"The Plan"

Praise Reports first: The CT scan and Head ultra sound came back good... showing circulation! We aren't sure exactly how much but they didn't seem to care once they heard there was circulation.  Also his fever has dropped... Still has a slight one but it's been coming down.  The preliminary screenings have come back negative and we should hear in the morning what the rest of the cultures say but we are BELIEVING that there is NO infection.  If there was it would delay surgery.
We met with Dr. Manning (The Surgeon) today and he basically laid out their plans for Judah and they are as follows:
Tomorrow (May 2, 2012) at around 11am-Noonish they will be taking Judah down to have Open Heart Surgery. The total time - from the time he leaves his room to the time we can come back is about 7 hours. They will be doing several things but before I tell you what all will happen during the procedure it's important for you to know that once they open his little chest he will be put on a heart and lung bypass.  It's similar to ECMO but instead of going in through is neck they will be going straight into the heart. Here is what they are focusing on during the procedure. 1. Repairing/Closing the hole (that everyone is born with) - they made it bigger so that there could be adequate mixing of the blood in the heart (This was the 2nd balloon in the Heart Cath procedure).  2. They will be looking at both valves more closely - They feel good about what Dr. Beekman did with the ballooning of the pulmonary valve (which will become the aortic valve) but if they feel they can make the valve better once they get in there they can make some adjustments (IF needed).  3. Then they will move over the coronary artery which is the trickiest part of the procedure.  The Coronary artery is what supplies your heart with blood so it's crucial that that is a smooth and perfect transition. 4. They will switch the two artery (Arterial Switch).  5. They will close off the PDA.
Once they are done with all of that they will look at "how happy his heart is with the repair".  If his heart doesn't seem happy then they will not close up his chest.  He would come back to the CICU with what they call "open chest" and after a few days they would close his chest in his CICU room.  They are also looking at his other organs and how they function especially the kidneys.  He might have to be put on some sort dialysis if they feel his kidneys need help and protection.   They are also leaving pacemaker wires in just in case his heart is beating in "funky rhythms".
This is the basics of what they are doing.  I don't want to go into to much detail because it could take forever and you and I don't have that kind of time. So what to pray for?!
First, I'm still praying for healing! I know these are the plans of the experts and I realize that God has uniquely gifted them and what they do is truly miraculous.  Judah's heart is the size of a strawberry and God gifted Dr. Manning with ability to surgically fix a heart that small.. thats crazy amazing!!! I know God CAN heal Judah without Dr. Manning but I also know that God is in control and whatever path He places us on tomorrow is what He has decided is best.  I trust Him.
So if Judah has surgery then here are the needs to pray for: First pray over Dr. Manning and the entire team of nurses, doctors and anesthesiologist!  May the Holy Spirit guide every decision and every move they make! Also, pray for Judah as he is being put on bypass.  Pray that it is a smooth transition and that it goes better than they even expect with NO complications during or after he comes off! Pray over the entire operation!  Pray that the valves and arteries are put into perfect order with NO complications!  That the duct (PDA) would be tied off with NO complications.  That they can patch the hole with NO complications. PRAY that his heart would be "happy" with the repair and function in a complete and perfect way with NO ISSUES!!! Again pray for a smooth transition OFF of the bypass with NO complications.  Pray over his brain that there would be NO BLEEDS or complications of ANY kind!! No swelling, no damage - a perfect brain!! Also pray over his kidneys - it would be AMAZING if he did not need the dialysis and could do the work on his own without causing stress to his body or organs.  Also pray that they would be able to close his chest after the operation.  If they bring him back with an open chest then it will set his recovery time back even further.  After surgery they monitor SO much!! Pray over every part of his body - that he would be STRONG and have a very speedy and safe recovery! A normal recovery for an Arterial Switch would be around 2 weeks but they think he might take longer since he had such a "rough start".  I believe God can help him and make his recovery time miraculous!  Pray that he would have NO BLEEDS in ANY PART OF HIS BODY and also that he would have no blood clots.
Thank you for standing with us the past 15 days!! God has shown himself REAL and ACTIVE!  We are expecting for God to once again show up tomorrow - no matter what path God places us on tomorrow we are believing that He will be there every step of the way and that Judah will come through this and be a great testimony of His great faithfulness.  Two Fridays ago God totally shocked us with how he showed up and blew us away with the results of the heart cath!!  I believe if Judah has surgery tomorrow HE will show up again and shock us!
Tomorrow from 11am-7pm PLEASE stand with us! Pray with us! Believe with us! and PRAISE with us!! GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Proud Mamma of a 2 week old KINGDOM builder!!