Our Redirected Flight

Our Redirected Flight

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Let's pretend that airplanes in the night sky...

Are shooting stars. We could really use a wish right now, a wish right now.

This is the song that was on the radio as I pulled out of the parking lot of the neurosurgeons office today. How appropriate. Today our wishes would be:
1. Please let the neurosurgeons hands work as brilliantly as they ever have on Monday morning as he is placing a vp shunt into our little Gray's brain.
2. We wish for a fast recovery for Grayden with no infections following his surgery.
3. We wish for strength for mom and dad and grandma's, grandpa's, aunts, uncles, cousins, and especially big brother as we wait for the surgery to take place and be complete.

This is not the road we wanted to travel. This is what we most wanted to avoid. But this is what we know-that little tube will save our little guy's life. It is what he needs at this moment because the fluid in his brain has reached levels that are or will be soon, creating too much pressure on his brain as it grows. We are thankful that a shunt is even a possibility. We are thankful for modern medicine. We are still very thankful we were selected for prenatal and truly believe that it has given Grayden the chance he needed to grow and get stronger to prepare for this surgery. Prior to having the prenatal surgery we were given a 95 percent chance that he would need a shunt based on what the doctors saw on ultrasound prior to his birth. We had hoped with the prenatal that we could avoid this, but it was not meant to be. WE are still so thankful and we know that Grayden is a strong little fighter.

Please keep us in your thoughts as we struggle to prepare for Monday.

We could really use a wish right now, a wish right now (or two or three).

We love you to the moon and back Grayden!!

8 comments:

  1. I know how hard it is to face this reality - travel down this shadowy road - but you are so right to be thankful for all those blessings you mentioned. When you first hear about a shunt - you pray you don't have to cross that bridge - you pray your little one is one of the few who can avoid it. The shunt represents uncertainty, fear, something foreign and unwanted for our little ones- but somehow over all of that - the shunt actually represents life. I know you are scared and sad. But it's going to be okay. We just celebrated our 1 year of "no problems" for Jet's shunt (who we now affectionately call "Rocco" ) and are so, so thankful for how his shunt has helped him. And we worry no more about it malfunctioning then we worried about him getting one in the first place! In fact - we worry less. :) We will be keeping you in our prayers and sending you warm wishes.

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  2. Ah, I'm sorry you got this news, but thank God for shunts, right? I know you must be so disappointed, but I believe the prenatal surgery has more benefits than just the decreased need for a shunt. Will be praying for Grayden's surgery.

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  4. Turn your worries into prayers. Tell the Lord what you need and thank him for all he has done.

    May the peace of the Lord be with you. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We'll especially be thinking about you on Monday.

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  5. Oh Kelly! This morning (before I read this) my daughter and I were listening to that song on iTunes and I teared up thinking about you and Grayden. My wish for you is Peace that passes all understanding! I remember when Dr. S. did Gabe's first repair as he took him back to surgery I said, "I'm trusting you mister!" I was a bit over tired, sore, sad, and probably inappropriate. His response was, "Trust? You need to look a bit higher for that Katie." That gave me just the reassurance I needed to know that his skilled and trained professional hands are held by much bigger hands. We will pray with you that they are steady as ever on Monday AM. Hugs!

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  6. Our thoughts and prayers are with you now, on Monday, and after. The Mathews Family

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  7. We have a love-hate relationship with shunts.
    Love for the things that it does, the medical marvels that allow it to help and that deep down we know it is needed.
    Hate because it is surgery, it is something we hoped wouldn't be needed and because it is just one more thing to add to the spina bifida pile.
    Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

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  8. My daughter had a VP shunt placed in 2009. We were terrified at the time, but today she's healthy and happy and (knock wood) hasn't needed any revisions yet. Hang in there. All my best wishes for your family.

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