POST #6

Monday, August 28

Helena's surgery will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, August 29, starting at around 7:15 a.m.

Today was pretty sobering for Mary, Aaron, and the grandparents, as they met with the surgical team to learn more about what Helena's surgery and recovery will involve. Mary says that they explained every part of the process, as well as the possible complications and risks. Everything is "seeming more real right now," she told me as they were on the way home from the hospital this afternoon. Dorothy noted that they are all "feeling pretty overwhelmed" because the surgery is "far more complex and serious that any of us had imagined. We're shellshocked."

The team will come for Helena at around 7:15 am, and her surgery will begin shortly after that. It will take about 8 hours. The medical team will need to stop Helena's heart functions, which means that she will be placed on a heart-lung machine. In addition, her body temperature will be reduced to about half--50F. The surgery is considered high risk, and recipients generally have an 80-90% chance of survival. In the fairly recent past, this type of surgery was not even possible, since the Norwood procedure was developed in the 80s. Although this sounds scary, Dorothy emphasized that Helena has "the best possible surgeon."

In general, Helena's prospects are very good, since she was full-term and is in good physical condition now. She had excellent pre-natal care, and Mary was very healthy during the pregnancy. Christ Hospital does more of these types of surgery than any other in the country, but they still do only about 25 per year. Ultimately, though, Mary and Aaron know that Helena is in God's hands and they are grateful for your prayers.

During the surgery, someone will provide hourly reports to the family, letting them know how the surgery is progressing.

Recovery is also going to be a process that they will need to "take one step at a time." According to Mary, "there is really no telling how long any of this could take." After the surgery, Helena's chest will remain open for about a week for monitoring, as well as to accommodate the swelling. It is possible that she will be in the hospital for a month after the surgery. When Helena is between three and six months old, she will require another surgery, followed by a third surgery when she is between 12 and 18 months. The Norwood procedure is a series of surgeries, not just one (see the link in the column to the right).

When they arrived at the hospital today, Mary said "it was hard to see her with a vent, but she didn't look uncomfortable." The nurse unwrapped her, and though they couldn't hold her, they could rub her tummy and play with her toes. Helena was sedated because of the vent, but she still opened her eyes, and tried to move around, "reaching out and stretching her arms." "Her color was so good--pink," Dorothy said.

At around noon, they held a service of blessing for Helena, led by Pastor Dennis from St. John's in Somonauk, IL (Mary's internship pastor). Aaron read Psalm 139, where the psalmist begins

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away," and continues: "For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed."

John read Psalm 121, where the psalmist looks to God for assistance, and is certain of God's presence:

"I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore."

John also talked about Isaiah 43, where God assures the Israelites:

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you... For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour."

Tonight, Mary and Aaron are trying to get some rest, because tomorrow will be a terribly long day for them. Mary's blood pressure remains stable today, and she is experiencing less pain. Her milk has come in and pumping is a lot less stressful. Overall, Mary and Aaron seem to be holding up well, and are so thankful for your support.

Karla (Mary's sister)