The Night Before

Well it's the night before Adeline's big open heart surgery, and I had planned on writing a long post, but I'm not sure I can put what all I'm thinking into words.  We met with her surgeon, Dr. Bradley, yesterday, and he explained the surgery and of course all of the risks involved.  He'll repair the 2 holes in her heart as well as correct her interrupted aortic arch.  Sitting in front of a surgeon who you know will fix your daughter's heart so that she'll be able to survive is an experience that's hard to describe.  Dr. Bradley is a very humble man and a man of few words.  We know that he is one of the best in the country, and we couldn't be more pleased with the hands in which we're placing our daughter tomorrow.  We know that God has already healed Adeline's heart to a certain point as her diagnosis is much better than we anticipated and that Dr. Bradley will be God's hands to finish the healing.

Both Andrew and I got to hold Adeline for a good while this afternoon.  She was awake most of the time, and she just stared at us.  I know we both could have sat there for hours holding her, but we get anxious with her connected to all of her wires.  Thankfully she was very calm while we held her.  Hopefully it won't be too long before we're able to hold her again and hold her whenever we want.

One of the cardiologists came by to talk to us today to make sure we didn't have any more questions about tomorrow.  He told us that Adeline is in the best condition possible going into surgery.  She has been so strong since birth so hopefully she'll do well during surgery and while recovering.  As long as she has her pacifier, she's very happy, but if she's not happy, she lets you know!  She has a good set of lungs on her :)

I think when we go home, I might need to take a few of her nurses home with us.  It's amazing how calm the nurses are on the unit, and they take such great care of all of the patients.  The cardiologists referred to them as "the best, most expensive baby-sitters" today when he was telling me that it's okay to not be there all of the time as I have to remember to take care of myself as well.

Anesthesia should come to get Adeline around 6:30 tomorrow morning, and surgery should be around 4-5 hours.  We'll receive updates about every hour so we'll know what's going on in surgery.  We'll update the blog as soon as we're able.  Tomorrow is a huge day for Adeline, and hopefully she'll come out of surgery with a heart that is all fixed.  Yes, I'm scared.  Having your daughter have open heart surgery at 9 days old is terrifying.  Thankfully she won't remember any of this.  Right now she looks so perfect to me, and she doesn't look sick at all.  But she is. She will not survive without this operation.

All of the doctors are very confident and keep referring to how well she's been doing so I'm going to try and follow their lead.  Please pray tomorrow for Adeline, us and our families, and especially the doctors and nurses who will be taking care of her.  We thank you for all of the prayers, and we know that we'll need the extra strength to get through tomorrow.