Next Surgery Scheduled

I actually don't know what number this is for her in surgeries. We had one scheduled for October 3, but made our yearly trip to the Feast of Tabernacles and had to postpone. We just heard today that the soonest they can get her in will be Thursday, December 27, 2012. Which is a little while off, but it is very good timing in the hopes that she will miss minimal amount of school. Speaking of school, Emily and Andrew are now in the same school together for the first time. A new charter school opened this year in McKinney called Imagine of North Texas and we're already seeing amazing differences just by the curriculum that they follow. Each child's strengths and weaknesses are identified early on. In the case of Emily, she was seen as doing two grades in advanced level reading, while Andrew is being challenged with the next level of math. We'll keep you posted.

I just did a tally and this will be Emily's 7th surgery.

The Reality of Emily's Situation

It came to my attention today (thank you Ellie), as someone was asking me about how Emily's tests went last month, that I haven't really divulged the full magnitude of her situation. I have felt like I've relayed it in varying degrees, but realized that I haven't really conveyed the sentiments of the neurosurgeon's outlook or diagnosis based on what he saw from her MRI. His words were to me that day after viewing the MRI were that he particularly saw no reason for her to be standing, much less walking, running, playing and on top of that, with no pain. He said that everything he sees makes him believe that she should be paralyzed and that the only thing we have to go on is her present condition. The fact that she is such a happy child, laughing, singing, going about with little or no impairment, except of course what is, or at least can be, obvious to those who observe her walk. It's truly a perplexing place to be not knowing if we should be frantic that her condition can change at any given moment, like that time of her last surgery of untethering her cord, which left her paralyzed from the waist down and unable to urinate on her own; and then the second day were were home, she begins returning to normal. We left there with the physician truly believing she was paralyzed for the remainder of her life. Needless to say, we're thankful. And though we don't really want to consider this fact, but her condition could change at any given point. I guess, in reality, that's the same for all of us and we don't need to be suffering from a medical condition to realize it. Our circumstances can change in an instant. Reminds me of a clip I saw just last week as I was flipping channels from a ridiculous sci-fi movie in which some aliens (don't ask me how I caught this) were making an observation of earthlings stating how they couldn't rationalize how we had "such a disregard for practical matters." I can truly attest to this and how aggrevating it is to realize how much time I waste with "impractical" things. We live in a world that distracts, detracts and keeps us busy with nonsense. Oftentimes, it's not until we're on our deathbed do we realize what we've been wasting. Real opportunities thinking about the needs of others, relationships. Rather than thinking about all the reasons that make us different. The circumstances are grave. We'd do well to think of excuses of getting together with others we might disagree with rather than sitting justified why we don't. Off of on a tangent, no doubt. The reality is my little girl's life, as all of ours, is in His hands. I'm thankful for that.

Out of Surgery

She's out and everything appeared to go well. The surgeon noticed that the screw holding the spine rod seemed to be moving around a bit and will be requesting a CT Scan before we go to see the neurosurgeon. It may require taking it out and putting it a different location.

On a side note, I'm just learning of some friends who's unborn baby is showing signs of spina bifida and will require surgery right after birth. Please pray that the condition is not serious for this little unborn child.

Surgery Today

We're told the surgery is going to take about 2 hours. But come to think of it, I believe that's what they tell us each time.

All in all, it should be routine in the sense of lengthening the rods, but as we all know, surgery can hardly be summed up as routine.

Thank you for the prayers.

Spirit of Adoption

6 years old today!

Emily has turned 6 today. Hard to believe that she's been with us almost 4 years. She's growing up!

Next Surgery Scheduled

I'm sorry to all that I have not kept up with this blog. I received a nudge the other day to post more info and keep everything current. Thank you Ellie. :)

Anyway, Emily is set to go in for a "routine" lengthening of her titanium rods on February 3rd. We hope it is just that...routine.

One thing we're concerned about right now is that we recently heard from the neurologist who wants to see her again. What this means is the possibility and concern of her spinal cord fusing back to the vertebra.

We're going in March, I believe to get the MRI/x-rays and such to determine the situation there. Your prayers are much appreciated that this is not happening because another surgery in that area could have serious long term repercussions.