Surgery Update Wednesday

Wed Dec 19 10:00 PM
Yeah they changed it on us again the shunt surgery is tomorrow. Sorry about the lack of correct information however even we wish the information stayed the same.

Wed Dec 19 8:30 PM
We just got word that they are going to place a shunt in her tonight in about an hour. The procedure is about 30 minutes to 90 minutes long depending on how difficult she is. Since she already has a breathing tube in place it should not take too long. A quick praise report is that the CT scans show her ventricles in her brain are most likely connected so only one shunt will be needed as far as we know now. Also I want to tell you we really appreciate the visits we have received from everyone. We welcome visits from friends and family and ask that if you would like some time to visit please call us and let us know when you are coming by. They will only let 2 visitors back here at a time and it gets really boring in the waiting room so plan accordingly. We are pretty peaceful back in her room here so I ask that no one feel obligated to sit in the waiting room for hours; we would hate to do that to you. We just ask you pray her next procedure goes well without any pain for her and that the one shunt is all they will need. Will post pictures as soon as we are out of ICU and I can turn my phone back on to take them.

Wed Dec 19 11:45 AM
Aimee is now considered to have hydrocephalus and is scheduled to have one shunt placed this afternoon. Please keep praying that this will not come to pass but if it does we also need to pray that she will not have any bleeding in the ventricle where they place the shunt. If any blood ends up in the ventricle it will plug the tube for the shunt and they may have to redo it.

Also, I would like to offer up a prayer for the little boy in the bed next to Aimee. His name is Kyan and he is waiting for a replacement liver. He has cancer in his liver and is only 2 years old. Please pray they find a donor organ and recovers well from his illness. Also pray for mom and dad that they will get some much needed rest and uplifting.

Wed Dec 19 10:00 AM
We are alive again. At least I am. Beth was awake early and with the baby but I rolled out of bed drooling and half-comatose about 10. Of course that's because I was sitting next to her until 5 AM reading Romans and willing her to keeping breathing. She is still stable and sedated.

So today here is the scoop. The ventricles in her brain (sac like structures in her brain that collect CSF) are already filling up and she just went in for another CT scan (10:00 AM). She is really puffy on the back of the head and neck and they are hoping it is not from CSF leaking through the plate. If she ends up having a shunt put in it will be this afternoon or this evening. Again, we don't want the shunt put in because 40% of them fail in the first two years and have to be replaced or revised numerous times. They can get clogged or fail or just stop working. Also, we want the tubes connecting those ventricles to open and allow CSF to flow between each other for absorbing. However, God's will not our own be done. Last night I was sitting alone and thinking (which tends to get me in trouble) and it occurred to me that being a new parent is like viciously ripping out your heart, putting it in a onesie and watching it poop. I am sure it does not get easier with time. It only gets harder as you watch your heart learn to walk, talk, first day of school. When you learn it's not perfect and lies to you the first time. Graduation, marriage, and grandchildren. Man I just got started I don't need to be thinking of grandchildren any time soon. Will post later tonight possibly 8 or 9 PM PST with new info.