Pre-Op Complete

We just got back from Children's Mercy this afternoon after a three hour PreOp appointment. Everything is set for surgery tomorrow at 6:30 AM. We were able to meet with the chief cardiovascular surgeon (Aspen's surgeon) and a few people from her care team who walked us through what will take place tomorrow.

So here's what will happen - we will arrive at 6 AM, they will prep her for surgery and then we will hand her over to surgical team (the part I am dreading). Then the anesthesiologists will place several IV's in her veins along with an arterial port in her chest/neck. This will take anywhere from a half hour to an hour. Then the actual surgery will begin, which should take about 2.5 hours. During the surgery she will be on a cardiopulmonary bypass machine that will circulate her blood for her. She will also require a blood transfusion, which is standard for a patient of her age. After surgery is complete they will be keeping her sedated until Wednesday morning so that she sleeps through the toughest part of recovery (praise God!). Based on how well her body recovers, they said that she will most likely be able to be taken off the ventilator on Wednesday, at the latest, Thursday.

We will send out an update after surgery is complete. Thank you all so much for your texts, emails, phone calls and support, but most of all for your love and prayers. We have faith that God is going to heal our little angel.