Lilly’s “BIG” surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday, 8 February. In preparation for that, she and I will be flying to Philadelphia on Thursday morning of this week, joined by Tom later that evening, for some pre-op consults and MRI under general anesthesia on Friday the 4th. We hope to spend the weekend in New Jersey with Tom’s family before driving back down to Philly on Monday the 7th. My mom is flying in from Pittsburgh tomorrow (the 1st) to stay with Jared and Anna and hopefully keep life as normal as possible for them while we’re gone.
Our return date is uncertain—it all depends on how Lilly does with her surgery and recovery. Tom is likely to come home sooner to get back to the many demands at work and Lilly and I will take our time—staying with his folks in New Jersey if that seems beneficial—until she seems ready to travel home. I hope to be home by Friday, 18 January, but this date is very squishy.
As we look ahead at what this surgery means for Lilly, we are SO VERY grateful to God for the chance to see Dr. Campbell at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)—he is THE spine guy for kids like Lilly with congenital scoliosis. We are grateful that the technology and know-how exists to perform this surgery that will protect her life and health as she grows. In a nutshell (more details to come as we consult with Dr. Campbell on Friday), they plan to separate the fused ribs and corresponding fused vertebra that are the cause of her curvature. Once they are separated, it will free her spine up to become straight. They will then insert titanium rods—one ribcage to pelvis, and one vertebra-vertebra—to open her chest cavity and straighten her spine. These rods are expandable and will be lengthened every 6-9 months during her many growing years ahead to allow her to grow even straighter over time.
We are also appreciate of family—last time Pop Pop, this time Nana—for traveling such a distance to take care of Jared and Anna! Also for the many friends who have offered to help in any way they can.
We are most of all very appreciative of the prayers that I know are already being offered up for Lilly. Please continue to pray this week:
- For Lilly’s recovery from a nasty cold—fevers, bad cough, several rough nights of little sleep and lots of coughing and crying.
- For protection over her health as the surgery date approaches.
- For safe travels for each of us—my mom tomorrow, and Tom, Lilly and I Thursday. As well as our driving to and from New Jersey.
- For wisdom for Dr. Campbell as he reviews her upcoming MRIs and all her other radiology studies and determines precisely how he plans to conduct the surgery with least risk and most benefit to Lilly.
- For God to guide Dr. Campbell’s hands. Also for the rest of the surgical team—Dr. Nance (general surgeon) and Dr. Mayer (pulmonologist) and nurses and technicians.
For God’s peace that passes understanding to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus as we surrender this amazing child to this surgery.
- For Lilly’s lungs post op—the left lung will, for the first time ever, have space to expand to its normal size. The risk following the surgery is that it would fill with fluids so she will be in ICU immediately post op to closely monitor.
- For Tom and me to have good communication and selfless attitudes with one another and with Lilly.
- For Tom and me and the medical staff to have discernment to know how to best manage Lilly’s pain post op.
- For Jared and Anna as they continue with “normal life” with Nana here—that it would be a time of good bonding with Nana, that they would all stay healthy, that the stress of parents being gone and sister having surgery would not be detrimental to them in any way.
- For us to be rooted firmly in the Word throughout these weeks of travel, disruption of routines, and stress.
- That we would have wisdom and the right words to help Lilly understand what she is facing and to offer her the peace of Christ.
We will all be praying for your entire family and know that you will do what is best for you all. You seem to have a knack for that..:) Please keep us posted on how things are going..
ReplyDeleteWe are praying for Lilly and all of you. I asked everybody to pray on my Facebook and I added Lilly to my church's prayer chain (Sparta Evangelical Free).
ReplyDeleteLots of Love & Prayers sent,
Nadine ^_^