Waiting and hoping | Mountain Workshops

Cynthia visits Vanderbilt University Children’s Hospital. “At first I was scared, but now I’m not,” said Cynthia Bratcher of Scottsville, Kentucky. The 9-year-old girl was talking about the possibility of having a heart-lung transplant. Finding the right hospital and surgical team to perform the operation has been a difficult procedure for Cynthia and her mother, Terry. For the past two years Cynthia has been waiting to have the operation that they hope will bring good health. Since Cynthia has been too ill to attend school, Bratcher has left her job at the Dollar General Store to care for Cynthia herself. To help meet mounting expenses, the people of Scottsville have raised $12,000 which has been invested to pay post-operation expenses. This is a time of waiting and hoping. Every day Cynthia and her mother must overcome new obstacles. Recently, Cynthia began to experience severe heart failure and was taken to Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville. While there, the two were informed that a new doctor was coming on to the staff who had performed many heart-lung transplants. Cynthia is small and delicate for her age. She has beautiful dark eyes and a high thread laugh. She impresses visitors with her knowledge of poetry and giggles as she recites “The Porcupine,” by Ogden Nash. At times Cynthia and Terry bicker with one another. They are seldom separated and the tenseness of their situation keeps their emotions strung tightly. When one hears Cynthia giggle as she recites poetry, it is impossible not to share in the pain of waiting.

Cynthia’s painting that hangs in the living room of their home. “At first I was scared, but now I’m not,” said Cynthia Bratcher of Scottsville, Kentucky. The 9-year-old girl was talking about the possibility of having a heart-lung transplant. Finding the right hospital and surgical team to perform the operation has been a difficult procedure for Cynthia and her mother, Terry. For the past two years Cynthia has been waiting to have the operation that they hope will bring good health. Since Cynthia has been too ill to attend school, Bratcher has left her job at the Dollar General Store to care for Cynthia herself. To help meet mounting expenses, the people of Scottsville have raised $12,000 which has been invested to pay post-operation expenses. This is a time of waiting and hoping. Every day Cynthia and her mother must overcome new obstacles. Recently, Cynthia began to experience severe heart failure and was taken to Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville. While there, the two were informed that a new doctor was coming on to the staff who had performed many heart-lung transplants. Cynthia is small and delicate for her age. She has beautiful dark eyes and a high thread laugh. She impresses visitors with her knowledge of poetry and giggles as she recites “The Porcupine,” by Ogden Nash. At times Cynthia and Terry bicker with one another. They are seldom separated and the tenseness of their situation keeps their emotions strung tightly. When one hears Cynthia giggle as she recites poetry, it is impossible not to share in the pain of waiting.

Cynthia and her mother Terry Bratcher in waiting room at Vanderbilt Hospital. Waiting for x-rays to be done. “At first I was scared, but now I’m not,” said Cynthia Bratcher of Scottsville, Kentucky. The 9-year-old girl was talking about the possibility of having a heart-lung transplant. Finding the right hospital and surgical team to perform the operation has been a difficult procedure for Cynthia and her mother, Terry. For the past two years Cynthia has been waiting to have the operation that they hope will bring good health. Since Cynthia has been too ill to attend school, Bratcher has left her job at the Dollar General Store to care for Cynthia herself. To help meet mounting expenses, the people of Scottsville have raised $12,000 which has been invested to pay post-operation expenses. This is a time of waiting and hoping. Every day Cynthia and her mother must overcome new obstacles. Recently, Cynthia began to experience severe heart failure and was taken to Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville. While there, the two were informed that a new doctor was coming on to the staff who had performed many heart-lung transplants. Cynthia is small and delicate for her age. She has beautiful dark eyes and a high thread laugh. She impresses visitors with her knowledge of poetry and giggles as she recites “The Porcupine,” by Ogden Nash. At times Cynthia and Terry bicker with one another. They are seldom separated and the tenseness of their situation keeps their emotions strung tightly. When one hears Cynthia giggle as she recites poetry, it is impossible not to share in the pain of waiting.

Cynthia on her way home after a visit to Vanderbilt. “At first I was scared, but now I’m not,” said Cynthia Bratcher of Scottsville, Kentucky. The 9-year-old girl was talking about the possibility of having a heart-lung transplant. Finding the right hospital and surgical team to perform the operation has been a difficult procedure for Cynthia and her mother, Terry. For the past two years Cynthia has been waiting to have the operation that they hope will bring good health. Since Cynthia has been too ill to attend school, Bratcher has left her job at the Dollar General Store to care for Cynthia herself. To help meet mounting expenses, the people of Scottsville have raised $12,000 which has been invested to pay post-operation expenses. This is a time of waiting and hoping. Every day Cynthia and her mother must overcome new obstacles. Recently, Cynthia began to experience severe heart failure and was taken to Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville. While there, the two were informed that a new doctor was coming on to the staff who had performed many heart-lung transplants. Cynthia is small and delicate for her age. She has beautiful dark eyes and a high thread laugh. She impresses visitors with her knowledge of poetry and giggles as she recites “The Porcupine,” by Ogden Nash. At times Cynthia and Terry bicker with one another. They are seldom separated and the tenseness of their situation keeps their emotions strung tightly. When one hears Cynthia giggle as she recites poetry, it is impossible not to share in the pain of waiting.

“At first I was scared, but now I’m not,” said Cynthia Bratcher of Scottsville, Kentucky. The 9-year-old girl was talking about the possibility of having a heart-lung transplant. Finding the right hospital and surgical team to perform the operation has been a difficult procedure for Cynthia and her mother, Terry. For the past two years Cynthia has been waiting to have the operation that they hope will bring good health. Since Cynthia has been too ill to attend school, Bratcher has left her job at the Dollar General Store to care for Cynthia herself. To help meet mounting expenses, the people of Scottsville have raised $12,000 which has been invested to pay post-operation expenses. This is a time of waiting and hoping. Every day Cynthia and her mother must overcome new obstacles. Recently, Cynthia began to experience severe heart failure and was taken to Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville. While there, the two were informed that a new doctor was coming on to the staff who had performed many heart-lung transplants. Cynthia is small and delicate for her age. She has beautiful dark eyes and a high thread laugh. She impresses visitors with her knowledge of poetry and giggles as she recites “The Porcupine,” by Ogden Nash. At times Cynthia and Terry bicker with one another. They are seldom separated and the tenseness of their situation keeps their emotions strung tightly. When one hears Cynthia giggle as she recites poetry, it is impossible not to share in the pain of waiting.