Charlotte's Journey: March 2012

Monday, March 5, 2012

Heart Cath

I want to start at the beginning so here I go. Last night we made it to Charleston around 6:30 and checked in our hotel and let Charlotte just roam around and explore the room while we decided what to do about supper. Finally we decided to go to Triangle and have a burger. After supper we hit Krispy Kreme and had a doughnut, and Charlotte had sprinkles and chocolate. She never ate the doughnut :) We made it back to the room and let her eat til she couldn't eat and drink anymore. Finally around 11:30 she passed out and slept all night. I was afraid that she would wake up wanting milk, but I am thankful that she didn't. This morning, Charlotte slept through Brian and me getting ready and I scooped her up, wrapped her up in a blanket and headed to the hospital. Made it through admitting and even the first 30 minutes in the Holding Room then a nurse with cold hands woke her up. Of course Charlotte wakes up crying because she didn't recognize where she was and the nurse freezing her to death. It only took a few minutes to get her calm, then about 20 minutes later Anesthesia comes to get information and gave her some versed to calm her for the trip to the lab. Brian and I have never laughed so hard in all of our lives..... Charlotte was a little drunk kid, smiling, drooling and swaying back and forth, sitting in the little red wagon waiting to go. It was hilarious, but still I cried when they pulled away.

The Cath took about 5 hours, and we got an update every hour which made time go by quicker. Finally we got the call around 1:30 to head back to recovery, Charlotte was back and waking up. Charlotte looked so peaceful for about 3 seconds and woke up crying and I could tell she was in pain. She asked for water and drank almost a whole cup, which helped her scratchy throat. Charlotte coughed one time and the nurse came running over to check her groin, and she was bleeding! The nurse had to hold pressure on her groin for 20 minutes, which was a total fight. The nurse decided to give her a dose of morphine and versed and really quickly she was back asleep. That was a blessing, because she had to lay flat on her back for two hours:( Ended up, Charlotte slept the whole time two hour waiting period and woke up pretty happy. After getting everything and Charlotte settled down, The nurse informed us that Charlotte didn't have a pulse in her left foot and she had to be put on heparin to help thin her blood. IT took about an hour to get the pulse back, but her leg looked terrible. We were going to have to stay the night in the hospital due to the heparin, but she didn't have to have it to long and the pulse came back pretty quickly, so Dr. Baker decided we could go home at 7. Brian and I were chomping at the bit to get to talk to Dr. Baker about his finding, but we had to wait til 5:30, because he had another case.

Finally, Dr, Baker comes back and tells us that Charlotte is still in the running for a two ventricle repair!! That is awesome, because she would still get to keep the full function of her heart!! Also, that they had ballooned off the Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), and the shunt to measure pressure, oxygen levels and heart function. It seems that the blocking caused her cardiac function to decrease, but not enough to alarm him and her O2 level increased. So now, Dr. Baker has to send Dr. Bradley (Surgeon) the results and then Dr. Bradley will contact Dr. Horne (Cardiologist) and they together will decide the path best for Charlotte. So now we wait again for another 2 weeks til we can meet with Dr. Horne and find out the decision:(

I am just so thankful that the LORD answered our prayers and made it as easy as possible for Charlotte. Now I just pray that we get the news we have been praying for these last 22 months!!!

Heart Poem

It's a beautiful day up in heaven. Jesus is rounding up his tiniest angels, to go live on earth, and be born. One of the sweetest angels says to Jesus "I don't want to leave, I like it here, and I will miss you". He reassures the scared little angel that everything will be okay, and that he is just going for a visit. He is still not swayed on this idea. So Jesus kneels down, and says, "How about if you leave half of your heart here with me and take the other half with you, will that be okay?" The angel smiles and says, "I guess that will work". But the little angel is still a little scared. He asks,"Will I be okay with only half of my heart?" Jesus replies,"Of course you will, I have other angels there that will help out, and you will be fine." Then Jesus gives the angel more details about his plan. He says "When you are born, your mommy will be scared, so you have to be strong, and when you feel weak just remember that I have the other half of your heart". "Enjoy your time with your family, play and laugh everyday." "And when its time to come back to heaven, I will make your heart whole again. Always remember that you are not broken, just torn between two loves."

THE CHOSEN MOTHERS BY ERMA BOMBECK

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressure, and a couple by habit. Did you ever wonder how mothes of children with life threatening illnesses are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrog, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia. Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Gerard."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says, "Give her a child with cancer." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy." "Exactly" smiles God, "Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But, does she have patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she will handle it." "I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has it's own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she believes in you. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps- "Selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't seperate herself from the child occasionally. she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted, She will never consider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see.... ignorance, cruelty, prejudice... and allow her to rise above them. "She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side." "And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel. His pen poised in mid-air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."