This is a blog for my daughter Scarlett. She was born with a complex congenital heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia. She is my little hero.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Surgery Hour 4

We handed off our baby at 7:30am this morning. It is now 11:30am. The nurse just came in to tell us that Dr. Cleveland has "just started" on the repair. She said that all this time they've been getting her lines in. After they put her under general anesthesia, they had to get her IV lines in, a central line, "Art" line, etc.. Then they cut her open, suction the blood, clean her up, cut some more, remove scar tissue, cut some more, suction some more, remove/cut the wires holding her sternum shut, suction some more, cut open her sternum (again) etc... to get to her tiny little heart.

Now after all that, they finally put her on the heart/lung bypass machine, which is why the nurse came in to update us. So, now the actual repair (or attempted repair) begins. It will be at least 5-6 from now.  I have to admit I'm a little disappointed/surprised/sad/worried because I thought the surgery was flowing along so smoothly until now. I thought Dr. Cleveland was already in there, but it turns out the surgical team was just doing their part to get to her heart and getting all her IV lines in (not just the anesthesia/external IV lines). The nurse said its gonna take a long time. We of course got teary eyed because it's still hard to believe what my little girl is having to put up with today.

Will post again when they come to update me again. Thanks.

3 comments:

  1. Please know our Hearts and Prayers are Surrounding You.

    with Love and Hope,
    ~ Chris A ~

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  2. Melocdie I know it is of little comfort to you, but the one thing for me that has always brought me comfort during surgery is knowing, while she is on the H&L machine, her heart wasn't having to do that work, that she was comfortably asleep, and even though there is the road of recovery is ahead, that for that momment in time, her little heart is getting a rest even though it is being worked on.

    10 hour surgeies drive me insane, we have only gone through it once and we will face it again with our next surgery, so I completely understand the torment that comes along with sitting in the waiting room. I wish I was there with you today to offer any comfort I could, but I know you are surrounded by family right now, which is always the best during these long surgies.

    Just know I am sending you mommy heart hugs, I will swing by tomorrow to check in on her, and of course on you. Try to get some rest, as we both know, she is in the hands of not only our Heavenly father while she is in surgery, but she has a great team behind her, and a great team to see her through recovery. She is well loved and cared for...as you know, we could never ask for a better extended family, then that of the St.Joes Cardiac Team!

    Jenna

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  3. Melodie - TRUST THR PROCESS Everything is going just as it should and our precious Scarlett will come out with a heart that works much more like it should. You have a gifted surgery team who KNOWS Scarlett even better than you do. She looked beautiful as ever going in and she'll be even better when they're done. Godspeed!

    Susan

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