The Unexpected (5)

WARNING: This is graphic.... Over the next few days, their lil baby remained on a breathing ventilator. The Doctors came to the parents and said we understand your daughters Birthday is August 1st and thats the day we were going to do his Norwood, (his 1st open heart surgery), do you want to choose another day or go forward with the surgery on that day? They were concerned if the baby didnt make it, the sibling would always associate that with her birthday. After the couple discussed it they decided that no matter the outcome a day or so wouldn't matter. If something happened it would still be associated with her birthday and this surgery was crucial to get done asap. The surgery went as planned apx.6 hours the couple sat in the waiting room. Every so often the Nurse would call with updates, 1st, hes nice and asleep, next all the extra IV lines are put in, next they cooled down his body and put him on ECMO , (it takes over the work of the heart & lungs while they are being worked on), next was they got the chest open and are exploring, next the rerouting had begun, then they got the call the mattered the most......SURGERY was done! The surgeon came down and talked with the family, he was very calm saying that everything went as expected and baby is in recovery. He explained that the babies chest would remain open for apx a week, due to swelling and such then the chest would be wired closed, inner stitches to close the inner skin area and the chest stapled closed. Again the couple just shook their head a lot in agreement. This was all so much to take in. Still can't believing this was all real. Surely it was a bad nightmare. That night the hospital let the couple sleep in the Ronald McDonald room which wasn't far from the PICU where their sweet baby was. The PICU decided which parent got a room based on the (condition) of the child each night. Around 4am the couple got a call to come to a certain area of the hospital ASAP. The couple flew out of bed like never before and went to the room they were told. Not knowing why the sudden urgency. The worst of thoughts going over & over in their head as they quickly walked the halls of the hospital. They get in the room and there was two Nurses nonstop stripping these tubes that were coming from their little babies chest into a container that held blood. His little chest was puffed up and all the bandages were soaked in blood. The Doctor explained they had to take the baby back into surgery due to a overabundance of blood pooling. (Basically his chest with filling with blood). Things were looking very grim as this wasn't good at all. The couple called their Pastor from church and they got the prayer chain going. Everyone spread the news to the next and so many of the people at church were in prayer for this lil baby. After a few hours they got the call that the baby was stable and they found the problem that was causing the blood loss. What a BLESSING! THANK YOU GOD FOR HEARING OUR PRAYERS! This was the point that the mothers prayers started going from WHY HIM GOD? to THANK YOU GOD! Thank you for guiding the Doctors hand during surgery, thank you God for giving my lil baby a chance, thank God for one more day, thank you God for making this little boy the strongest fighter I know! To be continued....