Sunday, September 9, 2012
Update
Kirby has had a good day and had a good night last night. She was awake a little more today but continues to be puffy in her face. This is to be expected due to the body adjusting to the pressures from the new anatomy from surgery. There was some fluid buildup around the lungs today which is also to be expected from being on the heart-lung bypass during surgery, therefore, the doctor placed a small chest tube to drain the fluid from that area. He was unable to get to this area during the open heart surgery, so, the tubes were not placed at that time. It was a simple procedure done at her beside today with some sedation. So, now that the fluid is gone and the chest is closed, the next step is to get Kirby off of the ventilator. That is the plan for tonight and tomorrow. They will begin CPAP trials (turning off the ventilator to let her breathe on her own) during the night and tomorrow and depending on how she does, they will remove the ventilator tomorrow evening. Praise God for continued progress!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Chest closed!
Kirby had a great day yesterday and a great night last night. The dr closed her chest this morning with no complications. She is still puffy and the swelling needs to come down a little more but all in all she is doing really well. They are continuing to wean down the ventilator support and her meds. The next step is to get her off the ventilator. The plan is to do that in the next 24-48 hours. God is good!
Friday, September 7, 2012
A Fiesty One
We have a fiesty one on our hands. They have taken Kirby off of her paralytic and she is swatting and kicking. She is not happy with these tubes. Her eyes are still closed and her chest is open but she is letting us know she doesnt like it. They have had to tie her hands down and give her some more sedation. :( The plan is to close her chest tomorrow. The dr wants to get some more of the swelling down and the fluids out of her body before they close her chest. They have weaned the ventilator some more and are pleased with her progress. They are planning to start introducing some small amounts of milk in her belly today. Her stats are good including heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturations, and temps. Happy Friday to all!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Recovery
I did not have Wi-Fi last night at the Ronald McDonald house so I wasn't able to update.....so.....
Yesterday was a long day. Kirby has definitely proven to give the Drs. a run for their money. The surgery lasted about 11 hours. Initially getting in to the chest was difficult due to scar tissue. He said that it took 4 hours just to get in the chest and into the heart. He began with the valve repair which took several hours. He stated he had never seen anything like it before. She had an extra "leaflet" and he repaired the valve with every technique he knew and had ever heard of. He then proceeded to do the "Glenn" which is the second stage surgery with Kirby's heart defect. There was some instability with heart pressures and blood pressure along with her heart being enlarged b/c of it working so hard with the leaky valve. So, he decided to leave her chest open to give some time for the swelling to decrease and the pressures to decrease. He plans to close her chest within the next day or so, then they will get her off the ventilator. He feels good about the procedures and the echo's are showing good heart function and definite decreases in the "leaking" valve. Kirby had a good night and they were able to wean down the ventilator support and take her off 2 blood pressure medicines. They plan to let her start waking up slightly today. They tell us that headaches are very common for days after this procedure b/c the body has to adjust to the changes in blood flow and pressures. They call it the "Grouchy Glenn" b/c the babies can be fussy and in pain from the headaches for several days. Kirby is very swollen and puffy....I can't wait to kiss on those sweet cheeks soon and see those bright eyes look me in the eyes and know her mama and daddy are here.
We could definitely feel the peace of God yesterday through all of your prayers. We are so thankful for family, friends, and friends of friends who have lifted Kirby up in their prayers. We know how good our God is and He is faithful to his promises. Continue to pray for a quick recovery and continued comfort and peace.
Yesterday was a long day. Kirby has definitely proven to give the Drs. a run for their money. The surgery lasted about 11 hours. Initially getting in to the chest was difficult due to scar tissue. He said that it took 4 hours just to get in the chest and into the heart. He began with the valve repair which took several hours. He stated he had never seen anything like it before. She had an extra "leaflet" and he repaired the valve with every technique he knew and had ever heard of. He then proceeded to do the "Glenn" which is the second stage surgery with Kirby's heart defect. There was some instability with heart pressures and blood pressure along with her heart being enlarged b/c of it working so hard with the leaky valve. So, he decided to leave her chest open to give some time for the swelling to decrease and the pressures to decrease. He plans to close her chest within the next day or so, then they will get her off the ventilator. He feels good about the procedures and the echo's are showing good heart function and definite decreases in the "leaking" valve. Kirby had a good night and they were able to wean down the ventilator support and take her off 2 blood pressure medicines. They plan to let her start waking up slightly today. They tell us that headaches are very common for days after this procedure b/c the body has to adjust to the changes in blood flow and pressures. They call it the "Grouchy Glenn" b/c the babies can be fussy and in pain from the headaches for several days. Kirby is very swollen and puffy....I can't wait to kiss on those sweet cheeks soon and see those bright eyes look me in the eyes and know her mama and daddy are here.
