Preparing for Surgery

Elijah's surgery is in a week and a half. I am nervous. Now that Elijah is older, he is much more expressive. Expressive when he is happy and even more expressive when he is not. He is so much more aware of things. While I'm glad he is developing his personality as he should, this will all make the recovery period with restrictions so much harder than last time.  

Watch out for the boy who is pulling himself up now!

His surgery is Wednesday, Aug 13. Dr. Flores, our plastic surgeon in Indianapolis, moved our surgery date up because he is leaving Indiana and moving to NY. I had heard a rumor about a month ago that he was going back to NYU. While I am sad he won't be in Indiana, very sad, I can't help but think the best should be at the best! So with sadness, I am glad to see him at a place that trained him and invented NAM, in which he very much believes. I am so thankful that he wanted to get Elijah's surgery in before he left. He didn't do this for all his patients, but he told us he wanted us all to have closure in a sense before he left. 

Trying to drink Aunt Hannah's smoothie

The surgery will take about 2.5-3 hours, which is much shorter than last time. During this surgery, Dr. Flores will close the palate (roof of his mouth). I don't know the exact technique he will use but my understanding is that he will use tissue and muscle that is already present in Elijah's mouth. All the stitches, minus a one-day tongue stitch to help him breathe, will be dissolvable so no stitch removals later. We will stay overnight at Riley and then hopefully go home the next morning. 

Another recent trip to SC and the beach

He will have restrictions for three weeks again. Arm-braces to keep him from getting his hands in his mouth, no toys either in his mouth, all liquid/puréed diet, and worst of all...no bottle. We are supposed to feed Elijah by a spoutless, free-flowing cup. We have been trying to train him the last few weeks and it is getting worse. At first, he loved the new cups and would messily drink from them for a few minutes but then want his bottle. Now, when he sees the cups, he screams. Ah. 

He just wants his bottle. After I can't get much more than 1-1.5oz down him by sippy cup, I give in and give him his bottle. His face lights up and he squeals with excitement as soon as he sees it. 

What are we going to do? Anyway, we (Elijah and I) recently took a trip to SC again for a long weekend last weekend. He ended up getting sick for the first time ever. He had a fever for a couple of days, threw up once because of his fever, and was just miserable. It was terrible to see him sick. We took him to a pediatrician in MB who said he had a cold. He is much better now and I think mostly recovered from our trip. 

Cuddling with my cousin Angela right before he threw up all over her

Waiting for my baby cousin to come and play

I have both called our pediatrician and out plastic surgeon's nurse practitioner to make sure it is ok and safe for Elijah to have surgery still given his recent malady. And both confirmed. I am thankful for that and would ask you to pray he stays completely healthy prior to surgery. 

Hanging with my second cousin Jada

Cooking demonstration with my mom

Our family busts out the mahjong when we all get together

My parents and Hannah are coming up next week for the surgery. I am particularly excited because we probably will get to take them to the state fair. Last year I took Hannah to her very first state fair here and she LOVED it (the food though, not the animals). 

Last year she dropped her beloved second corn on the cob while we were walking out of the fair grounds and she still to this day hasn't forgiven herself, so we can hopefully redeem that situation before Elijah's surgery. My dad and Hannah will leave the Friday after surgery and my mom will stay through the next week. Then Nate has the following week off work. 

       Playing with Grandpa Marty

So as we approach his surgery, I would beg you to cover Elijah (and us) in prayer. Here are some specific prayer requests. Please pray:

* For God's protection over Elijah during and after surgery

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11 ESV)

* For Elijah to stay completely healthy prior to surgery and for his healing and recovery from surgery

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, (Psalm 103:2-3 ESV)

* For God to guide all the doctors and nurses and anyone else involved in Elijah's care - wisdom in medical-decision making

* For the surgery to be done with surgical precision and perfection, specifically guiding the plastic surgeon

* For Elijah's wound to heal completely after surgery and specifically stay free from infection and free from a fistula (a whole that sometimes develops after this surgery which would need to be corrected with more surgery)

* For Elijah's comfort during his recovery period and for him to be able to handle the restrictions well, for a peaceful spirit for him

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV)

* For Elijah to quickly pick up drinking more from the sippy cups and to enjoy that more than his bottle

* For Nate and me to completely trust God for Elijah's care during and after surgery, for us to depend on him for strength, and for us not to be anxious but keep our eyes fixed on him

...fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 ESV)

I am begging for prayer because I believe that God absolutely hears the cries of his children. I believe that God is completely sovereign and uses the prayers of his people to carry out his perfect plan.