Thank you for praying for this precious child! Below is the update from his father!Warriors!
Yesterday can be counted as a victory! God heard you, as always, and he answered in Mighty ways. To sum up, each and every thing that could have gone right did. And other things that were were told to not expect happened too. A couple of frustrations for us, but God is Mighty in his faithfulness.
We arrived after 11am, and mom was already there waiting. We got admitted just fine, with a hickup of a admission charge we were not expecting. Don't know how we'll deal with that, but that's another God thing for later. Anyway, we got in an did some initial consultation with an admission nurse. They wanted to do a blood draw. That didn't work out too well. After 4 tries they had to give up as they couldn't find a vein that would cooperate. So ten screaming minutes later, they quit trying and decided to do the screen once he was put under. Then started the 3 hours of waiting. The doctor was delayed with some earlier patients, so that pushed us back 2 hours. Wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't for Ethan not being allowed to consume anything. Poor guy was signing for milk every few minutes for hours. He even leaned how to beg in sign. "Please" slowed down and drawn out. Add the pouting eyes and it was enough to break our hearts over and over. We didn't, couldn't give in, and it was good too. We found out that if we had, they would have cancelled the entire day.
Anyway, instead of 1:30 as planned, he was finally taken from us into the OR around 3:30. We were told that with the tests that would be run, the main procedure, and his circumcision, it would be about 4 hours. Well, the doctor came out 30 minutes sooner than expected. Everything went great! Ethan's body was totally responsive to everything they needed to do. The sac contained almost the entire liver. They got it pushed back in and his body responded. His facia skin was just soft enough to be able to close without needing additional cuts along his sides (a possibility the doctor acknowledged to us). In fact, everything responded so well, that were was no need for a patch, and everything went in. That means NO ADDITIONAL PROCEDURE. Less that 15% chance of that happening and Ethan made it. The doctor even feels that there won't be a need for any cosmetic followup (something we didn't know would be a likelihood). He had to have an epidural, which will add another day or two to his stay. In addition, the doctor is convinced that when he comes home, he won't need to be on O2 anymore! That depends on how well he does in recovery, but they're expecting a good result.
I left the hospital about 11pm last night after getting Lydia settled in his room. His night however did not go as well has his procedure. Nothing bad happened but is a real hard night on him. My son does not sit still, especially while sleeping. About 9:30, during the monitoring of him as he was coming off anesthesia, he woke up slightly didn't know where he was, and as always when that happens, he panicked. He jerked up, tried to stand (in bed) and got completely tangled in all his wires. Well, as he does when he panics, he holds his breath and as weak as he was, we had a small scare as he didn't seem to want to breath again. After about 10-15 seconds, he gasped, and we were all ok, but is was startling of course. Anyway, he had a restless night, even on morphine, his epidural, and some valium. Anything to keep this kid still. Lyd told me this morning that he had another panic attack in the middle of the night. But he's doing much better. About 8 this morning he finally got some milk and his "Da" (blankey for the rest of us). He's been in an out of coherency. Doctors have been visiting, and like the progress. We still await a visit from the Pulmonologist, as they'll be the final signoff on his O2 needs. The surgeon even commented to us that if a specialist says "its up to the surgeon" there's nothing actually wrong, the just don't want the responsibility. =) Huh, we didn't call that 12 months ago or anything.
Anyway, there's the current state of things for our Big E. Everything is in "wait and see mode". Wait to see how well he gains strength. Wait to see how well his O2 levels are. Wait, wait, wait. If any of you are praying for patience for us, please stop! God has heard you already! Sheesh! =)
So, at this point, we've been told a Sunday, maybe Monday, release. But there's always a good chance that it could be earlier. We'll go back in 2-4 weeks for a followup, unless there's some oddity that makes us go back before.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We've had so much encouragement from you, it's been as faithbuilding as Ethan's actual outcome. Friends we haven't talk to in ages calling. Others offering to drop everything and come and stay with Lydia. All the prayers. And for those who have forwarded our situation to others in your circles of prayer support that don't know us, thank you also.
God is mighty, faithful, and awesome. And through you we see that more and more. Lydia and I are both learning major lessons through this event. We're learning about faith. We're learning about ourselves. We're learning more about friendship. Thank you for your part in that.
I'll be sending more as I know it.
Take care, and thanks again.
