I don't even know where to start, and I don't think I'll make it through an extensive update without falling apart. This day has certainly taken a turn we did not expect.
Kristen had a major complication during her surgery. She coded a couple of times and they performed CPR for an hour and a half. Their concern now is a lack of oxygen to her brain. We know that God can heal her and bring her back from this, we just pray with all our hearts that He will.
We thank you for the many, many prayers and just ask that you keep them coming. And please also pray for Emily and Grace. They don't yet know the extent of what's going on.
Love and thanks,
Kim
Ahead of schedule
We just got a call from the hospital. They're running a little ahead on today's schedule and want us to come in at 12:00 instead of 12:45. It looks like surgery will start earlier than 2:00.
Surgery tomorrow!
We made the trip to KC with no problems at all. Kristen slept most of the way. Aside from a couple of cries in the parking garage at Children's Mercy, we didn't hear a peep out of her!
The schedule for tomorrow has changed a bit. We check in at 12:45. Her surgery is scheduled for 2:00-5:30 p.m. The good news there is that we can sleep in. :) We'll keep you posted...
The schedule for tomorrow has changed a bit. We check in at 12:45. Her surgery is scheduled for 2:00-5:30 p.m. The good news there is that we can sleep in. :) We'll keep you posted...
Romans 12:12
I just got Kristen to bed (we both napped a bit in the glider before I laid her down in her crib) and need to take care of a couple of things before heading to bed myself. We leave in the morning for Kansas City!
Emily & Grace are in Ness City with Grama & Grampa Eckels, having fun and making great memories. The house was very quiet today without them! I felt very unsettled much of today, anticipating the next few days, but that feeling changed to one of reassurance after church tonight. Hearing the prayers prayed over Kristen tonight helped so much, as did the many hugs. Thank you, Foundry folks. You are amazing!
God is at work here, and I'm grateful for His every provision. Thank you, Lord, for this sweet baby and for the opportunity you give me daily to "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Please watch over us as we travel tomorrow. Protect us and guide us. Give Emily and Grace assurance of Your presence. Thank you, Jesus.
Emily & Grace are in Ness City with Grama & Grampa Eckels, having fun and making great memories. The house was very quiet today without them! I felt very unsettled much of today, anticipating the next few days, but that feeling changed to one of reassurance after church tonight. Hearing the prayers prayed over Kristen tonight helped so much, as did the many hugs. Thank you, Foundry folks. You are amazing!
God is at work here, and I'm grateful for His every provision. Thank you, Lord, for this sweet baby and for the opportunity you give me daily to "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Please watch over us as we travel tomorrow. Protect us and guide us. Give Emily and Grace assurance of Your presence. Thank you, Jesus.
Dr. St. Peter
Dr. St. Peter just called this afternoon (yes, on a Sunday!), so we've got answers to our questions. I won't go over them all, but here's the gist of the conversation...
On August 14th, he will be removing the lower lobe of Kristen's right lung. There's a natural division between the lobes, making it much easier to separate the lung at that point. We all have 2 1/2 times more lung capacity than our hearts can keep up with, so the removal of this lower lobe should be no problem for Kristen later in life.
The surgery will take about 3 hours and will require 4 incisions: a 5 mm incision for the camera, 2 "stab" incisions for the left and right hands to work through, and another 5 mm incision for the retractor. The 5 mm incisions will require a stitch or two inside. These will absorb and not have to be removed later. The stab incisions are so small that they won't need stitches at all.
Once we're done with the surgery, we shouldn't ever have to go back for a scan or followup related to this sequestration. The lesion is anatomically contained, so once it's removed, it's done.
Dr. St. Peter has operated on a baby as young as Kristen and is comfortable going ahead with this now, as opposed to waiting another 3 months and risking an infection in that lung. An infection would seriously complicate the operation. And I must have misunderstood him when we met right after Kristen was born. He does about 2 of these operations a year (sequestrations and CCAMS are quite rare).
For now, we're doing okay with all of this. That may change (for Mommy at least) as it gets closer! Our prayers are for peace about the operation, safe travel to KC and back, and that the doctors and nurses who care for Kristen have the skills and compassion they need to provide the best care possible.
As we've said before, we truly appreciate all of your prayers and concern. God cares for us in so many ways, and one of the most special ways is through the love of family and friends. Thank you, and God Bless!
On August 14th, he will be removing the lower lobe of Kristen's right lung. There's a natural division between the lobes, making it much easier to separate the lung at that point. We all have 2 1/2 times more lung capacity than our hearts can keep up with, so the removal of this lower lobe should be no problem for Kristen later in life.
