I have sought trust and confidence from my family and I have started going to church with my kids. Pastor John Fuller (prairielakeschurch.com) has opened up his arms and his heart to me.
My wife has one foot out the door at this time. No more I love you’s, she took off her wedding ring, and we only talk thru text message even though we still live in the same home. We have 3 wonderfule children together.
She resents me very much even though I have sought counselling and am reading books on verbal abuse.
I have a problem, and I want to be a better husband, a better father, and a better man, but my wife doesnt want to go to counselling or anything. My marriage is falling apart.
Your song LEAD ME, has touched me so deeply, because I believe my wife is in a place to where she is lost and confused and surrounded by evil. I dont know how to help her, she acts like she dont want my help.
My question to you is, how to I give myself to the lord? How do I become faithful? Howdo I live to serve the lord?
This is all new to me, and so terrifying.
I watched your “behind the music” of your song, and it mimics the same situations I am in.
How do you do it? Where do I go from here?
Dan A.
Vinton, Iowa
Nan Lowery
April 18, 2012 at 9:19 am
Praying for you and your wife, Dan – so heart breaking. Please just love, love, love her and don’t give up. A woman who knows she is loved and respected is a happy woman. Be patient, and faithful in your attempts to redeem yourself; her hurt is deep and it will take an awful lot of loving action on your part to fill it in and start the healing process. And it may be an open wound for a very long time, so all that you do needs to be rooted in prayer as well. Continue in counseling and work with your minister and your wife will notice the difference in you and after a while will come to realize that it is for real – and that is so important, you must be real and sincere and not stop improving just because you make some progress. And, gotta tell, hugs (if she will let you) are so very comforting, and if she needs to cry, just hold her tighter and let her get it all out. Most of all, Dan, man up, be the man that you know God wants you to be.
Dustin Scott
April 18, 2012 at 9:48 am
First off, know I am praying for you. Secondly, you need to E.G.O.- Exalt God Only. Everything you do, ask yourself, is it wise? and Does this honor God? If you put God first, everything else in your life will find its proper order. Dig into His word, the Bible is the best way to find how God wants you to live. Start with the first four books of the New Testament, read of all the amazing things Jesus did while on earth, He should be your role model. Let His word be a lamp unto your path, let it show you the way. I also recommend reading regularly from Proverbs, the wisdom in this book is timeless, everything in it is useful advice in real life. It may take time to rebuild your marriage, but God can make anything new. Don’t give up! I hope you will take your relationship with the Lord to the next level. Praying for you brother. Yours in Christ, Dustin
Judy
April 19, 2012 at 10:40 pm
Dan, my husband and I have been down a long road in our marriage. We were very close to separation and divorce after 35 years of marriage. Through going to a wonderful marriage counselor, surrendering to God, and our going to some wonderful healing groups at a very understanding church in our city, God has healed us. We are now so much stronger than we were before. Last year we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary and we are enjoying our three grandsons together rather than separately which is what we both were envisioning before the healing of our marriage. God bless you and your wife and we are praying for you. Satan does not want our marriages to work. Many times as we were going to some of the groups and to our counseling sessions, we felt under attack. It is important to have people pray over you to keep the enemy out. We listen to nothing but Christian music(K Love and local Christian Stations). We are very careful what TV shows we watch and have bought DVD’s of christian music, Joyce Meyer, etc that are safe things for us. We have prayed throughout our home in each room as a cleansing. God can restore us if we let Him, however, it is very difficult to rebuild the trust back in each other. God bless you and your family.
Scott
May 17, 2012 at 11:48 am
Dear Dan,
My name is Scott and I must say your life’s story has touched me and one thing that helped me was getting baptized. Just a warning that things aren’t going to get better right away but it’s a good way to afirm to yourself that your giving all of yourself to GOD. As far as things with your marriage i would try to sit down and explain everything to her about whats going to happen if you both split up. Also try to stick up for yourself and let her know that your not scared to split up, while showing her that you don’t want to be with anyone else and that you love her like no one else ever could. You sound like a genuine person and i can see the compassion within you though I’ve never met you. You could show her how beautiful of a person she is by getting her flowers every day for a week straight or finding something about her that not many people know and exploiting that by rewarding her for it in some way. I pray that you find God’s great goodness in your life. Your surely on your way, stick to it.
Nancy Black
April 18, 2012 at 6:25 am
Good Morning Matt, Sarah, Emmy, Claire and Precious Baby Bowen,
I am so thrilled with excitement that Precious Baby Bowen’s operation was a success and is doing so great and that all of you have gone home. I am always so amazed and so in love with God and what he can do when we pray leaving our sorrow and health issues in his hands. He definitely has the whole world in his hands.
