Recovery

Sweet Dreams Olivia -

It's been 36 hours since your went in for your heart surgery.  I FaceTime'd with Mom & Dad tonight & they filled me in on your progress.  I am so glad that you are safe & sound in your bed.  Keep resting so you continue to get stronger with every day!

Here's what happened during your surgery:  Anesthesia took you back to the OR at noon.  Mom & Dad spent time cuddling with you beforehand.  I'm sure you realized that it was a very tough morning for our parents.  They tried so hard to keep a brave face on for you & remain strong.  Mommy sang to you & Daddy read to you.

Mama singing Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" - this is your favorite song (as of right now) & it instantly calmed you each time Mom sang it to you

They were allowed to walk with you all the way to the OR doors & then met with Dr. Spray to discuss the surgical plan.  The walk from your pod to the OR doors was more than Mommy could handle & she clenched Daddy's hand as she fought back tears.  Your anesthesiologist did her best to reassure Mom that you were going to do great.

Dr. Spray was really confident that it would be a straightforward procedure.  You were in the best hands - all the nurses said Dr. Spray was a magician in the operating room.  Mommy raved about your nurse yesterday & today - Michael kept Mama in the loop during your surgery.  You were out of the OR by 2PM, but Michael and his team needed to get you settled, comfortable & finished with post operative testing before Mommy & Daddy could see you.  

Dr. Spray came to see Mom & Dad while you were getting settled.  He was very pleased with the surgical outcome!  He did a thoracotomy, which means he gained access to your heart through your left side.  He cut out the coarctation from your aorta & attached the ends together.  He also re-implanted your subclavian artery.  He seems to think your left ventricle will be cooperative & start working efficiently enough to function.  They will only be able to tell this with time.  

At 4PM, Michael let Mom & Dad come back to see you.  It took longer than planned to get you settled, but you were stable, resting & seemed peaceful.

Mama & Dada could only sit with you for an hour, but then were asked to leave the pod for an hour or so because your neighbor was coming back from his heart surgery.  They left the hospital for a quick bite to eat & toast a successful surgery.  They didn't want to leave your side, but your breathing tube was out, you were sedated on pain meds & resting.  Your cry was breaking Mommy's heart!  You came out of surgery with a very low, quiet, raspy voice.  It could just be that your throat was scratched by the breathing tubes or it's possible that your vocal cords were bruised or nicked during surgery.  Hopefully your very loud & proud voice will return soon, but until then your voice makes Mommy's heart ache.  

Mom & Dad stayed at the hospital until after night rounds & once they were sure that you would do well overnight.  Your team reassured them that you were recovery well.  However, they had to increase your air support (CPAP) two times since your surgery.  This was going to help your respiratory rate.  Your X-Ray showed fluid in your lungs (almost as much as when you were first born) & this was causing your chest to have pretty severe retractions.  The team was going to monitor you overnight & create a game plan in the morning.  The nurse would call if anything changed overnight, but thankfully you just slept peacefully.  

In the morning, the attending physician decided to start you on Lasik to help clear the fluid from your lungs.  She explained that this was a big concern for them because they're unsure why you have so much fluid in your lungs.  Most people who go on bypass have fluid afterwards but you weren't on bypass.  You didn't meet any of the criteria to have fluid on the lungs & the only other hypothesis they could come up with was that your left ventricle was not preforming like they had anticipated.  They will recheck your X-Ray at 4AM & hopefully it will be much more clear.  If it's not, they will likely send you to the cath lab to look at your heart more closely.  I'm praying sweet baby sister that Lasik works tonight & that your left ventricle is adequate enough. 

Your lab work also showed that you have moderate bilirubin, which is why your turning yellow.  I had very low bilirubin too.  It should clear up by eating & pooping it out.  Unfortunately, you aren't able to eat until your CPAP is removed.  You're only getting electrolytes through your tubes.  Right now you don't need to go under the lights, but they'll recheck your levels at 4AM.  Hopefully they will be able to wean you off the CPAP at some point tomorrow & get you eating again.  As of right now, they won't put an NG tube in for for feedings because you were feeding like a champ before surgery.  The docs are giving you benefit of the doubt, so keep working on your sucking reflex with your paci.  

All day it was basically waiting to see your progress.  You pretty much stayed no change all day, so we won't really know anything else until the morning rounds.  Mommy & Daddy held you as much as they could today.  Mom sang & read to you.  You did not like Dr. Seuss, so tomorrow Mommy is bringing in the Winnie the Pooh novel. You were very happy to just sleep in their arms.  While you sleep in your crib, you'll be able to smell Mama's scent.  She slept with your ducky blanket to make sure you can be comforted by the scent while they are away from your bed.

Aunt Emily stopped to see you right before dinner time today.  She took a detour on her way to her high school reunion at St. Andrews.  So glad you were able to meet her.  She lives up in Rochester, NY, so it may be some time before you meet again.  

At rounds this evening, the team decided to start weaning your CPAP & to increase your Lasik. Hopefully by morning you will be off CPAP and on a high flow air support. They're also considering putting you on an additional medicine similar to Lasik that will hopefully work in conjunction with Lasik to clear your lungs & help you breathe more easily.  Continue to rest Via!  

I have been thinking of you, practicing your name & sending you lots of love all day yesterday and today.  I've also been having a blast with Grammy & Pop.  Grammy took me to the toy store yesterday & we got bubbles, a new football & a new book.  We had such a blast in the afternoon blowing bubbles outside.

Today Pop was off from work, so we all went to the playground & spray park.  It was so much fun & I brought some new toys along to play.  For dinner, we went to Columns on the beach in Avon.  I enjoyed listening to the live music & snacking away on yummy summertime favorites.

It's time for us both to get some shut eye, Liv!  I will check in with you tomorrow morning.  Mom said we could FaceTime from your bedside, so I can blow you kisses & tell you that I love you.  In the afternoon, Grammy & Pop are taking me to Pt. Pleasant & we're going on rides!!!

Sleep well baby sister!

All my love,

Win