Dear Madeline,
After hours of waiting for a bed to open up in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Johns Hopkins Hospital, the wheels were finally set in motion for your surgery today. We wheeled you down one floor from the pediatric oncology unit to the operating room at about 3 PM. Your mother and I escorted you into the surgical prep area, dressed in scrubs, discussed the game plan with the anesthesiology team, and then kissed you one last time before the anesthesia went to work.
Mom and I met up with family in the general OR waiting room, and then promptly got up to go for a walk to clear our heads and talk to each other about what we were thinking. We ended up in the chapel saying some major prayers as tears streamed down our faces before collecting ourselves and rejoining our support system.
We got word at about 4:30 that surgery was finally underway after 90 minutes of prep work to implant a central line, breathing tube, and IV sites. And now we wait some more. We were advised that the surgery itself would take at least 3 hours, perhaps as many as 5-6 hours. We know you're in great hands, but you are your father's daughter, and I'm not very patient when it comes to things like this. I'm anxious to be by your side as your recover in the PICU.
Love,
Daddy
Very touching and full of love...Pete please know that although we may not talk as much as we used to, your friends (family) are all here for you and your family. If Maddie is anything like you then her inherited resilience will pull her through. Times like this teach us all a little more of how the human spirit reaches out to all around and Maddie has so much to teach us all still to come and I'm sure I speak for many when I say "we all look forward to seeing her pull through and teach us all what she is meant to teach us"
ReplyDeletePlease let me know if there is anything I can do..Rob