Just One More: Post-Operative Bern

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Post-Operative Bern

We just got back to see her. She looks really good, demanded to be extubated already, and has a nice little braid in her hair. She rests for now, but could be angry when she comes off the big drugs.

She still has all of her lines in and will until it's determined we don't need that level of access anymore. She's back in a normal heart rhythm and gives us little reason to believe she will pull any tricks in that department.

We are thrilled with how things have proceeded this far and know that we need to have a really good 48 hours post-op for me to be convinced things are really going along this smoothly and speedily. I walked in the room to see her and the "STAND BY NOT VENTILATING" screen was already in front of us. It took 6 weeks for that to happen last time! There is even talk that if she has a good night, we could go back to general care tomorrow. They even moved the ventilator out of the room!

Keep the love, light, and prayers flowing! It's working!

4 comments:

AnonymousMay 14, 2015 at 12:39 PM
Thank you Jesus! You go Bernie!!! So glad to hear this amazing update! We continue to keep you all very close in prayer. Lots of love, heart hugs and prayers from the upper peninsula!
Mike, Laurie and Aubree too. :)
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousMay 14, 2015 at 6:07 PM
Missy,
I am so thankful things went so well! Praying that is a sign of things to come - swift and complete healing!! God is good!! Give Bernie a hug from Kiele when she's up to it!! If you need ANYTHING please let me know! My car can get to A2 on auto pilot!!! Keep up the good work! Amy
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownMay 14, 2015 at 6:16 PM
So happy to hear things are going smoothly! We have been thinking of you non-stop. Thanks for all the posts. Sending lots of love and recovery your way. Heal that Bern!!
ReplyDelete
Replies
CatrinaMay 15, 2015 at 6:12 AM
It's great to hear these updates. Glad all is going so well. :)
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

About Bernice

A Note From Bernie (aka "The Bern"), our "one more"

Hi, my name is Bernice and I was born Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at nearly 30 weeks gestation weighing 3 pounds, 9 ounces, 15 and 3/4 inches. I have lots of hair and energy for my age. I have three older sisters and their names are IzzyB (13), Sadie, and Lucy (twins, 11) and a dog named Fergus. I have Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and was born with a significant congenital heart defect called a complete AV canal defect (balanced AVSD).

After 57 days in the NICU and 10 days of hospitalization in February for RSV, I finally got to have my heart surgery in Ann Arbor on April 10. Just when we thought it was all fixed and I was about to go home, I took a sudden turn for the worse and had to have a second heart surgery on April 25 to repair my mitral valve. We left Ann Arbor on May 24.

I was hospitalized for a couple of days in Traverse City for pneumonia at the very end of May.

By the beginning of July 2008, I showed more signs of respiratory distress and was again taken to the ER at Munson Medical Center where I was treated for sepsis, rapid respirations, and signs of potential heart failure. I spent 2 weeks at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids until we decided it would be best if I were in Ann Arbor to be closer to my surgeon at the University of Michigan. I love her, so I didn't really mind the ride even though the survival flight team wasn't so sure I'd make it.

I was discharged from Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor on September 28, 2008 after recovering from my 3rd open heart surgery. I received a prosthetic mitral valve on July 21. Even though I am doing really well now, there were days just after this last surgery where the nurses told my parents they could not care for me anymore. Every time they tried to perform basic care, I would go into cardiac arrest. All but one doctor said there was nothing else they could do for me to keep me alive. After being placed in a pentabarbitol coma, receiving regular doses of ketamine, and getting LOTS of prayers, I left death's door and started recovering from my severe pulmonary hypertensive crises and reactive airway disease.

My heart now has good function, but I continue to battle issues with stenosis. I can do that. I eat from a fork and spoon, run all over the house, and define the word miracle each time I look in the mirror. Now you know why I love my doctor SO much! I just can't wait to grow up and be a little girl!

It has been four helicopter rides and about 220 days in the hospital my first year of life(most very far from our home) since my mom's water broke on September 17, 2007.

I rallied through my 4th open heart operation to resection my left ventricle and was home 10 days later.

I know I have a lot of friends and family who love me and care about me very much.

Lots of love,

Bernie

Her electronic birth announcement sent out Friday, October 5, 2007 read:

She is beautiful!

Even though this precious little girl arrived ten weeks early, she and let us know how spunky she is by letting out loud cries and showing off her very full head of sandy brown hair.

Missy is recovering just fine from her C-section at Munson Medical Center . However, we have short term and long term challenges ahead of us as far as Bernie’s health is concerned.

Being born at nearly 30 weeks, Bernie is premature. In addition, Bernie has a heart defect which will require surgery most likely when she is 6 months to 1 year of age. Until she reaches full term, in another 4-6 weeks, she will be at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids (she was air lifted there yesterday) where they have a neonatal cardiologist who can more precisely care for her. We will be traveling there as parents and together as a family on a regular basis for the next month or more to love, support, and get to know Bernie.

Her heart condition is directly related to the fact that she most likely has Down syndrome. Genetic testing has not confirmed this as of yet, but physical traits highly suggest this is the case. Despite many surprises in the past few days, we are thrilled to have Bernie as the newest member of our family.

Just One More

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Post-Operative Bern

4 comments:

Swiftie Sisters, the Swindler, and a Bedroom Fit for a Teen

Total Pageviews

Followers