Ava is out of Surgery

Thank you all for your prayers. We are very blessed to have so much support, love and your prayers.

Hello Everyone. I am so trying to hold it all together right now. Ava's surgery lasted 7.5 hours long. (They initially told us it would possibly take 3 hours.) They started at 8:20pm last night. After countless hours of praying and waiting, we were finally able to see her at 3:30 am this morning. She looks so bad right now. She is still on the ventilator. Her settings are very low. She is getting 30 for oxygen (21 is room air.) Each time I look at her it takes me back to her newborn days and her miraculous fight to survive this horrible birth defect. It is so unfair of the things she is going through. Although now she looks so big.

Here is what we know. Ava had lots and lots of scar tissue that was causing her bowel to adhere to the walls of her intestines. Ava did reherniate. There was a blockage and the doctors saw something that looked very strange. At first they thought she had swallowed a toy but when they cut into her intestines they found that her intestines had some how grown into the gortex patch, strangely inter-twining and had swollowed a piece of her gortex patch. So a walnut size piece of patch along with stitches was found. The surgeon said he had never seen this before. They did have to cut about 4 inches of her bowel out because of the blockage. Her old patch was taken out and a new one put in.

I am litraly in shock. I have not slept in 3 days and it is so very hard to keep my eyes open. Ava was wheeled in and I had no emotions other than just pure fear. Her heart rate is very high, in the 170's. They are keeping her very sedated as she has no pain. As soon as we see her move they give her additional meds. I talked to her and I get no response. I tell her that we are here by her side and that she is going to show them how this getting better process is done. Now when Brian talks to her she opens her eyes. This is so typical of her newborn days. She knows her daddy is right there watching her every move. I am always there too but she sees her daddy's stares at the nurses, to guarentee her excellent care.

I am updating through the hospital lounge computer in the pediatric intensive care unit. They are in the process of getting me a lap top in our room. This hospital is newly remodled and is very nice. I did not bring my camera so I can not update you with pictures. It would break your heart. I have taken pictures on my cell phone but can't get to them know. My Mom brought her camera up but it is not digital. I will update with pictures as soon as I can.
They are hoping to get her off the ventilator some time today. They are letting Ava give them orders. The machine is taking 15 breaths for her and she is taking 8 breaths over the machine. Whatever Ava wants she gets!

I know that God is nesteling her safely in His strong arms. I am staying positive and telling her she is our little miracle baby that has to keep fighting. Brian was very emotional today after seeing her. I had no tears. I think I am in shock and my brain just can't filter all this new information . I decided to lay down in her room and rest. I slept for 2 hours and then fell back to sleep for another hour. I awoke to find her heart rate had dropped into the low 160's.
Wow this all has been such a huge shock. It all happened so fast. I am so happy that I didn't give up and I followed my "mommy instincts." It saved her a lot of additional pain and discomfort, perhaps her life.

I will update when I can. I can say I am once again humbled by all your prayers and by God's comfort, he is giving us. Please pray that she will get much deserved rest and she will power through this healing process.

Thanks again. It feels so wonderful to know all the support that we have. It helps us more than you will ever know. We love to get your uplifting emails. Brian is going to sleep now and I will be by her side. Thanks again.

~Terri