Tuesday started out great. We got to the hospital at 9:30 to prepare for what we thought was going to be an 11:00 surgery. They actually didn't get started until after 1:00. Dr. Kasser and Dr. Kim determined that it was best not to operate on Rivers' knee at this time because the position that they needed to put her in for the hip surgery would not be the best position to have her in when healing from a knee surgery. Of course we understood, but our minds began thinking ahead to returning to Boston not only for cast changes every 4-5 weeks for approximately 3 months, but to returning for more surgery and more cast changes in the spring. Nothing ever seems to go as planned, but God is sovereign and we would rather it be done the best way than the fastest way. Rivers did very well before surgery, and I got to take her into the operating room while they put her to sleep. They have a wonderful nurse liaison that keeps you updated every 2 hours or so on the surgery's progress. Dr. Kasser came out and said that things went well, and about an hour-and-a-half later, Dr. Kim came to fill us in. He said that they cut the femur bone and placed it back in the hip as planned and showed us before and after x-rays. He said that this would be the last chance to get the hip corrected and that if her femur came out again, that there are plenty of people who walk around like that, and she would just continue to walk with a limp. We knew that it could come to this, and we are hopeful but realistic at the same time concerning the future. Daniel and I went back to see her, and she immediately wanted nothing more to do with the nurses. She said, "Mommy, get me out of here! Pick me up!" and then told the nurse, "Don't touch me!" She was rightfully grumpy. Rivers had a CT scan before going to her room. Shortly after getting to her room, she said, "Get me out of here!" and then proceeded to try to lean up and realized she couldn't move. She said, "I'm stuck!" and I almost started to cry. I explained that Dr. Kim put her back in the cast that she had when she was a little girl to help her be able to walk better, and she said, "Okay." Daniel stayed with her overnight, and she did well, but couldn't even keep water down. She is still on IV fluids, so she's fine. The real surprise came when Dr. Kim came in to tell Daniel this morning that he needed to go back in to remove scar tissue that he saw on the CT scan taken late last night. He reviewed the scan and said that he thought about it all night and believes that this could be the thing preventing her femur from seating deeply into the hip and staying in place. Praise God! He said that from inside, the scar tissue looks like cartilage, and that he could only tell from the post-op CT scan that it was in fact scar tissue. Rivers went back in for surgery around 2:30, and Dr. Kim came out smiling and immediately said that this was the right thing to do and the best chance to get her hip right. He showed my mom and me the before and after of the hip, and the femur is exactly where it should be! He said that he was "hopeful" (his word) that it would stay in place. We are so excited and PRAY with HOPE that God will let this little femur stay in place as she grows! Time will tell. If it moves, we will deal with that when it comes and are so thankful that we have our little girl. Rivers is resting tonight in the hospital. After getting to her room again after another CT scan, I was showing my mom some pictures on my camera and pointing out the children in our Sunday school class. Rivers was groggy, but she said, "I want to see." She stayed awake while we looked at her friends and family and named everyone, and then she fell deep asleep and was still asleep when I left.
On another note, Daniel and his mother returned to Columbia tonight. After a series of events, Daniel was able to be at the hospital for this additional surgery. His original flight was scheduled to leave at 2:15, but because of the weather, he and his mom got to take a direct flight to Charlotte that left at 6:45! Praise God! He was so brokenhearted about leaving but knew he needed to get back to Jackson and to work.
Thank you all for your prayers and phone calls! We truly believe that you interceded on our behalf and that God heard all of our cry for Rivers! She is now in a bright pink spica cast from just below her chest to her left ankle, and to just above the right knee. We are thankful that she has her feet out to help her crawl. We will be calling her "Happy Feet" yet again. We love you all and can't wait to see you soon! We'll update as we can and hope to get pictures on the blog when I get home.
On another note, Daniel and his mother returned to Columbia tonight. After a series of events, Daniel was able to be at the hospital for this additional surgery. His original flight was scheduled to leave at 2:15, but because of the weather, he and his mom got to take a direct flight to Charlotte that left at 6:45! Praise God! He was so brokenhearted about leaving but knew he needed to get back to Jackson and to work.
Thank you all for your prayers and phone calls! We truly believe that you interceded on our behalf and that God heard all of our cry for Rivers! She is now in a bright pink spica cast from just below her chest to her left ankle, and to just above the right knee. We are thankful that she has her feet out to help her crawl. We will be calling her "Happy Feet" yet again. We love you all and can't wait to see you soon! We'll update as we can and hope to get pictures on the blog when I get home.
