Successful Open-Heart Surgery

Since we’ve posted a couple of times on Facebook throughout the day, most of you know the details by now. I’m of course still going to write today’s blog post though, although it’s certainly going to be difficult…

Perfect little angel baby, sleeping before we woke her up super early this morning. She had to have a bath in special anti antibacterial soap first thing this morning, and we had to be at the hospital at 6:30, so we had a very early wake-up call.

After getting bathed and dressed in clean jammies, Grammy and Papa came over to see her, and give her a few gifts – another new pair of jammies and the cutest little heart pillow!

She happily donned her new backpack, filled with Pua the pig and plenty of goodies, and matched down to the car.

Since only parent is allowed in the hospital at a time, and I did both the heart cath and the pre-op stuff, Jeff took her in today. And dropping them off at the hospital with just one quick hug, kiss & squeeze was literally the hardest thing I’ve ever done. To be perfectly honest, as soon as I was back in the car, I started sobbing, and had to make sure I didn’t cry too much so I could see to drive back to the RMH.

I spent a few minutes wandering blindly around our little room, overcome by so many emotions I didn’t even know what to do. My emotions have been so all over the map today, including, but not limited to, some of the following: nervous, anxious, relief, heartbroken, apprehension, thankful, surprise, happy, delirious, exhausted, and just generally overwhelmed.

Since Emmie was very upset when taken away from me for the heart cath last week, they made sure to give her the “happy meds” today to keep her calm when leaving Daddy. She connected really well to her nurse Lacey, and went back with her with no issues. They were singing “Head, shoulders, knees & toes,” and Emmie’s favorite, “Wheels in the Bus,” and she did really well.

We had breakfast as a family while Jeff waited in the hospital, then we split up to wait it out, since Dave & Nita weren’t allowed in the RMH (NO visitors are allowed right now actually unless you’re staying there). We got word rather quickly that the actual surgery was done and she was getting closed up, but then it felt like forever waiting for the surgeon to come talk to Jeff about how it went.

When he finally made it to the”quiet room” where they sent Jeff to wait, Jeff was able to call me on speaker phone, and this is the summary of the update we got from Dr. Shillingford, that we shared on Facebook earlier: Dr. Shillingford said she is a beautiful little girl and is doing well and prognosis is great! He did tell us that she had a “very sick little heart.” In addition to the VSD, she had also developed an ASD, which apparently was a result of her heart trying to close the VSD on its own. Additionally, the tricuspid valve was damaged. He was able to repair the VSD, the ASD, and the valve. Dr. Shillingford said he was glad we got in there and that she had a “really nice repair.”

We were kind of in shock to hear that things were actually worse than what we originally thought, but very thankful all of the problems were found and fixed during this one single surgery. She shouldn’t need anymore heart surgeries in her life, but will still continue to be monitored by her cardiologist Dr. Vining back in Tally, for the rest of her childhood. Then she’ll probably still see an adult cardiologist every few years as an adult, but she’s not expected to have any long-term issues or problems! They even think she might start putting on a little bit of weight, now that her heart isn’t working so hard.

Jeff stayed there with her through a few hours of recovery, while we had some sandwiches for lunch, and I attempted to nap and rest up for my turn. I’m terrible at naps on a good day though, and today wasn’t any different, so I had a fitful one-hour rest and then gave up.

She was absolutely pitiful, and it literally broke my heart again to see her in the bed like that, so drugged up with so many tubes and wires, and her sad, sleepy, droopy little eyes. She fought sleep on & off, and was super thirsty. She was finally allowed to start having water around 6pm, and she gulped it down in a heartbeat, and then got to crunch on a few pieces of ice, which she always loves.

She is always the most content right after she’s had some water, and will look around and engage a little bit, and watch some of whatever movie is on the TV. Then she’s the most content after that to finally give in to some sleep, once she’s not quite so thirsty, and will get a little rest. She never really sleeps for more than a few minutes at a time though.

It’s almost 9pm now, and she’s finally settled down and pretty still and quiet. They said she can have Apple juice soon, and maybe some crackers, so she’ll love that. A few minutes ago, she perked up and randomly said, “I want pancakes and sausage and syrup.” She asked for it about five times, so the nurse is going to order her that for breakfast tomorrow. 😊

I haven’t eaten dinner yet, so I’m hoping I can sneak down to he cafeteria in just a bit to grab something before they close, without her missing me too much. Then I’ll open up the little couch-bed, and settle in for the night. She’s resting pretty well right now, so I’m praying her and I both have a decent night of rest!

Thank you all again SO MUCH for your prayers, love and support. I hope you know just how much it has meant to us, and how grateful we are for very single prayer, comment, text, phone call and email. 💜