The past month of our lives has taken for a little ride, to say the least. Mid October, I took Hailey in for her regular 6 month checkup. The nurse practitioner told me that she had a heart murmur and referred me to a pediatric cardiologist to get an echocardiogram. We got an appointment about a week and a half later with Dr. Kip. I was fully expecting her to say that Hailey had an innocent heart murmur (which a large percentage of children have). Unfortunately, she informed me that Hailey had coarctation of the aorta and that we had to go to Stanford Children's Hospital for urgent (not emergency, but urgent) heart surgery. We were at Stanford within 3 days of the appointment with the cardiologist.
The day of surgery was the most excruciating day of our life. I have never experienced that level of anxiety and literally thought I was going to have to be sedated (seriously, I know I'm sarcastic, but no sarcasm here, I thought they were going to have to put me out!) We met with numerous doctors, nurses, surgeons, etc. It seemed like each one of them had to tell us all the risks of her surgery, which is not a pleasant thing to hear. Overall, the staff at the hospital took great care of her. There is nothing to compare to handing your child to a nurse to take her into the OR for heart surgery. She was away from us in surgery for 6 hours. The. longest. six. hours. of. my. life. There was no greater relief than to watch the waiting room door to open and the surgeon come in and give us the "thumbs up". I just sobbed and sobbed. (Kevin didn't sob, but he cried. And if you know my husband, THAT is a big deal.) The surgeon, Dr. Hanley, met with us, answered all our questions, and let us know that everything went as well as possible.
Hailey was taken to the CVICU where she had her own dedicated nurse for 5 days, then to intermediate care for 3 days before we were released. She is now home and happy and I don't think she remembers a thing. (It is her parents who will have the experience indelibly imprinted on their brains.) She is on a few medications, 5 times a day, and we are hoping that she won't have to be on high blood pressure medication her whole life.
This experience has changed me. Really, really changed me. I cannot fathom going through this without the knowledge the Jesus Christ lives, loves me, and knows what I'm feeling. I'm so grateful for the knowledge that my family can be together forever. We love our children and feel overwhelmingly blessed this Christmas season that our sweet Hailey is happy, healthy, and home with us.
Hailey right before surgery. She was not a happy camper because she couldn't eat for 8 hours before and her surgery was at 4 in the afternoon.
The day after surgery (I'll spare you the pictures of immediately after surgery.)
She spent five days in the CVICU. (Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit)
Daddy reading books. Hailey got lots of attention of course. We probably read the same 5 books, 2,346 times. She loved it.
My mom with Hailey and Hunter the day we were released from the hospital.
We could not have done this without all the help we received from family and friends. Kevin's parents took the other children for the entire time we were gone. The kids were completely happy and spoiled the whole time. Kevin and I stayed with Brian and Wendy (Kevin's brother and family), who live close to Stanford. They were incredible to us. I know that we were like a hurricane at their house and they just did everything they could to help. Wendy is an incredible cook and had fabulous meals for us every night (like prime rib and lobster kind of meals!). And then, my mom, of course, who is always there for me. She flew in and stayed with us the week after we got home. I couldn't do my life without her. We love you all and are so, so, grateful.
