Yes, Karter Bear goes in for surgery tomorrow afternoon. This will be an open-heart surgery. I can not believe that at only 11 weeks of age my daughter will be undergoing such an intense surgery. This surgery will correct both of her heart defects, the tetralogy of fallot and the AV Canal. Pretty much they will take the hole in her heart and patch it along with opening up a valve that is too small. This surgery will take anywhere from 6-8 hours and could even be longer depending on any complications they might run into along the way. They do feel confident that they will be able to repair the whole thing tomorrow. This does not however mean that she is repaired for the rest of her life. She will still require routine open-heart surgeries to ensure that everything grows with her body. Jeremy and I are scared but have put our FAITH in the Lord and we know that he will see us through this time. Below is a poem that we created with some help from my mother...we thought it would be fun and would help ease some of the tension that we are feeling. Hope you enjoy!
Twas the night before Surgery
Twas the night before Surgery, when all through the hospital
Nurses were stirring, patients were resting
The IV’s were hung on the pole with care,
In hopes that the children would leave them there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of ice-cream danced in their heads.
And mamma in her gown, and dad in his shorts
Had just settled in for a quick little nap.
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter.
Away to the door I flew in a scurry,
Tore down the blinds in a hurry.
The glow of the lights on the newly cleaned floor
Gave the lustre of diamonds to all those at the door.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a cardiac doctor and eight little interns.
With a big white coat, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Dr. Nick
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.
Now Nakisha! Now, Aime! Now Chareen and Liz!
On Freddye! On Marci, on, on Staci and Libby!
To the top of the elevators, to the top of the floor.
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the OR the interns they flew,
With the charts of the patients and Dr. Nick too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the floor,
The charting and documenting of each little one.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the hall Dr. Nick came in with a bound.
He was dressed all in blue, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all sterile with antiseptic to boot.
A bundle of tools he had in his pack
And he looked like a med student ready to attack!
His eyes- how the twinkled! His face all stern!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a rock.
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the stubble on his chin looked ready to go.
The stump of a pencil he held tight in his hand
And the marks on the paper look spic and span.
He had a thoughtful face and solid hands,
That firmly grasped his list of demands.
He was lanky and pale, a mad scientist for sure
And I laughed when I saw him, for I was unsure.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And corrected the heart, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his tools to the side of his table
Ensuring us all that the patient was stable!
He sprang from his patient, to his team gave a sign,
And quiet they became to listen for the first heart beat line
I heard them exclaim, as they sutured up with delight,
“The heart is working and she going to be alright!”
As we continue down this journey of Life with Karter we are so gratefully of every one's thoughts and prayers! You are all wonderful and our family could not ask for anything more. I will update tomorrow as soon as she goes in and as soon as she comes out! I can not wait for her heart to be all patched up and working correctly. May God put his grace on the hands of the surgeons tomorrow!
God Bless and Love,
The McHams'
Twas the night before Surgery
Twas the night before Surgery, when all through the hospital
Nurses were stirring, patients were resting
The IV’s were hung on the pole with care,
In hopes that the children would leave them there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of ice-cream danced in their heads.
And mamma in her gown, and dad in his shorts
Had just settled in for a quick little nap.
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter.
Away to the door I flew in a scurry,
Tore down the blinds in a hurry.
The glow of the lights on the newly cleaned floor
Gave the lustre of diamonds to all those at the door.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a cardiac doctor and eight little interns.
With a big white coat, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Dr. Nick
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.
Now Nakisha! Now, Aime! Now Chareen and Liz!
On Freddye! On Marci, on, on Staci and Libby!
To the top of the elevators, to the top of the floor.
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the OR the interns they flew,
With the charts of the patients and Dr. Nick too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the floor,
The charting and documenting of each little one.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the hall Dr. Nick came in with a bound.
He was dressed all in blue, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all sterile with antiseptic to boot.
A bundle of tools he had in his pack
And he looked like a med student ready to attack!
His eyes- how the twinkled! His face all stern!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a rock.
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the stubble on his chin looked ready to go.
The stump of a pencil he held tight in his hand
And the marks on the paper look spic and span.
He had a thoughtful face and solid hands,
That firmly grasped his list of demands.
He was lanky and pale, a mad scientist for sure
And I laughed when I saw him, for I was unsure.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And corrected the heart, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his tools to the side of his table
Ensuring us all that the patient was stable!
He sprang from his patient, to his team gave a sign,
And quiet they became to listen for the first heart beat line
I heard them exclaim, as they sutured up with delight,
“The heart is working and she going to be alright!”
As we continue down this journey of Life with Karter we are so gratefully of every one's thoughts and prayers! You are all wonderful and our family could not ask for anything more. I will update tomorrow as soon as she goes in and as soon as she comes out! I can not wait for her heart to be all patched up and working correctly. May God put his grace on the hands of the surgeons tomorrow!
God Bless and Love,
The McHams'
I LOVE this poem!!! Great job!! You guys are such an inspiration and we luv yall so much!!!
ReplyDeleteY'all did a great job on the poem! We will continue to be praying for Karter and the drs today.~Terri's cousin, Teresa
ReplyDeletepraying today and everyday! love the poem
ReplyDeleteWe are praying for you guys today and Miss Karter. I know God is in control and everything is going to be great!! What have we to fear when the Lord is with us?
ReplyDeleteKeep the faith and remember to breathe!
Cute poem! :-) All of you are in my prayers today....Karter family doc's nurses and anesthsia ..wish you were closer I could give you a hug but know that we send them from down here to ya. I am so glad you chose to tell your problems how BIG your GOD is instead of the other way around because He can take us through the worst of storms girl HUGS from Houston
ReplyDelete