Post-Op Update
Journal entry by Missy Eagen — 4/8/2016
Yesterday there was a lot to think about, emotions were all over and quite honestly we were all so exhausted I'm not sure if we could have provided you all with an update. We continue to be so grateful for your prayers, kind words and encouragement. Here is the "short" version of yesterday and today.
Thursday morning: During the night going into day 1 post op Brielle's right lung collapsed- they had to re-open her chest to relieve pressure allowing it to re inflate. As scary as this sounds they watch for this and many times patients come out of the OR with the chest open and it stays like that until the swelling and pressure ease. Again one of those "normal" scenarios but nothing feels normal or right about it for us. We continue to trust in the wonderful doctors and nurses that we know are caring so well for her. Another complication that was watched for and caught early was a blood clot in her leg. After surgery she had problems with one of her arterial lines and the clot is a result of that. The line was safely moved to one of her arms.
Friday morning: No middle of the night phone calls for Beca and Jordan! Yeah- I think they slept a little better but I'm sure much of the sleep to be had was due to utter exhaustion. This morning our sweet girl is stable, they are moving on to new goals like helping her to absorb and then release the excess fluids causing her to look bigger than we know she is. We kind of got a sneak peek of what a bigger Brielle will look like but we'd rather it not be due to swelling. They will continue to give medicine to get that clot to break up and monitor the leg. No feeds yet today but that is on the agenda for tomorrow. Her sedation was lowered a bit and she is having movement, kicking and letting them know she has other things she'd rather be doing. They will keep her comfortable and not allow her to wake to much but it is a GOOD thing that she is doing that. It tells them her brain is doing what it's supposed to do. That lung isn't completely inflated but again this happens in about 75% of infant cardiac patients and just takes time. The other news we received today was that after surgery Brielle had something call Heart Block, you can read about that HERE. The size and location of her VSD is basically blocking the signal from the upper to lower chambers. This will also just take time to see what if any treatment will need to happen.
Time- that is the best answer to all of our "what, when , how" questions. Answers and healing will just take TIME.
In the meanwhile please pray specifically for the clot and heart block, also that they are able to safely re-close her chest. The doctor said that will be determined by how she responds to getting those excess fluids out and lowering the swelling.
In non medical news Beca and Jordan are walking this path with courage and strength. At times we feel so helpless yet God continues to reassure us that He is in control. Jordan said it perfectly - He knows the plan.
Thursday morning: During the night going into day 1 post op Brielle's right lung collapsed- they had to re-open her chest to relieve pressure allowing it to re inflate. As scary as this sounds they watch for this and many times patients come out of the OR with the chest open and it stays like that until the swelling and pressure ease. Again one of those "normal" scenarios but nothing feels normal or right about it for us. We continue to trust in the wonderful doctors and nurses that we know are caring so well for her. Another complication that was watched for and caught early was a blood clot in her leg. After surgery she had problems with one of her arterial lines and the clot is a result of that. The line was safely moved to one of her arms.
Friday morning: No middle of the night phone calls for Beca and Jordan! Yeah- I think they slept a little better but I'm sure much of the sleep to be had was due to utter exhaustion. This morning our sweet girl is stable, they are moving on to new goals like helping her to absorb and then release the excess fluids causing her to look bigger than we know she is. We kind of got a sneak peek of what a bigger Brielle will look like but we'd rather it not be due to swelling. They will continue to give medicine to get that clot to break up and monitor the leg. No feeds yet today but that is on the agenda for tomorrow. Her sedation was lowered a bit and she is having movement, kicking and letting them know she has other things she'd rather be doing. They will keep her comfortable and not allow her to wake to much but it is a GOOD thing that she is doing that. It tells them her brain is doing what it's supposed to do. That lung isn't completely inflated but again this happens in about 75% of infant cardiac patients and just takes time. The other news we received today was that after surgery Brielle had something call Heart Block, you can read about that HERE. The size and location of her VSD is basically blocking the signal from the upper to lower chambers. This will also just take time to see what if any treatment will need to happen.
Time- that is the best answer to all of our "what, when , how" questions. Answers and healing will just take TIME.
In the meanwhile please pray specifically for the clot and heart block, also that they are able to safely re-close her chest. The doctor said that will be determined by how she responds to getting those excess fluids out and lowering the swelling.
In non medical news Beca and Jordan are walking this path with courage and strength. At times we feel so helpless yet God continues to reassure us that He is in control. Jordan said it perfectly - He knows the plan.
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