Dear Sweet Heavenly Father, Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the wonder and the love that you provide for us there no other love that can measure up to yours. Thank you for taken Precious Baby Bowen into your arms and drawing him close to your heart. It is so beautiful that your angels guided and guard the surgeons during this operation. I am so full of joy and cry happy tears. Thank you, Holy Father, for providing so much joy to Precious Baby Bowen’s family. In Jesus our Savior’s name Amen, xoxoxo
Dustin Scott
April 18, 2012 at 6:35 am
Praise the Lord! So glad to hear your little man is doing well. The power of prayer is amazing, God is so awesome, to Him be the glory!
Paula
April 18, 2012 at 7:07 am
I am so happy everything went well. I was praying for your little man. The doctors are amazing to be able to get so much done and keeping him so healthy.
Jeri Lau
April 18, 2012 at 7:10 am
Good morning Hammitts! I am so happy and thankful to hear about Bowen’s successful surgeries. Awesome news!
I pray for your family and all your concerns every day. Even though I don’t know you, I feel as if I do : )
Thank you for your posts and pics. It is the first email I read when I receive them.
God’s continued blessings!
Michele Rinaldi
April 18, 2012 at 8:10 am
So happy to see this update this morning! I thought about Bowen and you guys all day yesterday! Hope you all have a great rest of the week and PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!
Kelly Wagner
April 18, 2012 at 8:27 am
Praise God! He is so good! Thank you for sharing this wonderful news!
Krista
April 18, 2012 at 8:59 am
YEAH!!! So glad they could coordinate and that it went so FAST! That is amazing! Yeah GOD and Yeah Bowen!!!
Nan Lowery
April 18, 2012 at 9:21 am
AMEN and AMEN!! Praising God for Bowen’s good report and the doctor’s good thinking. Praying for a quick recovery, no more ear infections, and a great summer for the whole Hammitt family.
Mama Sue
April 18, 2012 at 9:29 am
So grateful to our Great Physician for guiding the hands that cared for Bowen! Awesome that so much was able to be done and that you got to go home!! Thank you Matt and Sarah for wearing YOUR hearts on your sleeves and sharing the day to day of your lives with all of us. You are an encouragement and blessing!! Love you all!
Selma D. Lopez
April 18, 2012 at 9:44 am
“Praise God in all his Glory” I am so happy for your family!!! Dan why don’t you watch Fireproof that movie is inspirational and should help you through what your going through. “Good Luck, God is Good”!
Selma
Nan
April 18, 2012 at 10:24 am
So glad to hear this. Can’t imagine what you guys are going through. PTL it all went so well. Hope his recovery will be quick.
julie halll
April 18, 2012 at 10:42 am
WOW! This picture is so powerful!! Praise GOD!!
dee
April 18, 2012 at 10:59 am
Praising God for the good outcome of Bowen surgery. God is always in control
Thank-you for keeping us informed.
Erica
April 18, 2012 at 1:28 pm
I am so glad that the surgery went well! May God continue to bless and keep you and your family !!
Tammi T. (a mom of an HLHS boy)
April 18, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Thanks for the update. Glad to hear all went smoothly. The picture of the heart-shaped bandage “speaks” so many words. The picture of Sarah holding Bowen brings to mind a story my mom used to tell of when I was hospitalized as a toddler with a heart murmur that the drs were trying to diagnose. She said I commented about the drs., “Mommy, they hurt me.”. It seems to be what Bowen is saying, to his mom and Sarah’s reply seems to be, “I know, precious, I know.”
So thankful that prayers have been answered. We continue to pray for your whole family.
Jessica T.
April 18, 2012 at 2:03 pm
How WONDERFUL!
So happy that it all went well! God Bless!
Mary Powers
April 18, 2012 at 2:29 pm
It is an honor to have the opportunity to lift a fellow heart family in prayer.
We are so glad that Bowen is doing so well and so much could be accomplished in one day. 
Praise God!
~Mary
Isobel
April 18, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Hi. Hadn’t checked in for a week or so , so got a bit of a shock at the news. Glad everything went well with the op.Poor little guy , but such a cool dressing
Thinking of him and you all X
Rubi
April 18, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Thank God for a successful surgery! The verse that kept coming to mind when I was praying for him was 1 Sam 25 “Long life to you! Good health to you & your household! And good health to all that is yours!” So thankful that Bowen is doing so well.
Holly from Pevely, MO
April 18, 2012 at 7:39 pm
GOD IS GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Deborah Bequette
April 18, 2012 at 8:13 pm
AMENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN AND AMENNNNNNNNNNNNN I cannot thank you enough Jesus for your mercy and grace! Thank you so much for the honor of lifting Bowen and his family up before you always.
Judy P
April 18, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Thank God for His amazing Grace. Also, so thankful for the wonderful way all involved with our Bowen’s surgery. It is always so good to see your updates and see your family’s pictures.
Love from Kansas City!
