Along For the Ride...with Ryder's Heart: Post-op day 3

Friday, August 31, 2012

Post-op day 3

Well, I never thought I would say this 3 days after surgery #2 but so far Ryder looks AMAZING! Seriously incredible!! We couldn't be more thankful!!! I really don't know how the last 3 days could have been any better for this little warrior (unless of course he never needed surgery, that would be better obviously). Yesterday he started waking up more, was off his dopamine, and got rid of a LOT of water weight from surgery...we were so happy to see he already remembered how to stick his canula back in his mouth to gum it and make his dracula face...

Ryder trying to scare his nurse away from stripping his chest tubes

Today foley out, back on feeds, oxygen even better, swelling practically gone and had a really good cuddle with mommy for the first time in a few weeks - what a big boy he is becoming - yeah almost 3rd percentile!! He is trying to get in some rest between visits from his fan club, because of course he has a pretty big following here in the PICU - I mean really, how much cuter could a guy look covered in tubes and betadine?

Guys, you would NOT believe what they did to me this week!

We are hoping for continued progress and less pain from his chest owie this weekend before I [finally] re-join the real world Monday morning for 12 days of rounding fun @ KU!

1 comment:

RebeccaSeptember 1, 2012 at 12:07 AM
So glad to hear this news! And the Dracula face is HILARIOUS. He's just so adorable. Happy Labor Day weekend, Ryder and fam!
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Ryder's Heart Story

Ryder James was diagnosed with HLHS at his 20 week ultrasound. He was found to have IAS (intact atrial septum) at his first fetal ECHO. He traveled to Boston Children's hospital and at 24 weeks underwent a fetal atrial septostomy. Though his atrial septal stent dislodged, a balloon septostomy created the desired opening in the atrial septum. He was born at 40 weeks at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City where he had his Norwood surgery at age 1 week. He was a fighter, and survived ECMO, renal failure, a CNS hemorrhage, several clots, endocarditis, and worst of all, tummy time. He sailed through his Glenn surgery and then a g-tube placement to get ready to come home but got a cold and developed more respiratory issues. Then he had a chylothorax. While we prayed for him to come home for Christmas, he was taken "home" to heaven on November 30, 2012.

Half of An Angel's Heart

It's a beautiful day up in heaven. Jesus is rounding up his tiniest angels, to go live on earth, and be born. One of the sweetest angels says to Jesus "I don't want to leave, I like it here, and I will miss you". He reassures the scared little angel that everything will be okay, and that he is just going for a visit. He is still not swayed on this idea. So Jesus kneels down, and says, "How about if you leave half of your heart here with me and take the other half with you, will that be okay?" The angel smiles and says, "I guess that will work." But the little angel is still a little scared. He asks, "Will I be okay with only half of my heart?" Jesus replies, "Of course you will, I have other angels there that will help out, and you will be fine."

Then Jesus gives the angel more details about his plan. He says "When you are born, your mommy will be scared, so you have to be strong, and when you feel weak just remember that I have the other half of your heart". "Enjoy your time with your family, play and laugh every day. When its time to come back to heaven, I will make your heart whole again. Always remember that you are not broken, just torn between two loves."

--Author Unknown

Along For the Ride...with Ryder's Heart

Friday, August 31, 2012

Post-op day 3

1 comment:

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