Because life was not exciting enough! 😄

Today’s post will focus on our oldest son, Ethan. He will be 15 years old on July 20th. Since he was a little guy he has had mild Pectus Excavatum. This is where the rib cage grows inward. It is pretty common, especially in Caucasian males, but it varies in severity. Ethan’s was hardly noticeable until he hit a major growth spurt during the summer of 2019. At his 14 year check up the doctor noticed something with his heart and wanted to follow up on it. We saw an orthopedic specialist at Vanderbilt early this year and at the time it was decided we would wait a year and see where things were. Since then he has grown several more inches and it has begun to affect his breathing. He isn’t able to do any kind of exercise without pain in his chest and being a theater boy he found he couldn’t sing well anymore without feeling light headed. After more testing and conversation with the doctor decided he needed to go ahead and do the corrective surgery sooner rather than later. The other deciding factors of now vs later is later would likely need to be pushed to next summer due to everything with Alex and he will be turning 16 next summer and wanting to get a job and be involved in teenage things. His request was that if it needed to be done that we could go ahead and do it this year when there really isn’t much to miss. We felt like, while it is a crazy time in the life of our family it is important to consider later Impacts his life. All that said his surgery was confined yesterday and will be happening next Friday, July 17th. At this point surgery is scheduled for 10:30 am and it will be a 4-5 hour surgery. He will be inpatient at Vanderbilt for 5-7 days following surgery. The surgery is called the Nuss Procedure and it is rather remarkable. Unless anything changes I will move in with him and not be able to leave until we bring him home. The doctor has warned Ethan that this is a difficult surgery to recover from but agrees he will be happy with the results. The Doctor told him to plan to spend the next three to four weeks mostly on the couch and then gradually get back to normal activity over the next 3-5 months. He said some recover more quickly than others but that is what they say to expect.

Ethan is nervous of course but also ready to get this done. Please pray for peace for him and all of us. For my parents as they will have the other five kids most of the time. For Brent as he works, works on getting our renovation projects done, and helps with the kids. And for Brent to be at peace with not being able to be there with Ethan and me at all. The Vanderbilt rule is one parent every 24 hours so Brent is not even able to come at night so I can go be with the other kids some and so he can see Ethan some. Also, pray for the other kids as they are away from me and their big brother. Pray also that he is recovered pretty well before we leave town for Alex’s surgery in August. I mentioned earlier that Ethan will turn 15 on the 20th of July so he will still be in the hospital at that point. If anyone wants to send him a card or gift I know he would enjoy and appreciate that. If things are sent to us before his surgery I will take them with us and give them to him throughout his stay to encourage him.