Mike (for Lyd and Big E!)
Yesterday can be counted as a victory! God heard you, as always, and he answered in Mighty ways. To sum up, each and every thing that could have gone right did. And other things that were were told to not expect happened too. A couple of frustrations for us, but God is Mighty in his faithfulness.
We arrived after 11am, and mom was already there waiting. We got admitted just fine, with a hickup of a admission charge we were not expecting. Don't know how we'll deal with that, but that's another God thing for later. Anyway, we got in an did some initial consultation with an admission nurse. They wanted to do a blood draw. That didn't work out too well. After 4 tries they had to give up as they couldn't find a vein that would cooperate. So ten screaming minutes later, they quit trying and decided to do the screen once he was put under. Then started the 3 hours of waiting. The doctor was delayed with some earlier patients, so that pushed us back 2 hours. Wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't for Ethan not being allowed to consume anything. Poor guy was signing for milk every few minutes for hours. He even leaned how to beg in sign. "Please" slowed down and drawn out. Add the pouting eyes and it was enough to break our hearts over and over. We didn't, couldn't give in, and it was good too. We found out that if we had, they would have cancelled the entire day.
Anyway, instead of 1:30 as planned, he was finally taken from us into the OR around 3:30. We were told that with the tests that would be run, the main procedure, and his circumcision, it would be about 4 hours. Well, the doctor came out 30 minutes sooner than expected. Everything went great! Ethan's body was totally responsive to everything they needed to do. The sac contained almost the entire liver. They got it pushed back in and his body responded. His facia skin was just soft enough to be able to close without needing additional cuts along his sides (a possibility the doctor acknowledged to us). In fact, everything responded so well, that were was no need for a patch, and everything went in. That means NO ADDITIONAL PROCEDURE. Less that 15% chance of that happening and Ethan made it. The doctor even feels that there won't be a need for any cosmetic followup (something we didn't know would be a likelihood). He had to have an epidural, which will add another day or two to his stay. In addition, the doctor is convinced that when he comes home, he won't need to be on O2 anymore! That depends on how well he does in recovery, but they're expecting a good result.
I left the hospital about 11pm last night after getting Lydia settled in his room. His night however did not go as well has his procedure. Nothing bad happened but is a real hard night on him. My son does not sit still, especially while sleeping. About 9:30, during the monitoring of him as he was coming off anesthesia, he woke up slightly didn't know where he was, and as always when that happens, he panicked. He jerked up, tried to stand (in bed) and got completely tangled in all his wires. Well, as he does when he panics, he holds his breath and as weak as he was, we had a small scare as he didn't seem to want to breath again. After about 10-15 seconds, he gasped, and we were all ok, but is was startling of course. Anyway, he had a restless night, even on morphine, his epidural, and some valium. Anything to keep this kid still. Lyd told me this morning that he had another panic attack in the middle of the night. But he's doing much better. About 8 this morning he finally got some milk and his "Da" (blankey for the rest of us). He's been in an out of coherency. Doctors have been visiting, and like the progress. We still await a visit from the Pulmonologist, as they'll be the final signoff on his O2 needs. The surgeon even commented to us that if a specialist says "its up to the surgeon" there's nothing actually wrong, the just don't want the responsibility. =) Huh, we didn't call that 12 months ago or anything.
Anyway, there's the current state of things for our Big E. Everything is in "wait and see mode". Wait to see how well he gains strength. Wait to see how well his O2 levels are. Wait, wait, wait. If any of you are praying for patience for us, please stop! God has heard you already! Sheesh! =)
So, at this point, we've been told a Sunday, maybe Monday, release. But there's always a good chance that it could be earlier. We'll go back in 2-4 weeks for a followup, unless there's some oddity that makes us go back before.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We've had so much encouragement from you, it's been as faithbuilding as Ethan's actual outcome. Friends we haven't talk to in ages calling. Others offering to drop everything and come and stay with Lydia. All the prayers. And for those who have forwarded our situation to others in your circles of prayer support that don't know us, thank you also.
God is mighty, faithful, and awesome. And through you we see that more and more. Lydia and I are both learning major lessons through this event. We're learning about faith. We're learning about ourselves. We're learning more about friendship. Thank you for your part in that.
I'll be sending more as I know it.
Take care, and thanks again.
Mike (for Lyd and Big E!)