We could definitely feel the peace of God yesterday through all of your prayers. We are so thankful for family, friends, and friends of friends who have lifted Kirby up in their prayers. We know how good our God is and He is faithful to his promises. Continue to pray for a quick recovery and continued comfort and peace.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Update
The actual procedure is done. She is off the heart-lung bypass and her heart is pumping on its on. They are waiting on the bleeding to stop and then they will close her chest. Hopefully only 1.5 to 2 hours before she is all done.
Surgery update
We have been getting hourly updates. The last update said she is good and stable and they are finished with the valve repair. They are working on the "Glenn"...the second stage surgery. We don't know anything regarding the valve repair. I will keep you posted. Keep those prayers coming.
Surgery
As I type, we just got the first update that Kirby is very stable and they are just getting through the scar tissue from the previous surgery. Everything is good so far.
This morning marks probably the most difficult day of our lives, turning our sweet spirited, smiling, loving, beautiful, almost 5 month old daughter over to the hands of a surgical team to conduct her second stage surgery and a repair of the common valve....a moment we have anxiously waited for....yet dreaded at the same time. Many tears have been shed and many prayers have gone up. We know she is in great hands b/c we put Kirby in God's hands from the beginning and again this morning. We know the peace of God and his presence fills that operating room and God is guiding the hands of everyone involved. She smiled so big this morning as we talked to her and played with her at 5:00 am and rested in our arms as we waited to hand her over. I can't describe the joy that her smile brings...it is contagious.
Her surgery was postponed for a third time (was supposed to be yesterday morning September 4th) b/c of another emergency surgery, so we were just bumped one day. All of the postponing has been so frustrating but we have had to remind ourselves that God's plan is bigger and he has a plan that is out of our control.
We have had some great moments with Kirby lately. Her personality if blooming and her smiling will light up a room. She has had a few trips outside, enjoyed her first USC football game, met one of her great grandmothers for the first time, cooed at us, gotten to visit with our family and some of our closest friends etc, etc.
The 8d staff has been remarkable to us during our 2 month + stay and we are so grateful for each of them and their support. They love Kirby too and can't wait to see her out of the ICU and back on the floor to recover and go home.
We love you all and are so thankful for all of your support and prayers. Keep it up. God is good and He will heal baby Kirby!
This morning marks probably the most difficult day of our lives, turning our sweet spirited, smiling, loving, beautiful, almost 5 month old daughter over to the hands of a surgical team to conduct her second stage surgery and a repair of the common valve....a moment we have anxiously waited for....yet dreaded at the same time. Many tears have been shed and many prayers have gone up. We know she is in great hands b/c we put Kirby in God's hands from the beginning and again this morning. We know the peace of God and his presence fills that operating room and God is guiding the hands of everyone involved. She smiled so big this morning as we talked to her and played with her at 5:00 am and rested in our arms as we waited to hand her over. I can't describe the joy that her smile brings...it is contagious.
Her surgery was postponed for a third time (was supposed to be yesterday morning September 4th) b/c of another emergency surgery, so we were just bumped one day. All of the postponing has been so frustrating but we have had to remind ourselves that God's plan is bigger and he has a plan that is out of our control.
We have had some great moments with Kirby lately. Her personality if blooming and her smiling will light up a room. She has had a few trips outside, enjoyed her first USC football game, met one of her great grandmothers for the first time, cooed at us, gotten to visit with our family and some of our closest friends etc, etc.
The 8d staff has been remarkable to us during our 2 month + stay and we are so grateful for each of them and their support. They love Kirby too and can't wait to see her out of the ICU and back on the floor to recover and go home.
We love you all and are so thankful for all of your support and prayers. Keep it up. God is good and He will heal baby Kirby!
The faculty of Cherokee Technology Center (my mom's work) supporting Kirby in their team Kirby shirts
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