Surgery Day (Updated frequently)

We checked in at 5:30 this morning and from the moment we arrived, the ball started rolling.  This place is so amazing.

I was with him up until they wheeled him away to the OR at 7:35. Before they took him, they let me take off my mask so I could hug him and kiss his check.  I said, "I love you, baby" and he replied, "I love you too, Mom.  You're gonna be just fine".   God bless him.

8:43 am

I just got a text that the procedure has begun.  My boy is in a deep, deep sleep and I am a mess, trying to not imagine what it looks like in there.  I was told it would be 5 - 6 hours.

9:34 am

He is now on bypass meaning the main part of surgery is underway.  His heart is exposed and mine's beating out of my chest.  

...

It's hard sitting here. In a time before Covid, Mark would have been here too, waiting.  I know it's hard for him not being able to.  And in a time before Covid, our surgeon would have flown South to us and we would only be three hours from home.  But I bet Mayo's Jacksonville ICU waiting room doesn't have a view like this one...

So I look up from my phone and computer at least once per minute and I thank Him for this beautiful day, for bringing us safely to the best facility in the United States and putting my son in the most skilled hands in the Nation. 

...

10:04  

I would know by now if the "CODE BLUE" I just heard over the intercom would be for him, right?  RIGHT?  There are many, many patients here.  And just now I realize that the Operating Room is three or four floors below the ICU.  I may need heart surgery before this is over.  LOL???  

11:53

Prayers answered!!!  Surgery was perfectly executed and the repair was made.  No pig or cow parts needed.

I'm going to be brief right now but they are finishing up as I write this.  The Doctor came to see me and left his team to put Nicholas back together again.  His sternum will be wired together and they're going to extubate him in the OR which is HUGE!  That means he's breathing on his own and his heart and lungs are working without aid. He won't have to go into ICU with the tube down his throat and he'll no doubt be more comfortable.

Thank you for ALL the prayers and messages that helped me through waiting during this surgery.  I will continue to update all day long.  For now, I need to breathe on my own as well.

Love you all.

 

7:21 PM

This by far has been the most dreaded, most fearful, most tearful, most humbling, most grateful day of my life.  

When I walked into the ICU and they took me into his room, the nurse asked me if i needed a moment to take in a deep breath before I saw him.  "No," I said.  I didn't want to wait that long.  I could handle anything now because he'd come through it and his surgeon gave it rave reviews.  

I did brace myself though and that action was a waste of 4 calories because what I saw in front of me put a bright, shiny bow on a brown paper package and made it beautiful.  My son looked nothing like the warning lable.

I looked past the abdominal drainage tubes, and the one in his neck.  It was explained to me that the funny looking thing covering his mouth and bearing vacuum cleaner sized hoses was a bi-pap machine, not to be confused with Bypass, thank you very much.  It helped him exhale efficiently so all the carbon dioxide didn't stay in his system.  At least I think that's what they said.  So while I was looking past all that I saw the handsome face of my 2nd born child and he gave me the faintest smile.  I could see it behind the air filled transparent mask that fit over his nose and mouth.  

He was half asleep, one quarter awake and the remaining quarter in lala land.  But he knew I was there because he opened his eyes and squeezed my hand.  

There was much activity in his room.  They worked around me and wouldn't let me apologize for being in their way.  They encourged me to get in close and talk to him.  

He was in and out.  But when he was in, he was as charming as the day was long.  His voice, although raspy from the breathing tube was slightly slurred but articulate and while he made perfect sense, he made the SAME perfect sense time and again as he asked the same question and made the same statement over and over. 

Each hour brought him further out of the fog and he declaired his pain level a solid 2 and promised to let them know when it climbed to 4. 

Once they allowed him water, he didn't stop and before the close of visiting hours, he'd drained the glass three times.  He told the nurse the water in this place was the best he's ever had.  At least a dozen times.

When I had to leave, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.  He was in a fishbowl surrounded by the best of the best, watching his every move, listening to every word, refilling his water glass, waiting to act on his 4.  He has a lot of Mamas tonight.

He told me to come back in the morning.  He didn't have to tell me twice.  I'll be there a good minute before they put out the Welcome Visitors sign.

For now, the sun sets on this day and tomorrow is a brand new one.  With so many, many, many more to come...