a FULL day....

Monday was FULL...full of information...full of tests...and FULL of emotions. We took Bear to Houston on Sunday night and spent the night in a hotel. This isn't the first time he's ever stayed with us in a hotel but it is the first time he will remember it, appreciated it and enjoyed it. Needless to say he LOVED swimming after his "bedtime" and going to IHOP for breakfast. 

On Monday morning we walked through the doors of Texas Children's for the first time. We have been to hospitals in South Carolina and Atlanta but by far this hospital is the MOST incredible we've seen. I knew as soon as we crossed the threshold into the lobby that this was going to be quite the experience. 

We waited for over an hour for his first test but Bear was entertaining himself with the video games and made new friends in the waiting room. His surgeon, Dr. Charles Frazier was amazing. His bedside manner was real and genuine. He spent a few minutes talking to Barrett and interacted with him. Shortly after, a child life specialist came to scoop Bear off to the movie room so Dr. Frazier could speak frank without worrying something would scare Barrett. This was comforting to me since Bear is asking SO many questions about pain and what he going to "feel" during the surgery. 

Dr. Frazier continued to walk us through the surgery and the inadequacies of his valves and his conduit. We were hoping this would be his LAST surgery and a large enough conduit could be placed in his heart but after much discussion we learned that this was NOT possible. He has a valve that is not functioning and that needs to be replaced. The conduit that is needed for his lifespan will not yet fill his heart. This is not all bad news....just additional information. We've been told this since Bear was born. His surgery will last approx. 6 hours. There is quite a bit of scar tissue that the surgeon must get through. I breathed a sigh of relief when Dr. Frazier told us that they would not STOP his heart during the surgery but he WILL be on bypass for 12-24 hours afterwards. We are thrilled that we could possibly only be in Houston for 2 weeks depending on the success and how quickly he can be removed from the machines. 

I am SO thankful we have the opportunity  to have Bear treated in Houston. We truly feel like this is the EXACT place and the EXACT time that God, in ALL His wisdom, has put together for "such a time as this." We left Houston late afternoon and as much as I was holding back I began to cry. This has been 5 YEARS of waiting, 5 YEARS of appointments, tests, cauterizations, and wondering HOW long is TOO long. 

We were told that beginning this weekend, Bear must be kept away from all crowds, children and basically anyone that could be remotely sick. Even a runny nose can delay or cancel the surgery completely. Tomorrow will be his last day of school. Please join us in praying that NOTHING will interfere with May 27th and that we can keep Bear germ free and healthy. I LOVE my church and ALL the people in the Southeast praying for us and for Bear. It is quite humbling to be lifted up by so many faithful servants.