Jean
April 18, 2012 at 8:28 pm
So glad all of the procedures went well! MOTT has really taken care of Bowen (and so many other babies)! Thank you God!
Emily Laywell
April 18, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Great news! I am so happy that he did so well and that were able to do three in one! You rock Bowen!
Jenn
April 18, 2012 at 11:51 pm
Oh I hate that he had to go back to the hospital, but I am so glad everything went well. Thanks for the update.
Gabriele
April 19, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Praise the Lord!
Gabi
Alaina,
April 19, 2012 at 5:31 pm
SOOO glad everything went good its looking like Bowen is very wore out but it’ll all come out fine ur welcome for the prayers and we will keep on praying for Bowen the girls and U Matt and Sara The lord is an AWSOME lord
i will keep u in my prayers again: hope to hear another update soon ! ! !
Tracy
April 19, 2012 at 6:48 pm
So glad things went well with Bowen’s procedures. We’ve been fortunate to have our hospital coordinate multiple procedures under one anesthesia for our son also. That’s great they were able to coordinate all of that for you all. I hope he has continued to do well this week!
doghug
April 19, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Glad all is well
Nancy Black
April 19, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Hey everyone,
I just want you to know that I am praying for Precious Baby Bowen still. Thank you Sweet Heavenly Father for a successful surgery and please continue to watch over Bowen always; especially, as he is on the road to recovery. Help him to understand about his operation and to leave the bandages on and not to touch the surgical area, and to listen to everyone. He is such a beautiful baby. Thank you so much for giving Matt and Sarah the power to reach out to us for prayers. In Jesus’ name Amen, xoxoxo
Nancy Black
April 19, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Hey everyone,
I just want you to know that I am praying for Precious Baby Bowen still. Thank you Sweet Heavenly Father for a successful surgery and please continue to watch over Bowen always; especially, as he is on the road to recovery. Help him to understand about his operation and to leave the bandages on and not to touch the surgical area, and to listen to everyone. He is such a beautiful baby. Thank you so much for giving Matt and Sarah the power to reach out to us for prayers. In Jesus’ name Amen, xoxoxo
Respectfully,
Nancy Black
Judy
April 19, 2012 at 10:43 pm
So glad that Bowen’s surgery went well and that he is on the mend. Thank goodness that you were so perceptive and knew that something was wrong. Praise the Lord!
Melanie Lake
April 20, 2012 at 6:43 am
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praying for a speedy recovery for your little man. “God is good and His mercy endures forever!!”
<3
Mel
Heidi
April 24, 2012 at 12:02 am
I have been so glad to hear that things are going well with Bowen! I’ve been following the progress all along and it has been so great to hear about the amazing ways God has been working in your family.
I do have a request if you could help me out a little. My cousin is having some problems with her baby of almost 3 months. He was born with a heart defect known as tetralogy of fallot. He went into a premature surgery this morning because they are having problems keeping his oxygen levels up. The surgery went well, but his body is having some difficulty adjusting to the new heart construction. I would really appreciate some prayer for baby Nathan, and I’m sure my cousin would as well.
Thanks so much!
God Bless
Alaina
April 30, 2012 at 9:15 pm
WE will be praying thanks gor sharing
Stacy Gerlach
April 25, 2012 at 11:59 am
God is so good! Have a wonderful summer!!!! LOTS AND LOTS OF PICTURES!!!!
Robin
April 26, 2012 at 1:09 pm
That is such wonderful news, thank you dear heavenly
Father for watching over Bowen and putting your loving arms around him. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you and wish for a speedy recovery for Bowen.
How is he doing now?
Thank you sweet Jesus….
Lainie Brown
April 26, 2012 at 1:38 pm
God be praised. So happy things went as smoothly as possible and so many procedures were done at the same time.
Love to all, Lainie Brown
Tera Farhat
April 27, 2012 at 1:32 pm
I was writing to let you know of our story and thought you may like to read. I draw so much inspiration from Bowen’s Story and feel like we are living many of the same things. Surgery followed by heart stopping and now on ECMO…etc. Jen has been out nurse and when she heard out baby boys play list she mentioned Matt’s name. I explained since we found out in December about Eli’s HRHS we have been playing all Matt’s CD as well as Sanctus Real. My older children also love Bowen and follow Bowen’s heart blog and love to see his progress!!!!
Tera Farhat
Our Blog is Elijahfarhat.com
lis
April 27, 2012 at 9:43 pm
Glad to hear Bowen’s doing well. Didn’t know anything was going on but your family never leaves my thoughts. God Bless ~
Rebecca J. Sams
April 27, 2012 at 11:17 pm
I’m so glad he’s better! Will continue praying for him
sylvia
April 30, 2012 at 12:06 am
thanx for the continual updates on Bowen. glad the surgery went well. continued blessings to you and your family and healing and wholeness to Bowen.
