One long day

Maybe it's normal for your days to start at 4 am, but in our house that's not normal!  We pulled Emma out of bed and put her in the car seat.  She whispers, "Mommy qu (to, in Chinese) doctor?"  "Yes baby, we have to see the doctor today."

We had quite a bit of time to play before surgery started.

And then they came to take her back.  A very clear example of trust and dependence...in the team of doctors, yes, but ultimately in God.  He is the Great Physician and it's in His hands she is and always will be.

We were told a 6-8 hour surgery and we thought that meant the surgery part.  Not the anesthesia part which was about an hour on either end.  So we were in for a long day.  We said goodbye at about 8, got the phone call about 9:15 to say the surgery had started, and then at 11:15 we got a call to say, "the doctor wants to see you."  Mark was actually in line at the cafeteria.  I was sitting with our bags.  I scooped everything up, got him out of line and we went upstairs rather anxiously.  "Does this mean bad news?  It's been two hours!  Why would he leave surgery?"  Our hearts raced.  And then he walked into the consultation room with a smile on his face.  Things had gone pretty much as expected, just faster.  The MRI we had done in Columbus had shown what they needed to see.  They were able to remove the bone that was literally splitting her spinal cord in two.  Some of the fatty mass had come out relatively easy, other parts had to be lasered out.  And then we heard those beautiful words, "really it couldn't have gone better." We rejoiced after he left and praised the Father in tears.  We ran to the cafeteria, knowing we still would not be able to see her for another half hour to an hour.  

When we saw her again she was still sedated, face swollen from lying on her stomach for so long.  Her first words as she came to were, "Mommy hold you?" (Which is Emma language for "Mommy hold me." Obviously I can't do this for several days.  Pray for her little heart to be patient.  The rest of the day she's been in and out of consciousness, but when she is awake she's been mostly whiny and crying.  It's hard to know if she's scared or in pain.  We know its both but we need to know which to address in the moment.  

Pray against infection and pray that no spinal fluid leaks, which is a possibility given all that they had to rearrange to do this surgery. 

We're SO thankful for the love and support we're receiving!  Hugs from the Fertigs!