June 30, 2014 -- Surgery is Still on Hold

Hello all!  Here is a limited update. We have had no internet access so it's been a challenge to get an update on here. Hopefully this will work and the connection will improve!

We arrived as planned at 6:30 am this morning even after the surgeon's heads up phone call last night. After a long wait and getting Hope all ready for surgery, we found out that the 13 year old girl who broke her back yesterday, was taken into surgery here this morning at around 8 am. So Hope is NOT in surgery right now!

Click on Read more below to continue to read this post. . .

We are on hold waiting to see if they are going to try do Hope's surgery after this girl's surgery is completed. It is certainly not ideal. This would mean two very long surgeries back to back for the surgeon and anesthetist. We are all so exhausted after little sleep last night and this means that Hope's surgery, if it happens, will last until late tonight.  She's nervous and this means hours more of waiting for her.  She is not able to eat or drink. This will make her seizure med late tonight and will be an additional concern and risk now. I asked her how she was feeling and she said, "Nervous!  I wish we could just get this over with!"  And yet she's just like us in that we would love for God to heal her without the surgery.  We are torn and totally uncertain . . . just waiting and trusting that God is over it all and will do what He knows is best for all involved!

We don't know how to hope or pray right now. . . we would love to just go home and have God heal Hope's back instead!   But if Hope doesn't get the surgery today, then she will be postponed until at least Sept which the surgeon made us believe would be harmful for Hope with less of a good surgery outcome if we wait, due to the increasing rigidity of her spine. So this is incredibly hard on all of us, to be honest. Hope is doing well in spite of the stress and nerves. She has two aunties and a sister here distracting her in the library which she loves!  We have lots of concerns and no idea how to pray other than that The Lord would do what is best because He is the only one who knows what that is!  So please keep praying!  We'll keep you posted but this is going to be a very long wait and day for us, regardless of what happens.

One cool thing is that we've met the family of the 13 yr old girl and I was able to pray with the mother who was beside herself crying and upset, before she left to rest in a sleep room.  Such tragedy and we understand it well!  Please keep them in prayer as they have deep hurts and needs that only the Lord knows exactly what they are and how to meet them.

Thank you for your prayers and many notes of encouragement!  They are a huge blessing on this still uncertain and nerve wracking day!  How the many verses of Scripture and prayers sent have ministered to our hearts!  I am reading them to Hope here and there in between trips to the library.  Will try to keep you updated as we are able and when we have any new information. 

Here are some pictures from earlier this morning. . .

On her way to the hospital very early but looking spry and cheery!  : )

Snuggles with sissy while waiting for news if surgery was on or on hold. 

Hope was thrilled that Puppy (she's had him since she was born!) can come to surgery with her, and that he got dressed up just like her in a gown and patient ID band!  She got this idea from a sweet friend named Chelsea, who is no stranger to surgery!  Thanks Chelsea!!!

Hanging out waiting for news on surgery earlier this am. Notice again the hilarious stack of CONDENSED files on the table!  Hope's file is definitely on the extensive side!  We have been moved into a different area now for longer waits which is where we met the 13 yr old girl's family. It is right next to the library and so a great spot for Hope to spend these long hours being distracted by books!

You are loved, dear ones!  Thank you for continuing to pray!  May God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven!