For those of you who think you\u2018ve taken hard tests at your state university, private college or Yale\u2026 I challenge you to take one of God\u2019s tests.\u00a0 They are the hardest tests ever!<\/p>\n
Today has been one of those tests.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
In keeping with the recent theme I\u2019ll start at the end of the day.\u00a0 Chloe is asleep thanks to some sleep-help meds.\u00a0 Dana and Sandy are taking the high watch overnight at Emanuel Hospital\u2019s PICU.\u00a0 The ventilator is still hooked up; she still has a nose tube and a bunch of IV lines.\u00a0 The plan is to take the ventilator off after the MRI at 11:30 am tomorrow.\u00a0 She has been, basically, breathing on her own for the past 8 hours.\u00a0 However, she did give us a scare when she received some pain medication.\u00a0 She stopped breathing.\u00a0 So they bagged her for a little while to get her going again and upped the ventilator a little to help her through the night.\u00a0 She is listening to Michael Jackson and looking peaceful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now I\u2019ll jump back to the beginning of the day and load you up on this roller coaster from hell.\u00a0 Check-in was at 6 am.\u00a0 Actually about 6:30 when they finally called us.\u00a0 We were then brought to a room where she got into her PJs, they took her vitals and the nerve monitor glued wires to her head and chest.\u00a0 These would monitor nerve stimulation throughout the surgery to make sure she was still responding.\u00a0 Along with the constant MRI scan she would be under the most sophisticated medical eyes possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The basement is where the surgeries are performed, so down we went.\u00a0 Eighteen months ago the room was empty except for us\u2026 it was Friday the 13th<\/sup>.\u00a0 This year it was packed.\u00a0 Dr. Peter Scott, Chloe\u2019s classmate\u2019s dad, and also the anesthesiologist, came over to let us know his part and to calm everyone with his personal manner.\u00a0 Next came Dr. Dorsen, the surgeon, who has become very fond of Chloe.\u00a0 After a few final checks Chloe was moved to the operating room.\u00a0 It was 7:30 on the dot, as promised.\u00a0 Dana, Sandy (Dana\u2019s Sister), Chloe\u2019s Dad and I all left wondering what the heck we\u2019d do for the next four or five hours.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Surgery was to begin at 8:30 and we expected to be called back about 12:30 or 1:00.\u00a0 The buzzer went off at 11:30 and it led to a little panic on Dana\u2019s face and voice.\u00a0 We went into the waiting area to hear from Dr. Dorsen.\u00a0 He showed up in about 20 minutes and brought us into that very familiar conference room, the one from last time.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dr. Dorsen was somber in his delivery.\u00a0 He told us that, as far as the surgery was concerned things went well, she did well.\u00a0 However, as we knew, he chased the tumor as far as he could until it just disappeared into the brainstem.\u00a0 He was aggressive, as planned but when the nerve sensor for the feeling in the hands showed an alert it was time to stop.\u00a0 This could mean there had been damage.\u00a0<\/p>\n He was concerned, very concerned, because she wasn\u2019t waking up or responding.\u00a0 He told us that if she didn\u2019t wake up within 48 hours we would be in a dire situation.\u00a0 It was so obvious that Dr. Dorsen was deeply disappointed in what was going on.\u00a0 Needless to say that would be an understatement of our emotions at this point.\u00a0 He said of the 10 things we would need to have happen\u2026 waking up was #1 through #9.\u00a0 The rest would be easier.\u00a0<\/p>\n He reassured us that, if it had been his child, he would have done the very same thing, exactly as it had been done.\u00a0 He wanted to make sure Dana knew she made the right decision to bring Chloe in.\u00a0 The tumor had grown to a state that was just about critical.\u00a0 It was about to block the spinal fluid channel.\u00a0 That would have put us in a very big emergency situation.\u00a0 As it turned out he was able to get a lot of the tumor and open that channel wide open.\u00a0 He also assured us the tumor was still benign.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The decision was made to keep the breathing tube in and transport her directly to PICU.\u00a0 We would not be able to see her for a few hours.\u00a0 It was suggested we go home and come back at 5 pm\u2026 like that was ever going to happen for Dana, Sandy or Me.\u00a0 Rev. Barb was with us also.\u00a0 She is such a tremendous support!!!\u00a0 Dave was in contact remotely as he had some transporting of people to do during the wait.\u00a0 The wait was about an hour earlier than any of us expected so he got back, with Ramona, as soon as he could.\u00a0<\/p>\n We went directly to the PICU waiting area and I let them know Dana was there for Chloe as soon as she was allowed to see her.\u00a0 They said it would be just a little while.\u00a0<\/p>\n The PICU doctor made it out to us sooner than we expected and \u00a0let us know that Chloe was, in deed, waking up and responding to instructions\u2026 like squeeze my finger.\u00a0 We just kicked #1 thru #9 out the window!!!\u00a0 Now to work on #10.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dana and I were let in to see her at this point.\u00a0 Chloe recognized us both but she was still very groggy.\u00a0 Sandy, Dave and Ramona were all able to get turns in the room on the onset.\u00a0 She is unable to focus on anything and this could be due to some trauma to the brainstem.\u00a0 It may only be like a bruise but we won\u2019t know for sure for awhile.\u00a0 The swelling needs to recede first.\u00a0<\/p>\n Although the breathing tube is keeping her from speaking, Chloe is sending orders via sine language and we are determining, the best we can, what she\u2019s asking for.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n At about 4:15 or so, Dr. Dorsen and Peter Scott both came to see Chloe.\u00a0 Then they came out to speak with us in the waiting area.\u00a0 Dr. Dorsen was actually smiling\u2026 which is a trick for him\u2026\u00a0 He was very pleased with the progress she had made during the day but, once again, warned us, \u201cWe are far from out of the woods.\u201d\u00a0 The first 48 hours are the most critical.\u00a0 This is the time that people who are going to have problems will have them.\u00a0 There is a lot of debris in the surgery site that needs to get absorbed into the body.\u00a0 Anything is possible during this process.\u00a0<\/p>\n With your prayers and a great doctor and his staff we have made it through today.\u00a0 Tomorrow morning I\u2019ll be back at the hospital to spell Dana and Sandy in hopes they can get a little sleep.\u00a0 Dana is running on zero hours for a day and a half now.\u00a0 Personally, I believe in Chloe\u2019s ability to heal.\u00a0 The only thing I\u2019m holding onto is seeing Chloe coming home in a minimum amount of time and continuing her vibrant life as a teacher.\u00a0<\/p>\n Keep your prayers coming for Chloe and her entire family.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Blessings,<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\t\t