This blog post is part of a series that I began for telling our story. You can read the first post here.

From this point forward, I’m going to be sharing the text of posts as they were written at the time. Some will come from this blog; others, from our CaringBridge site. I may from time to time write my own reflections after re-reading, but mostly I will just be sharing words as they were written. So much of this journey for me is revisiting what happened, and realizing just how difficult the journey was for us. And now, seeing how far we’ve come since that time.

Have you had a child who needed surgery? It’s brutal to be the parent in the waiting room. Maybe that’s why when my husband has had surgery (he’s had a few over the years we’ve been married) it never really bother me. Being a spouse of someone having surgery is different. Yes, you worry, but since this person is an adult, you don’t worry at the same level. But when your newborn daughter has surgery, it is terrifying.

From CaringBridge on April 25, written by my sister:

Prayers please ~ they are getting ready to take Samantha for surgery – please pray that this will go smoothly and easily for her.  That the procedures will all work and not cause any more trauma to her little body.  Pray for the doctors and nurses performing the surgery and procedures that they will have wisdom to do exactly what little Samantha needs.  Pray for peace for those waiting – especially for Stephanie and Travis, as they wait for their little girl to come through the surgery and anxiously wait to see her again.  Thank you for the on-going prayers.  For more information about what the surgery entails please see previous 2 posts.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Be with our precious Samantha through this surgery.  Guide the doctors and nurses hands that they may use this to help provide healing and strength to her body.  We thank and praise you for the steps that Samantha has made to fight the infection and get stronger and we look to You to continue to sustain her and keep her.  Be with all those who love this little girl.  Thank you for Your peace that we know You will give.  In the Powerful, Healing name of Jesus we pray ~ Amen!

Samantha is out of surgery. They were not able to do the pic line as they wanted so instead they made a small incision in her chest and put in a shunt line. Thank you for the prayers for safety during surgery.

The neurology team met again with Stephanie and Travis. They have a lot of concerns based on Samantha’s previous MRI and other tests. Only time will tell and they want to do another MRI to compare. They said she has encephalitis which is the swelling of the brain tissue as well as the meningitus. They are concerned about the possibilty of blood clots, strokes, the seizures and the issues from the first MRI. So we are specifically seeking prayers that the next MRI (whenever it is) will be much more positive and not show these problems. In the doctors words “we prepare for the worst, but hope and pray for the best”. Thank you for continuing to lift her up to the Lord’s throne of grace. We know God is working through her life mightily!!!

The doctors were going to go ahead and do the lp (lumbar puncture/spinal tap) tonight.  But I’m guessing the results of that won’t be in till tomorrow since they were doing it so late.  She is still doing well as far as vitals go.  They are turning down her ventilator off and on (2 hour down, 4 hours up) throughout the day.

Tomorrow Stephanie will go her doctor for her 6 week follow-up appointment.  This will be very difficult for her to be away from Samantha, so please pray for her that she will have peace while she is away.

God’s blessings to you all!  Thank you for checking in and continuing to lift up Samantha in prayer!

 

Next post coming tomorrow.