Well Scott woke up this morning and decided it was time for a change. He ended up shaving all of his hair off as a sign of a new beginning.
Scott and Susanne went to visit with Paxton early this afternoon. They met with the surgeon to discuss the plan and the procedure that will be performed tomorrow. The surgeon will be placing a BT shunt (Blalock-Taussig shunt)which will be used temporarily to direct blood flow to the lungs and relieve cyanosis while Paxton is given time to grow until he is ready for a more permanent corrective heart surgery. There are numerous surgical approaches that can be taken once he is older, but only through close monitoring and recheck ultrasounds of his heart will they be able to decide what approach will be most beneficial to him. Unfortunately, Ebstein's anomaly is not that common and the success rate for the different surgical approaches is not well known.
Later that afternoon, Scott and Susanne got to hold Paxton for a really long time. The nurses thought that this was important since they would not be able to hold him for a few days after the surgery. They actually got to hold him in a kangaroo chair which provides closeness of the newborn with the mother and father. The NICU encourages any kind of kangaroo care because it enhances the attachment and bonding process. Skin to skin contact between the newborn and parent is the most effective component of kangaroo care and it has many benefits. Unfortunately, Paxton could not be held skin to skin to his parents because he was still in isolation. Hopefully, Paxton could still feel the love through the gown and gloves.
Scott and Susanne were invited to stay at the Ronald McDonald house again since they have to be at the hospital by 6:00am tomorrow morning. This was such a blessing especially since they are running low on sleep and it cuts out the travel time to the hospital. Scott and Susanne are excited to move forward to the next step in Paxton's recovery, but are scared about the big day tomorrow. Please keep the prayers coming.
1 comment:
I'm related to Kelly Dreyer, a friend of your sister, and I've been following Paxton's story.
Your writing conveys both your joy and your struggles in a way that really touches my heart. And your photos are exquisite - what a beautiful boy!!
Know that people you don't even know are holding you close in thought and prayer as you travel this unexpected path. May you draw strength from the love and grace that surround you from near and far.
Julie Stone
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