I can not believe 4 weeks ago at this exact moment, Larry and I were in the pre opt room with Natalie. We had signed so many consent forms. I typically make Larry sign all the forms the day of surgeries, for some reason it freaks me out to much.
Natalie was just about to recieve some “Happy Juice”, I still say parents need some of that too. I do not think it will ever get easier letting your child roll away from you into an operating room, no matter what the surgery is. I had so many emotions this day and still do.
Natalie did amazing in surgery! Our surgeon was able to use the longer rod, which will hopefully get us to her full growth. The neuro team that monitored her spine, said she did great. The cardiac anesthesiologist said her fontan was absolutely beautiful! She did receive a little blood during the surgery, which we knew was possible and we totally okay with. Natalie has received a few transfusions in her time.
Today, Natalie is healing wonderfully! She did push to a limit this past weekend and has been in some pain since. We have actually had to give her pain meds the last few days. I love my brave warrior!
Here are a few pictures of our life these last 4 weeks. I have posted several of these over the past few weeks...
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On our way to the Hospital
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| Getting our IV |
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| Smiling in Pre Opt |
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| Dr. Knock Knock and Dr Scribbles actually had us laughing |
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| In PICU |
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| Screws in her back |
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| MAGEC Rods (the small twisted wires are from her heart surgeries) |
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| What the screws look like and she has 8 of them! |
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| Finally awake and not happy |
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| Moving to Scottish Rite |
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| Ambulance ride |
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| In a lot of pain...poor baby |
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| Ms. Heather got us up and walking |
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| Xray |
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| Trying to sit up and color |
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| Arts and craft time |
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| My Sweet Girl |
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| More arts and crafts |
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| Outside in the sunshine for the first time in 6 days |
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| Happy |
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| That is right, Mrs Hackett stopped by to say on her way to her high school reunion |
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| Up and walking and actually happy about it |
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| Discharged |
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| Leaving the hospital |
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| Ms. Courtney has the best couch ever |
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| First night not in the hospital |
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| Amarillo here we come |
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| Happy to see Carter |
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| First shower in 10 days |
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| Sunshine |
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| Incision |
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| Homecoming parade (sitting the entire time) |
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| Baked a Birthday cake |
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| The weekend was to much |
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| We tried grocery shopping together, notice the pillow behind her back |
Thank you for all the texts, emails, phones, face-times and prayers! We appreciate all the balloons, gifts, flowers and meals. I can not tell you all enough how much this means to our family. We feel so blessed and are so thankful we have such an amazing support system! Thank you!
It has been a crazy 4 weeks and we feel so blessed that Natalie is doing better each day. She is still out of school for another 2.5 weeks and we have her 6 week follow up appointment in Dallas coming up. But for today, we are thankful we how great she feels. We know we still have a long road left, which I have been reminded of this week and her first lengthening will be in 4 months, but we will take it all one day at a time.
I will continue to keep you all posted on how she is doing, but I wanted to thank you all again for everything.
"Joy of the Lord is my strength"
Nehemiah 8:10
"Faith does not make things easy, it makes them possible"
Luke 1:37
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