Unexpected Blessings

It's all about the way you look at things.

Looking at this picture you would think we were at some type of resort, right?  This is the view out the front door of Phoenix Children's Hospital.



This is Zeta -

3 DAYS after BRAIN SURGERY! 

This is the biggest surgery Zeta has encountered, yet it has also been the smoothest in regards to immediate post-op recovery.

We arrived in Phoenix on Wednesday after a very grand send off from family and friends.  Zeta went into surgery around 9:30 and we were finally able to see her around 2:30.  She had a blood transfusion immediately prior to surgery, and came out with several more lines than she went in with.  She had a tiny hole on the front left side and back side of her head.  She had a larger incision on the top left of her head, but they did not have to shave her hair.  They told us she would probably sleep a few days before really waking up.  She woke immediately and stayed awake all afternoon.  They told us that her seizure activity may initially increase after surgery, simply due to the fact that there would be inflammation and swelling in the brain.  We saw only a few small seizures.  That night she started to show bruising under and over her eyes, but by morning it was all gone.  

Right now they are still trying to regulate the meds for diabetes insipidus (a condition that commonly occurs after HH surgery.)  She has not been given morphine since last night.  They are weaning her steroids (given because of adrenal insufficiency - OUR bodies make what they call 'stress' hormones that help us get over sickness and other insults to our systems - Zeta's body doesn't always make these hormones on their own.)  She has been sleeping most of the past couple of days.  They have started her feedings again.  She has been on her home vent for a while.  We were just getting ready to take her off the vent and just put her back on oxygen, but she is sleeping really hard and her sats have been dropping a little, so we are going to wait until she is a little more alert to try. 

This has been , remarkably and relatively, an "easy" recuperation thus far.  I know that it is, indeed , another one of God's miracles in our life.  The doctors are also very impressed with how well Zeta is doing!  They had some concerns going in because Zeta was not the 'typical' HH patient.  Most other patients with this brain lesion do not exhibit all of the other health problems that Zeta has. 

I have no doubt we will continually witness God's miraculous working within the life of our little girl.

Now, I'm counting down the hours until I get to see my boys again.



I miss them so much!

There is so much Stevie and I would both like to say to everyone that has shown us such great support. Words cannot possibly do justice to the gratitude that we feel within our hearts.  Hearing, seeing, and feeling the support around us often helps us to push on when we feel we can't bear another minute.

The things that we see happening in our lives and around us exemplifies the Christ-like attitude that God intended when he created man.  Sure, we all have our hang-ups - and God does know I surely have mine, but when you see the way that our family and friends and community has come together to PRAY for our little girl and to give PRAISE to HIM for all that has been accomplished it is absolutely amazing.  For us to be the recipient of such goodness from everyone around us is very humbling....you know, you kind of always expect everyone to be 'looking out for number 1'....but that is not our experience at all.....people are compassionate, caring, giving, loving....All of the traits that God showed (and continues to show) by sending Christ to die on the cross.....All of things He gave up in order to make life better for us.....

Sometimes, I feel as though I ramble and ramble ...on...and....on.....and I know sometimes I probably don't make a lot of sense to those on the outside looking in.....but ....there is so much that I feel like I have to say....and so much that I need to share.....about the gift of LIFE....the gift of LOVE.....and all of the UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS I've been given!  Thank you for letting me share these things with you!

I am infinitely grateful to the life which privileged me.
Jacky Ickx