Carol
May 1, 2012 at 10:17 pm
Hooray!! Praise God! SO glad to hear the lil guy is doing well.
Thank you for sharing with us
Esther
May 2, 2012 at 1:39 am
Praise God!!!
Catherine
May 2, 2012 at 9:16 am
Very happy for you! I continue to pray for your family
Larissa
May 6, 2012 at 12:08 pm
My stepson was born with HLHS in 1998 and after many surgeries (just like your baby will have), he’s a bright kid who loves to play basketball (junior team at the school) and the he just turned 14 years old last month!!
Pray and praise God because your baby can have an amazing quality of life like any other kid.
amelia
May 8, 2012 at 10:01 am
Hi I jus heard abt bowen this morning on todays’s christian music an I am so happy he is doing better God is good He never gives u more than u can bear I will keep bowen in my prayers love from trinidad and tobago keep trust God the best is yet to come
Kristin Leclaire
May 11, 2012 at 6:54 pm
I’m go glad that it’s over and that it went so well. You have one tough little guy!
ConnieToole
May 21, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Praying today finds everyone doing well !! Haven’t left a message in a while, but all of you and Bowen are always in our prayers. Emerson finally has recovered from her 3rd surgery, The fontan, she will be 5 on Aug. 22nd. She is doing well, she had a check up a few weeks at MUSC and got a good report, praise the Lord !!! She is singing in the children’s choir at church, taking dance lessons, swimming lessons and we are so gratful !! We feel as Christians, that with the Lord’s help and the ability he continues to give the medical field, ” our heart babies” have a bright future ! And, if we live as the Bible tells us to live , we all need to live one day at a time, right !!!! May God Richly Bless your Family !! Hugs to Bowen, Connie Toole, Nana to EmersonBanksMay, HLHS . She has a site on carepages.
Jamie
May 28, 2012 at 7:29 pm
Hi Bowen!
My name is Ellie! I am 12 months old and fighting cancer! I know hospitals can be very scary. I hope they are taking care of you and I know you are surrounded by angels. Get stronger!
Jaime Childers
May 29, 2012 at 6:50 am
How inspiring (Dan), Lead Me is the first SR song I had ever heard. It still blesses my heart to this day. The music ministry touches worldwide. Sometimes, in my lowest hours, I can call on God and turn on some SR or KLOVE and it is so uplifting. So glad Bowen is doing well! Congrats on the new baby boy coming this fall as well!
Life Publishers
June 4, 2012 at 9:08 am
What a blessing and a beautiful story you are sharing here. We at Fire Bible for Kids are holding your family up in our prayers today. Lord guide, direct and bless you!
Nadege
June 5, 2012 at 9:03 am
healing is the children’s bread….Praise God for the victory and the victories to come! May God’s continued blessing flow to you and through your family for others to witness God’s miracles…
Australian Ladies
June 5, 2012 at 11:04 am
Your Story has even reached us in down under. We are amazed at your strength and guidance through this all. I have been reading some of your posts but noticed you haven’t posted since this one. We are cursious to know how things are going?
Craig Simpson
June 7, 2012 at 12:05 pm
My brother went through something similar and is now 35 years old! Born with 4 holes in his heart and multiple open heart surgeries I can tell you that faith and our strong bodies can win out! Here’s all the best to you
Sara McCombs
June 8, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Praise to God!! Thinking about you all everyday since I had the pleasure of meeting Matt last year at NightVision in Olathe, CO. My little guy will be 13 in August, born with Tetralogy of Fallot. Wouldn’t know it today!! Continued prayers for all of you. And Congratulations on the new little one too!
shannon
June 12, 2012 at 1:17 am
I am glad he is ok. My son Logan was supposed to have surgery this summer, but they will be waiting for awhile longer. He is going to have his pulmonary valve replaced so they want him to be bigger. They will also fix his mitrol valve that was torn during his last surgery and his blockage under his aortic valve. He should have another adjustment to his back in september or october. I am a little worried waiting.
Stefenie
June 12, 2012 at 8:00 pm
It is so nice to check in and see how wonderful Bowen is doing. Yay!!!! Congratulations on the upcoming addition to your amazing family. Sending best wishes and prayers your way!
Caloni Corona
June 16, 2012 at 3:20 am
I am so glad that things went well for Bowen. I know this is a busy time for you all but I do miss the updates on how your family is doing. We are praying that everything is well with all of you. May the Lord continue to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
Joana
June 16, 2012 at 9:18 am
Even all the way across the world in the Philippines, we are hand in hand in prayer with you and your family!
http://tinyurl.com/acci-8153950859
January 9, 2013 at 1:13 am
“Thank You for Your Prayers! | Bowen’s Heart” ended up being a really awesome blog, . I hope you keep authoring and I’m going to keep on browsing!
Regards -Valencia