Day 10 12/18/09

So everyone says the big anticipation is the surery, but now walking through this I know that, it's untrue! Yes the surgery was a major part of this but as Dr. Tsai spoke with us last night, he told us he and Dr. Douglas can control every little thing in the Operating Room as Hank was hooked up to the bypass machine (aka the heart and lung machine) but what they cannot control is Hank's body reacting to the medications and alterations that have taken place in his body.

This is a 10 day old baby that just had lots of changes made in his body. Last night when Derric and I went to see him in his room for the first time it was pretty scary. He looked fine, we had prepared ourselves for what he was going to look like through people we have met who shared their children's stories with us. He was a little more pale than I thought he would look, his eyes had been taped shut from the surgery because they have paralyized him and they said his eyes would have remained open then been very dry so as a mommy as asked can you please put some saline in his eyes... they were a little crusted over like sleepy eye! So they jumped right on that. His chest was open with a clear saran wrap placed over the hole. You could actually see his heart pumping. Derric doesn't deal with blood well so he didn't look the first time we went in. His body has about 10-15 different IV lines going through him pumping him with fluids like, antibiotics, pain medication, lasiks (to make him urinate), etc.... they had a blanket over him because he was cold but he is on a Pace Maker for now until he has a normal heat beat. Our prayer for him right now is to first and foremost get the normal ryhthm of his heart beat back . If that doens't happen by this morning when the doctors make their rounds they will start him on steroids which should help his rhythm. If not... there is always the option of a pace maker but that would limit his activites long term and the doctor does not want that to happen.



As we sat in the back of the room all the nurses started to get a little anxious they were making facial expressions to one another and hollaring out numbers, and codes, and all this stuff that was making me a nervous wreck! So I yelled out is everything okay after I sat back and watched for a good 3 minutes, they said he was fine so I asked Derric if we could step out until they were done doing whatever it was they needed to do. One of the nurses came out and told us that they were just going to be playing the ICU Dance for a while which means.... when his blood pressure goes up they turn his meds down, when the blood pressure goes down that the blood pressure meds goes up. Until they learn what his body needs they would be playing with that. Hank required a very little amount last night of blood pressure medicine so it made him start this rollercoaster effect. They said that is to be expected coming out of such a major surgery.



Gabi had already fed us all chili so I was getting tired from the long day and decided to lay down for a while around 9:30 or 10:00. I eneded up just sleeping until I pumped again at 4:00 and then I went to see him again. His nurse Patrick was dancing when Derric and I came in the room which was pretty funny to walk up on someone doing something like that AWK-WARD haha!

So anyway, Patrick was the nurse that said he looked ok much better from last night. We talked to Hank for a minute, he's really just laying there asleep but Derric and I want him just to since subconcously that we are there if that is at all possible if not it makes us feel better anyway! We hung out for about 20 mins, it's a hard place to be right now. After is chest is closed and breathing tube is out we will feel better and more comfortable in the room, but it is VERY OVERWHELMING, he does look different and even though he is on amnesia medication and we know he cannot feel any of this you can't help but feel broken hearted for the poor baby boy.



I just finished pumping again so I guess I will grab something to put in my empty stomach and go see him again. We will keep you posted please do not stop praying these are the most criticial days we are currently facing it is minute by minute. We love you all your comments at the bottom of each post give us so much support we love to read them please keep them coming with your prayers and all the small groups, churchs, and organizations from Florida to California we are so thankful for each and every prayer! God is going to show up in a BIG WAY for Hank and we can't wait to one day share this all with him.

UPDATE:
So this morning his nurse is Kristen, she has been great to work with. She said that he is having a good morning. His blood pressure is doing a little better. She said if the fluids come down then they might even try to sew his chest shut tomorrow if he has a good day today. Then we just want to focus next on the rhythm of his heart. They say with all the changes that Hanks body has been through his body now just has to figure it all out!

We got to put some precious little socks on him today!

Derric talked to Kristin to figure out his numbers and what to look for on all the machines!


We started to decorate his room with all of our cards Christmas and Congrats Cards!



Here is a picture of Hank waking up and responding to Derric and my voice.


Here is another picture of him with all his IV lines, he currently has 13. He also has a breathing tube and he is still on the pace maker.

The Harughty Family
Hank loves his Mommy to read to him!


We have been spoiled by all the gifts and gift cards from lots of friends and family

Love you all-

Hank's Mommy





Here is a picture of Hank this past week... He's so cute!