Monday, April 6 – Surgery Day

We arrived at the hospital around 5:15am and checked into pre-op at 6:00am. The doctors came in to speak with Devin and me, walking us through everything and preparing us for what would be at least a 7-hour surgery. After signing all the necessary consent forms, they took her back to the OR around 7:50am.

Throughout the morning, we received updates about every 90 minutes. Around 9:30am, we got the first call letting us know things were going well. The general surgery team was working on the rib graft, and the ENT surgeon would begin his portion after that. Around 11:00am, we were told the ENT team was working on her airway. Then around 12:00pm, we received a call asking us to come up to the waiting room because the surgeon was finishing up.

As we headed upstairs, Devin and I felt a wave of nerves, wondering if the surgery had ended early because something hadn’t gone as planned. After a short wait, the surgeon came in and shared the news we had been praying for—the surgery went really well, and he completed everything. It truly felt like an answered prayer.

He explained that she now has a drain by her neck incision to help with healing, as well as an incision near the top of her ribs. After speaking with him, we went to the PICU, where she is currently intubated, sedated, and on paralytics.

Tuesday, April 7

She had an arterial line placed to make blood draws easier without repeated pokes. She also has two IVs for medications and fluids. She experienced a few low-grade fevers, and her hemoglobin levels have been on the lower side, so the team is monitoring that closely.

Wednesday, April 8

This morning, she had an X-ray that showed some fluid in her left lung. The team is watching it carefully to determine if a chest tube will be needed.

Later today, they plan to stop the paralytic medication while keeping her sedated and intubated. If sedation alone isn’t enough to keep her still and prevent movement of her head, they will restart the paralytic.

She is scheduled to return to the OR this Friday to evaluate how her airway is healing and to do additional repair if needed.

We are so grateful that her surgery went well, but we know we’re still in a critical window for healing over these next few days. She’s not out of the woods yet, and we truly appreciate every prayer, message, and bit of support. Please continue to pray for steady healing and no complications.