The surgery will take about 3 hours and will require 4 incisions: a 5 mm incision for the camera, 2 "stab" incisions for the left and right hands to work through, and another 5 mm incision for the retractor. The 5 mm incisions will require a stitch or two inside. These will absorb and not have to be removed later. The stab incisions are so small that they won't need stitches at all.
Once we're done with the surgery, we shouldn't ever have to go back for a scan or followup related to this sequestration. The lesion is anatomically contained, so once it's removed, it's done.
Dr. St. Peter has operated on a baby as young as Kristen and is comfortable going ahead with this now, as opposed to waiting another 3 months and risking an infection in that lung. An infection would seriously complicate the operation. And I must have misunderstood him when we met right after Kristen was born. He does about 2 of these operations a year (sequestrations and CCAMS are quite rare).
For now, we're doing okay with all of this. That may change (for Mommy at least) as it gets closer! Our prayers are for peace about the operation, safe travel to KC and back, and that the doctors and nurses who care for Kristen have the skills and compassion they need to provide the best care possible.
As we've said before, we truly appreciate all of your prayers and concern. God cares for us in so many ways, and one of the most special ways is through the love of family and friends. Thank you, and God Bless!
Surgery scheduled
Kristen's surgery is set for August 14. She has to go in at 3:00 p.m. the day before for a pre-anesthesia work up. We don't know the exact time of her surgery yet, but it will be one of the first of the day (they stack them according to age, and she will most likely be the youngest).
I've got a list of questions for the surgeon, who is supposed to call me back. When he called last Friday, I was driving and couldn't write anything down. Dr. St. Peter said he'd be happy to talk with us any time. The trick is trying to catch him!
Kristen is full of smiles and coos these days and is very good a rolling over (both back to tummy and tummy to back). She's also sleeping about 6 hours most nights (yeah!). We appreciate the continued prayers and look forward to having all of this behind us!
Much love,
Kim & family
I've got a list of questions for the surgeon, who is supposed to call me back. When he called last Friday, I was driving and couldn't write anything down. Dr. St. Peter said he'd be happy to talk with us any time. The trick is trying to catch him!
Kristen is full of smiles and coos these days and is very good a rolling over (both back to tummy and tummy to back). She's also sleeping about 6 hours most nights (yeah!). We appreciate the continued prayers and look forward to having all of this behind us!
Much love,
Kim & family
Pulmonary sequestration
Well, it's not the outcome we'd hoped for, but we have the results of the CT scan. It's not a CCAM as they originally thought, but rather a pulmonary sequestration. I've added some links in the "Resources" area of this site; they explain it better than I can. After talking with both the surgeon at Children's Mercy (the one who ordered the scan) and our pediatrician here, I understand a sequestration to be similar to a CCAM in that it's non-functioning lung tissue. They differ, however, in that a CCAM is generally cystic and does not have any blood vessels feeding it, while a sequestration does have blood vessels attached. The scan report very plainly stated that there were blood vessels present in the lesion, which measures about 2.5 x 1 x 1 cm. It's not large and is not interfering with Kristen's breathing at all. This one is not attached to the airway, though some of them can be.
Even though she's having no difficulties, the sequestration needs to be removed. If it is not removed, there is a chance it will become malignant later in life. Because of the blood flow through the lesion, it can also cause circulation and heart problems.
As long as she has no respiratory infection, the sequestration can be removed thoracoscopically (minimally invasive). If she gets an infection, it becomes much more difficult to remove the lesion and would most likely require opening up her chest.
The prognosis seems quite good after surgery, and this surgeon has performed many of this type of operation. We still have to schedule it, but will most likely be looking to have this done mid-August. Kristen will be about 3 1/2 months old at that time, and we'll still be ahead of the time of year when she would be more likely to get a respiratory infection.
Our faith is not wavering...we know God is in control of the situation and will bring us through it! He has given us a beautiful baby and shown us His mercy time and time again since her arrival. We thank all of you for your continued prayers!
Even though she's having no difficulties, the sequestration needs to be removed. If it is not removed, there is a chance it will become malignant later in life. Because of the blood flow through the lesion, it can also cause circulation and heart problems.
As long as she has no respiratory infection, the sequestration can be removed thoracoscopically (minimally invasive). If she gets an infection, it becomes much more difficult to remove the lesion and would most likely require opening up her chest.
The prognosis seems quite good after surgery, and this surgeon has performed many of this type of operation. We still have to schedule it, but will most likely be looking to have this done mid-August. Kristen will be about 3 1/2 months old at that time, and we'll still be ahead of the time of year when she would be more likely to get a respiratory infection.
Our faith is not wavering...we know God is in control of the situation and will bring us through it! He has given us a beautiful baby and shown us His mercy time and time again since her arrival. We thank all of you for your continued prayers!
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