Jesus and Java

So Lauren made it through surgery just fine. They got the spinal drain in which was going to help drain fluid and keep pressure off the area they where going to repair. Well, the repair did not happen. From my understanding (since I was not there) when they got in there to do the repair the saw tissue pushing its way through the bone and they are not sure of it’s brain tissue or tumor so they could not proceed any farther. They did a biopsy and sent it off but it’s going to be a few days before they get the results. They also did some stuff with her left ear which will likely have a major negative effect on her hearing but we will wait and see.

Lauren will remain at Duke for the next 5 days as planned and at the moment will come home. Then once they have the results and they can get everything organized again they will bring her back into the OR for the surgery again, this time to either repair like they where going to before or to remove tumor and repair depending on the results of the biopsy.

I’m still feeling like junk on and off. Rebecca is having to miss work tomorrow to sit with Lauren since I’m not allowed near the hospital right now due to my lovely new friend H1N1 taking up residence in my body. Duke has also put Beck and her parents who are visiting us to help out on meds for H1N1 just to be safe. Don’t worry Lauren has been on the meds for H1N1 since they found out that I had it. No one is allowed to visit Lauren, Rebecca is having to fully gown to see her in the PICU and I’m not sure if that is going to be the same when she goes to to step down.

I really don’t know what else to type at this moment other then asking for your continued prayer for our daughter and her health.

Lauren and Mommy Before Palate Surgery

Lauren and Daddy Before Palate Surgery

Lauren in Recovery

Lauren in Stepdown

So the have taken lauren back for surgery. They gave her some “funny” meds to calm her down while we where back there. She was getting really fussy while we where waiting and holding her. The meds helped relax her and us since we also where getting stressed out trying to hold/calm/play etc… with her.

The doctor said the surgery should take about 3 hours give or take. They took her back around noon and we have yet to hear if they started it or not. We are assuming they have or will soon. The goal is for her to be out of the hospital by Sunday afternoon. They are also wanting to put her on step down (a step below PICU) after the surgery but last we heard there was not an available bed. We will see where they put her, they are trying to get a bed open. They have a few hours and will have a place for her so we are not really worried about that.

Also some of you have heard that I received a call this morning from my Dad letting me know they found my Uncle Larry dead in his apartment in San Diego. They think he has been dead for 2-4 days but won’t know for sure until they finish the autopsy. I am not sure what type of arrangements are going to be made but I should know more later this evening. If they do decided to do a funeral I am hoping to be there pending how Lauren is doing post surgery and if we can come up with the cost of a round trip ticket to either San Diego or Chicago pending what my father and my other uncle decided to do.

Please be praying for both Lauren with her surgery and my fathers side of the family as this death was unexpected.

***Just got the call they started surgery 20 minutes ago***

I want to thank you all for your support and prayer for Lauren, she is now a whole 1 year old and we could not be more amazed with this child God has blessed us with. It has been far from easy as many of you know, but this is the life God has blessed us with and we continue to live it one day at a time. I have to say someone asked me if we could go back and change everything would we? The answer is no, we would not change a thing, Lauren is Lauren and we have grown into who we are because of this last year. We where told recently that we treat our child like a baby not like her illness/disease/diagnosis or whatever you want to call it, that made us feel good. We desire to be parents first.

So on that note I wanted to share that we raised $632 for The Ronald McDonald House of Durham at Lauren’s Birthday Party and people are still calling the church about donating. This does not include any online giving which some of you have said you have done. I hope to find that out soon to give you a more exact figure. I want to thank you all for your support in this. Rebecca and I are looking forward to taking Lauren and the money we raised on her birthday to the Ronald McDonald House of Durham later this week. If you would like to donate you can still do so online at any time, I’m going to post a link to do so on the right column of my blog later this week, but for now you can click here.

So here is the video I showed at her party of her 1st year of life, it’s not the best quality since we don’t own a mamajama video camera but I think you will enjoy it just the same.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s348MdqdJU&hl=en&fs=1]

They told us Lauren had 1 in 10 chance of seeing her first birthday when she was born.

They are now talking of doing her next surgery (to remove the remainder of the tumor on her pallet as well as fix it) after her first birthday.

Lauren came home Saturday instead of after two weeks or more that they anticipated.

We serve and amazing God.

The MRI has shown that part of the tumor is still there in the cavernous sinus near the 5th nerve. This is a very vital area. We are waiting to hear back from pathology on the parts of the tumor they removed and that will help decide the next step. They may just leave it and monitor her for awhile, do chemo, or they may go in through her face to get it… we just don’t know.

Lauren is now in the PICU and even though she is somewhat sedated she has managed to be her self. She ripped out her arterial line (which they are not going to put back in) and has proceeded to remove the ventilation that is connected to her trach. She has also been trying to rub her IV out on the right hand by rubbing it against her eye which she has proceeded to bruise more by doing this; typical Lauren. The doctors are saying she is doing well considering everything she has gone through. In fact, she may be taken off ventilation today and moved to step-down or the floor. If she goes to the floor they will have to remove the fenral (don’t know if I spelled that right) line in her leg as well as the tube for her umm… pee pee. They are also talking about taking her off of clear liquids and putting her back on regular feeds. She is still on a good batch of pain killers and antibiotics as well as her head still being bandaged up. Even if we do go to the step-down or the floor we expect to be here another two weeks or so. She had a CAT scan which came back good late last night and she just returned from a trip to get an MRI. We should know the results from that later today. Recovery and healing will obviously take quite some time. Again, Rebecca and I cannot thank you enough for yours prayers and concern for our Lauren.

The surgery is closing in; in fact it’s less then 24 hours away. We are very on edge and yes we know God is in control. I will try to keep this blog up to date as much as I can tomorrow. I do believe we will be turning our phones off, no offense. Again, check here for updates and share with others via email/phone, facebook, or sending them here. This is the best way for us to communicate with a large number of people (I promise I’m not being rude). If you look at the hit counter it’s closing in on 20,000 people… most of that traffic has been during the last few months and comes from as far away as China, Australia, & Japan. The most hit’s on one day is 666… we need to beat that, it’s a little weird.

Last night we had dinner at an upscale restaurant here in the triangle area and it was fantastic. I made reservations earlier in the afternoon and when we arrived we where very impressed. When we where seated at the table my wife and I where on the verge of tears. My mother in-law asked one of the managers about the market price for an item and he shared with us that the price did not matter, that he and his wife wanted to purchase our meal that evening and that they sat us in a more private section of the restaurant and would not seat anyone else there for the evening so we could have time with our family alone. The wait staff was excellent, the food, excellent, the atmosphere and vibe where great and everything we expected from a nice restaurant. My wife and I still can’t get over their generosity.

To the managers and staff, thank you very much, you helped create a divine evening that will never be forgotten. You may never know, or never read this to know how much you comforted our hearts last night.