Operation ZoZo Update – Day 5
So, I’m running on even less sleep than i had in the last post, so I’m going to get to the point. Last night, Hillary and I were able to sleep in one of the family rooms just down the hall from the NICU. We were very thankful for it, but I had to sleep on the floor, so I’m a little less sentimental, and a little more temperamental. Anyway, here’s the update on Zoe, as we know it…
Zoe is crying well, and sounds NOTHING like Faith. Earlier, we could barely hear a funny little piggy cry. Today, we’ve heard her voice, so she seems to have recovered from the intubation well enough to use her throat a little more. It’s music to our ears.
Cathing is down to only every 8 hours. Her residual (urine left in that she didn’t or couldn’t pee out herself) is still very low, so she’s urinating well enough to reduce the need to manually empty her bladder.
Head circumference is still at 32 cm, so it’s completely unchanged from when she was born. If at increases very much, it may indicate the need for a shunt. But as of right now, we may be ok. She had a head ultrasound today to check a little more thoroughly if she needs it or not.
Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy came by this morning and said her movement is pretty good. She is doing perfect above the waist, doing well from the ankles up, but she still doesn’t seem to have much control of her feet. She can move them a little, but doesn’t do her reflexes well enough for them. They gave us some massages and exercises to do with her to help her straighten her feet and get them stronger.
She has some swelling above her surgical site, which is normal for a couple of days afterwards. It should go down on it’s own. If not, they’ll look at draining it.
We still have no idea when we might go home, but we’re staying optimistic. God knows how long He wants her here, and we love the peace of mind that someone is watching her at all times. But we are anxious to have Faith get to see her, and for us to all be home together. Continue to pray for us as we manage all of Zoe’s doctors’ names and try to remember everything that they tell us. We love you all and appreciate all of the support!
Operation ZoZo Update – Day 3
I’m running on about 4 total hours of sleep in the past 2 days, so bear with me. I wanted to give everyone an overall update on where things are with the Lovell family. This is not sugar coated, at all. I’ve listened to so many interns give report to their attendings I feel like I’m on Grey’s Anatomy. ;) So, here we go…
- Zoe was born on Thursday, October 7th at 3:52pm at Vanderbilt University Medical Center with myelomeningocele (Spina Bifida)
- The lesion is mostly sacral (low), although an x-ray will determine the specific level
- Before surgery, her legs were moving, and she was urinating well, with little need for a catheter.
- Her surgery was done on Friday, October 8th at 11:30am at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital
- The surgery went well, with no complications. The closure was done horizontally, instead of vertically because of the size, location and orientation of the lesion. It runs across the majority of the width of her back, right around the waist line.
- She was able to have the ventilator from surgery taken away immediately after surgery, and remained in the recovery room for about 30 minutes.
- Zoe was kept sedated until that night, when they weaned her off of that IV, and began giving her bottle feedings for the first time.
- The feedings went well, taking about 1/2 on an ounce every 3 hours. She’s has had very few issues with feedings since.
- Her head circumference remains unchanged since she was born.
- Movement in her legs is somewhat limited, but is steadily increasing.
- The order for using a catheter started at every 4 hours the day of surgery, and has decreased to only every 6 hours today. She has very little urine in the catheter, meaning she is urinating some on her own.
- Hillary was able to hold Zoe for the first time today, and even tried nursing her.
- She will get a head ultrasound on Monday, October 11th to check on the need for a shunt.
- First, that we continue to feel God’s presence in the midst of a very overwhelming place. Every other part of this list means NOTHING without this. We are confident that although it may be part of our plan, we don’t want it, unless it’s a part of His plan.
- For Hillary’s healing from having a C-section.
- That we are able to find a place to stay close to the hospital that is affordable for us to do for the length of time that we will be here.
- For me to continue to help Hillary recover.
- That we are able to find time to eat, sleep and keep our strength up.
- That Zoe will continue to eat well and gain weight.
- For Zoe’s healing of her surgical site, for no infections, and for manageable pain.
- That Zoe’s head circumference will remain constant, or if needed, that a shunt will be placed with no further complications.
- For sensation in Zoe’s bladder, legs, feet and bowels to continue to increase, and that the spinal cord will continue to heal.
- For our family in general as we are separated from Faith, and as we are in a stressful time.
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Our Birth-Day Prayer
Psalm 22:9-10 says
Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you…
I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born.
Tomorrow, more than any other day in my life, I am praying that God continues to be faithful to His word. He says that it does not return void. He has done it in the past, and we pray that He continues the good work that He has begun in our family. Zoe is being born under circumstances that are both out of our control, and not in our plan. We are trusting His plan for us and for her.
So many of you who are reading this right now have supported us throughout our lives in various ways. And many of you have prayed already this week for us, and we are so thankful for that. But, I’d like to ask you to do it again. I’m begging you to not just “think” about us, or “hope” for us. Take time today, and especially in the morning tomorrow, to say a prayer for our family. That may sound selfish, and maybe it is. But we believe that God responds to the prayers of His people. When Abraham prayed, God changed His plans to destroy. When Daniel prayed, lions were calmed. When the Hebrew people prayed and fasted, Ester was spared.
We know that there are so many people who love us, and care about our family enough to take a few minutes and pray. Even if you’ve been praying for us all along, tomorrow morning is going to be a very vulnerable time for us. We need His strength in our weakness. We need his peace in our confusion. How confident we will be going in tomorrow, knowing that there are people all over who are praying for us. As a matter of fact, you can even write your prayer out, email or Facebook it to me or Hillary, and we would love to print it and post it in her NICU room. Feel free to even add scripture that is a truth you would speak into her life. How amazing to have the prayers of faithful believers, right there in the room with her at all times!
Tomorrow, God will deliver Zoe from the place that He has been knitting her for these 9 months. She will continue to be in His arms as she has surgery on her back, and as she continues to grow into the woman He has planned for her to be. Thank you all for everything that you have done for our family throughout our lives. We will continue to need you as our family adds a member, and we experience the normal “growing pains” of a family of four. We love all of you so much, and thank you for your prayers!
