GETTING STARTED

We started with a very early morning today.  We went to see Charlotte around 530 and were able to both hold her for a few minutes this morning.  The Anesthesiologist came in a little before 7 to talk to us about how he would be handling Charlotte.  He did a great job of explaining everything and we really feel good about Charlotte being in his care.  We were then able to walk with them as they wheeled her down to the third floor to the OR and got to spend a few extra minutes in the hall with her.

The nurse came out around 10 to give us a progress update.  They put her to sleep as soon as she got into the OR and then got her hooked up to a heart/lung bypass machine and lowered her body temperature significantly to help during the operation.  The doctor was just finishing some final stitching to get all of the heart/lung machine lines secured and then he will start working on the heart.  He is going to start with the aorta and then move on from there.  The nurse said she would be back out in about 1.5 hours with another update but that since she is now fully on the heart/lung bypass machine that everything should be fine for the next few hours.  

SMALL BLESSINGS, BIG MOUNTAIN

The past few days have been a whirlwind of excitement, blessings and tender moments wrapped into one.  Although a roller coaster of emotions, it's a ride that I'm glad to be on because we get to be with our Sweet Charlotte. 

We've experienced many small blessings along the way and continue to count more.  What seems to be a roadblock often times ends up paving the way for something greater. Take for instance the struggle with securing a secondary central line for Charlotte.  Thanks to finding a secondary IV line in her head yesterday, the medical team was able to surgically secure a central line in her groin which will aide in the surgery tomorrow.  We are calling this 'early surgery prep' and are pleased to be ahead of the game.

Her kidney oxygen content was running on the lower side but then corrected itself avoiding a blood transfusion on Saturday.  She will most likely have one this afternoon in preparation for tomorrow's surgery to restore what has been lost from blood draws and her surgical procedure yesterday.  

We were told not to expect to hold Baby Charlotte until our "one time hold" pre-surgery, yet I've already held my precious angel twice.  You can imagine my surprise on Saturday as she was placed in my arms.  And again on Sunday. Or, the true joy that Patrick and I experienced as we witnessed our priest baptize Charlotte yesterday afternoon.  I will never be able to explain the feeling I felt as I stood there with Father, Patrick and our baby girl.  Not to mention the peace that filled my heart as Father anointed our sweet baby.  He spoke about the miraculous healing which came to another baby after she received the anointing of the sick sacrament.  Soon, I will be writing Charlotte's testimony of miraculous healing, just as sure as I am telling her to stop running in the house. I look forward to that.

With all of these small miracles under our belts, I know that tomorrow's surgery is a big mountain to climb, but Charlotte can do it.  Please pray for Dr. Mendleoff and his team as they operate on Sweet Charlotte.  Pray for an uncomplicated surgery and recovery period, which is the most critical time (first 72 hours post surgery.)  We pray that Charlotte recovers with minimal pain and suffering and that she feels His presence always.  Specifically, we pray for a SOFT DRAIN TUBE to be used which Charlotte will have post surgery.  This is for ease of removal post surgery as well as for her comfort.

The surgery begins bright and early tomorrow at 7:10 am and is about an 8 hour process. Please keep MISS CHARLOTTE in your prayers and in your hearts as God performs yet another miracle in healing her.  

ANSWERED PRAYER

UPDATE:
We just met with the neonatologist and Charlotte's procedure went well. There are a couple of little issues but the line was secured and actually ends up being early prep for her surgery on Wednesday. We are SO thankful for this outcome and ask you to pray for continued strength and success over the coming days/weeks.

...

We are still waiting for Miss Charlotte's surgical procedure to secure a broviac line. It should be done in about 30 minutes and this Mommy is very anxious! We are planning on having her baptised later this afternoon too. It's not the way I had envisioned but of course none of this is. Please pray for Sweet Charlotte's procedure to go as planned and without complication. We ask that she is kept safe in His hands. Praise the Lord our God for his gift: our precious baby.

PRAYERS PLEASE

Charlotte needs a constant stream of a very specific medicine that works to keep her heart supplying oxygenated blood to her body until surgery.  This medicine was being delivered through a central line in her groin but it has stopped working and must be replaced.  Made more complicated is the fact that she is now awake so the simple task of starting an IV line has become nearly impossible thanks to her veins being so uninhabitable.  She needs the IV line first so that she's able to be sedated before working on a establishing another central line.  Again, this is made especially complicated because of Charlotte's small size and bad veins.  As the doctors continue to work, please pray that both are successfully secured SOON.  What should have taken no more than 90 minutes, has now turned into 6 hours.

ROUND 1

Ding Ding Ding..... In a unanimous decision, Charlotte has won round 1.  This fight will have many rounds but you can't get to round 2 without winning round 1, and for that we are thankful.  After a long day, everything seems to be going well.  There was some initial concern over a bit of fluid in her lungs but things seem to have calmed down and Charlotte is resting peacefully in the Cardiac NICU.  While there are still many hurdles between now and her first surgery some time next week, the focus appears to have moved to getting her as strong and healthy as possible to prepare for the Norwood procedure.  We probably wont know until Monday what day her surgery will be but we will continue to update on her progress each day.  Today has proved that with the miraculous power of modern medicine and PRAYER, nothing is impossible!.  We sincerely appreciate all of the prayers that have been said to this point and ask that you continue to pray for Charlotte's growing strength and the doctor's continued wisdom. 

CHARLOTTE ARRIVES

Charlotte arrived at 12:03 today weighing 5 pounds 5 ounces and measuring 18.5 inches long.  She already has more hair than Dad and can yell louder than Mom.  The initial checks on her have been positive and the Neonatologists continue to monitor her in the Cardiac NICU. 

BIG NEWS

We just got the news that Little Miss will make her debut later this morning. Please pray for a smooth delivery for Baby and Mommy.