Hope

December 7th 2022, 11:35am

Today I walked into Zeke’s room and my heart sank. I will confess it has been difficult to walk this through with my baby and all that he has gone through but today is particularly hard. I know in whom I trust and where my hope should lie but I am struggling today. Post operative it’s day 1 and Zeke is quite swollen. He went into this surgery fragile unlike his first one two and a half weeks ago. His wrists are purple and are now blistering and his toes on the leg that has the arterial line are starting to turn purple.

At morning rounds the discussion surrounded beginning the process of increasing the diuretics to help with his swollen body, dealing with the problem of where to get new access lines for meds and beginning a slow wean of his meds of which he is on quite a few. His central line on his neck needs to be removed because of the surgery he had yesterday, the glen procedure. Dr Honjo disconnected the superior vena cava from the heart and connected it to the pulmonary artery allowing blood from the upper part of the body to flow directly into the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary artery then takes the blood to the lungs. His central line has a clot and to avoid compromising this added physiological change the central line needs to be removed. But Zeke is so edematous and they are having trouble getting a new line in. His central line is giving them access to administer the majority of his meds. So to replace it is quite the feat. His pressures are somewhat stable but still worrisome, so they are waiting to see how he does when the wean from meds begins.

Please pray for a solution for a new line. Pray that as they increase the diuretics he would tolerate it well. His pressures would stabilize and his body would begin to heal. For God to continue giving Zeke the strength to fight. For my heart as I prepare to help in the weaning process and for my overall trust in the Lord. To be reminded that our good Shepherd is walking through this valley with us and loves Ezekiel more than we ever could.

Psalm 23:1-6 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”