Big Surgery Day

Hi again, it is Dustin posting the second night in a row. I am sorry if I mislead you last night hoping Mandy would be posting tonight. She is out of it, so you all are stuck with me again. It is 10:22 p.m., and here we go for June 9, 2010.

As of yesterday, we were under the impression Madison was going in for surgery at 11:00 am. We got in touch with her nurse in the NICU at 7:30, and she informed me they were going to be picking her up at about 7:45 to take her down for surgery. I rushed, and when I say rushed I really mean sort of hobbled, wobbled, and limped to the NICU ASAP. They arrived at just about 8:00 to pick her up to take to pre-op. I stayed with Madison and met with many doctors leading up to them taking her away to close up her Spina Bifida lesion.

I will be honest, I had done pretty well with everything up to that point. However, as I saw them wheeling her away to surgery, I was gripped by emotions that almost crippled me. Many of you will know what I mean when I say this, but I would have traded my entire body to be put in her place. The next hour was torture for me, and my family and friends that were here noticed that I was having a real tough time. The deepest parts of my soul were consumed with a love and concern that I have never felt (and you all know how I have cared for Mandy through surgeries - which she has of course done for me too), and I really struggled to control myself. So much so, that even as I type this message, to return to that place emotionally is difficult. My daughter, God's daughter and gift entrusted to us, was being carted off to finish the work the Father started in mommy's womb. After they took her away, I needed to return to the room to shower and collect myself. After more people showed up, we asked everyone to leave for just a few mommy-daddy moments. Mandy helped bring me down off the rafters, and I headed to the waiting room for Madison to return.

Running right on time, Madison returned to the post-op recovery room with her lesion removed and closed. Her little scar will match both mommy and daddy's back surgery scars, so it is very fitting. After Madison returned to the NICU, she has pretty much slept the rest of the day from the anesthesia. She was visited by quite a few friends an family, and we are hopeful that we will get to hold her tomorrow.

Okay... funny story of the day. So, I have really struggled with trying to continue my recovery from surgery while caring for Mandy and seeing as much of Madison as I can. At one point today, I desperately needed to self medicate and take a nap. Shortly after I took my medicine, two of our ministers from church showed up to visit. Apparently, I lingered a bit too long in hugging one of them. I won't mention any names, but his initials are LEE BAILEY witnessed by ROBERT WARD. Let it be known, Lee isn't comfortable in receiving Christ-like love from another brother, and I believe we should double check his credentials to be serving a body of believers. (I am laughing to myself right now) So, you all know me!!!! I am a hugger, and I wear my emotions on my sleeves. Apparently, I had just enough medicine on an empty stomach that created quite a moment. From my perspective, I just remember being excited to see them, so I hugged them (twice), and sent them on their way to Mandy and Madison in the NICU. It was only after I woke up from my nap, that I had been informed that my hug lingered a bit too long. In all honesty, if you ask me, I think it was Lee who latched on. He appeared on edge and needed some support. :) I hope you have a laugh with that one, because I sure have.

Last piece... We will monitor Madison's ventricle dilation on a day-to-day basis. Dr. Tulipan reviewed the ultra sound scan taken yesterday, and medically we still don't know. Our prayer, is that after correcting her spinal lesion, it will regulate the fluid and pressure to her ventricles and we'll begin to see a decrease in size in the coming days. Please join us in the prayer, because we would love nothing more than to disprove common medical science through God's unlimited power. Remember, our God created the laws of science and physics, so I ask who is better capable to manipulate His own creation.

"With man this is impossible, but with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!"

Thank you Father for our miracle, and I ask you with all my heart and soul to heal this little angel according to your perfect will and purpose!

all the love a daddy can muster,

Dustin