Jack's Surgery and Aftermath

I've been seriously putting this off, and I'm so sorry.

January 17: We took Jack in for his surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. From past experience (watching other people go through similar things), we expected the surgery to last at least five hours. It didn't. He was on and off bypass in an hour, and the surgery itself took about two hours. The thing that took the longest was getting him prepped, and taking him off the respirator.

Seeing him in the PICU was a bit of a shock. We were slightly prepared beforehand, but it's very different when it's your own baby. After washing my hands, I ran to his side and nearly cried. C nearly passed out. Jack was hooked up to various IVs, had an oxygen mask on (his breathing was torturous, at best), and had a chest tube in (you could see the blood/fluids being drained from his chest). *shudder* He's a strong little man, though.

He spent one night in the PICU (his nurse that first day totally reminded me of my sister B--same smile, same sweetness, same calming attitude... it was very nice), and two nights in the pediatrics floor. We were sent home Sunday afternoon.

The doctor had told us that he wanted Jack up and walking the day after surgery; we didn't believe it was possible. Sure enough, he walked around a little bit. Two days post-surgery, he was walking, running, trotting--basically, he ruled the halls of the pediatrics floor; he acted like he owned the place.

The incision itself is a work of beauty. It looks like Jack just got a giant cut on his chest... it doesn't look like he just had open heart surgery. He's healing very fast, and is doing so well. He's still on a Motrin regimen, simply because it's still very painful for him. He also had Tylenol with Codeine "as needed for pain", which we've had to use a few times.

What a trooper!

A couple pictures...
Two days post-surgery:


Almost one week post-surgery:
















A lot of thanks are in order for: Dr Trento and his team of surgeons and doctors (including Ann, the cardiac nurse practitioner), Dr Wong, Dr Ferry, the Doctors and Nurses on the Pediatrics floor, the Nurses in the PICU (including Dr Amer in the PICU). Also: my family (brothers, sisters, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces & nephews, inlaws, etc) and my small, but tight, groups of various friends. Also also: C's coworkers & bosses, the vendors C calls daily (for their continued thoughts and prayers), and C's customers. Also x3: B&E Sales for the teddy bear that Jack says is "MINE!!!" and won't let his brother near. :)

Everyone has been incredibly supportive during this time, and has shown so much love and kindness and understanding. We really are blessed to have such a large group of friends and family, who have been praying for us and thinking about us--well, mostly Jack--during this whole ordeal.

Long story short: THANK YOU EVERYONE! WE LOVE YOU TOO! :D