We've got a plan! The cardio team here met and decided that Penelope needs to have her PDA closed tomorrow morning at 7:30. It will be the same bedside surgery that Lydia had, the only difference is that they will have an OR waiting just in case the closing of the PDA causes complications with her possible coarctation. If they close the PDA and see that her aorta is narrowing (by checking bloodpressures in her arms and legs as well as an immediate echo) they will whisk her away to the OR and do the coarct repair surgery despite her size. Right now, the complications she's having because of the PDA are such that they cannot wait until she reaches the ideal size for the coarct surgery. The risks are higher for such a small baby but the risks of not doing the surgery are even greater than that. So, this is the plan.
Jonathan and I are, understandably, pretty nervous about this. It will be a loooong hour's wait while they do the PDA surgery to see if she'll need the coarct repair or not. They say that time flies when you're having fun, maybe time will fly while we're praying our booties off! We would like to ask you to be praying your booties off too! Please pray for Drs Goldberg and Knott-Craig (the surgeons), Andrea (his nurse), and the rest of the OR team that will be doing the surgery. Also, pray for Robin and Amy (the girl's nurses), the neonatalogist, and the NICU staff that will be caring for her after the surgery. Finally, pray for our sweet Penny to have comfort and strength, to only have the PDA and no coarctation, and if she does have to have the coarct repaired pray that the Lord would protect her from any complications of the surgery.
On a personal note, she's been put on NPO (no food in her tummy) until a few days after the surgery. This means she'll be hungry and MAD about it like Lydia was. Please pray that I'll handle it well. It's actually a good sign if she gets hungry and mad, rather than lethargic. It just makes it very difficult for us to watch her and not be able to help.
Thank you so much for your prayers as we face this next section of the NICU roller coaster.
Love, The Chus
I know this is going to be very hard, Chus. I am praying and there in spirit.
ReplyDeletePraying for you all! We have been having our older three kids pray for your girls every night and our six year old daughter, Emma, always had to check the blog first thing! We will be praying tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI just found this via link on a Facebook profile... You're in awesome hands with these surgeons. Dr. Knott-Craig operated on our son Jack in August just five days after his birth (also an open heart, though for a different defect) - he's an absolute God-send in all meanings of the word; and Dr. Goldberg had the exact defect Jack had, so he was a tremendous encouragement throughout.
ReplyDeleteOur experience is still very much fresh in our minds; if you need anything at all (prayers are a given!!! though I've just now read your story), I'd love to help as I can. anya0708@gmail.com (we live in Oakland right outside Memphis).
Anya
fairyandbug.blogspot.com
Wait! I know you guys! At least I remember Jonathan from Ugly Mug / Ottinger era! Small world... Please know you're in many thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAnya
I'm glad to read about a plan. :-) My mom's surgery in September lasted 8.5 hours, so I can definitely relate to waiting! You guys and little Penny Anne will most certainly have my prayers tomorrow! I'll be facebook/blog stalking from Germantown!
ReplyDeleteI am praying for you guys.
ReplyDeleteprayers for your sweet girl and her surgery. also for you in Christ alone, Rhonda
ReplyDelete