JD's Surgery Thursday

[Guest guest]

JD was taken to vent clinic to see Dr. Gelfand, his pulmonologist.

First, Dr. Gelfand believes there are no ill effects from the accidental

decannulation episode from Sunday. He was quite pleased with JD's progress.

JD's

blood gas was excellent at around 39 mmHG CO2 which is considered normal. JD's

lungs were clear and his x-rays were okay. JD has lost about 1 pound in the

past two months but considering he is more active and working more physically

Dr. Gelfand wasnt overly concerned. JD has grown two inches in the past two

months to over 30 inches in length and that was pleasing to Dr. Gelfand. Dr.

Gelfand's initial impression in looking at JD was that he was overly pleased

with his progress.

Now the good news or should I say the even better good news. Dr. Gelfand is

in agreement with Dr. Orval Brown that he is an excellent candidate for

immediate repair of bilateral choanal atresia and opening up his nasal septum so

that he can breathe through his nose. Dr. Gelfand has cleared JD for surgery or

immediate repair. JD is scheduled for this repair at Childrens Medical Center

of Dallas by Dr. Brown this Thursday, May 3 at sometime in the morning. JD

will enter the hospital under closed observation beginning sometime tomorrow.

It is possible that JD will have to go to ICU post surgery. While doing the

surgery, Dr. Gelfand has asked Dr. Brown to perform a bronchoscopy under

anesthesia to look at the integrity of his airway or his trachea. He wants to

see

if the trachealmalacia is showing up.

We will take JD and admit him to Childrens under closed observation sometime

tomorrow. He has been cleared for surgery on Thursday. This is a very

serious surgery as most are but we are expecting good results. Let me emphasize

that along with the seriousness of this surgery that CHARGE children sometimes

experience problems while undergoing anesthesia and experience some problems

overcoming the effects of anesthesia. Every step will be taken by Dr. Brown and

the staff of Childrens Medical Center to maintain that JD is safe while they

are doing what needs to be done for surgery. With that in mind, we realize

that many, many people have offered their support to us while JD is in the

hospital. This will be undoubtedly the most emotional experience we have

encountered in that we have longed for this surgery ever since we were told of

this

condition after JD was born. It is something we had hoped would happen for a

very

long time. There is no doubt that this surgery will help JD become the child

and young man that God wants him to be. This will be very emotional for

Mandy in that she was born with the same condition except that it was much worse

and required more surgical intervention during her life. Her wish is to be

with her son in privacy while he goes through this surgery. Again please

respect

our wishes for this upcoming surgery in two days. We have had a very

emotional day and now we face the task of getting JD ready to face this surgery.

JD

is now home and my wife has already started to prepare him for this task both

mentally, physically, and emotionally. We feel JD does hear the spoken word

and is aware that we are communicating with him and we now begin the task of

preparing him for what lies ahead.

JD has come a very long way and there is much more of a long way to go for

him. There is no doubt that God is at work in our lives and the lives of our

children. We ask for your prayers and your continued thoughts. It is so

remarkeable to think and utterly feel what God is doing in our lives every day

and

what He has already done for us and our children. They have been given a

fighting chance. With that fighting chance they both have this inner spirit to

never give up or surrender, no matter what the cost. They have and will

continue

to meet every challenge given to them head on so that they can continue to

thrive and be the children and the young woman and young man that we envision

them to be with God's help. Many of you know that Olivia was born without any

vital signs and had to be revived at birth and a miracle happened when she came

home to us in just 1 month. Many of you know the story of JD that he has

utterly beaten the odds when the doctors stated to us that the odds were not in

his favor so many many times. Regardless, he has come back from adversity so

many, many times when things looked so bleak. We have riden an emotional

rollercoaster with the both of them but there is just something that we feel is

happening and it is no doubt a miracle from God. Again we promise to update

you

as soon as we know results. We face an emotional rest of the week but we know

that God is with us and is there to guide us through this. We ask for your

prayers. Until we update you again, we remain as servants to a risen Lord who

is Christ Jesus. Until you hear from us we remain forever In His Grip.

Miracles do happen and dreams do come true.

May the grace, mercy, power, and love of our Savior Jesus Christ be with each

of you.

In His Loving Hands,

, Mandy, Olivia (19 months) and JD (cHArgEd 19 months and one very happy

little man)

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