Ethan’s Pectus surgery

Last Thursday afternoon several friends stopped by to drop off gifts for Ethan and to pray with him before his surgery. Grandma and Pap Pap came by after dinner to pray and sing with us before surgery day. This meant a lot to Ethan and helped to ease his nerves. After the little ones went to bed Ethan and Kyle stayed up to have a brothers video game night. They had fun together but of course didn’t get much sleep.

We had to be at Vanderbilt at 6 am so we got a very early start Friday morning. Brent prayed with us before we left home and Ethan told us he had been a little nervous Thursday but was feeling peaceful about the whole day now. I was really thankful to hear that.

When we arrived they got his IV started, we saw all the doctors, and they got his epidural placed. By the time it was placed he was pretty heavily medicated and mostly asleep. He woke up enough to ask me to rub his head but then was out again. The doctor had told me to expect it to take 4-5 hours. Originally I had thought I would wait in the hospital but the doctor told me since it would be a lengthier surgery I didn’t need to stay inside.

Brent got the other kids up and dropped them at Mama and Daddy’s for the day. He was able to come to the hospital and picked me up. We went down the road to the park and walked a bit. We found a swing under an old oak tree and enjoyed the shade and breeze. There were a bunch of birds in the park and we both enjoy bird watching. It was a sweet way to wait. I’m very thankful it worked out this way. Brent dropped me off about the 2 hour mark to be sure I wouldn’t be gone too long.

At three and a half hours they called to say the doctor was done and ready to talk to me. It was good to hear that everything went really well and the surgery had accomplished exactly what they had intended. He said he didn’t expect there to be any complications with recovery. When I was able to go back to the recovery room Ethan was beginning to wake up. He asked for his music first thing and used it to help him manage the discomfort and pain the first several hours. I was really proud of him for handling everything so well. These first few days have been difficult at times but he has done very well. He has thanked everyone who has done anything, even when he was still heavily medicated. The nurses in recovery thought it was funny and sweet.

By Saturday afternoon he had gotten up and taken his first walk around the halls. He was exhausted by the time he was finished but he did it. The nurses and doctors have been impressed with how determined he has been. When he needs something he wants to be the one to get up and get it instead of asking someone else to do it for him. He says if he doesn’t get up he won’t heal as quickly! Smart boy, but let’s hope we can keep him from overdoing it.

Ethan is thrilled with the results already and can’t wait to heal enough to be able take deep breaths and run without becoming short of breath. He asked me to take before and after pictures to show how much different it is.

Ethan wants to say thank you to everyone who sent gifts and cards for his birthday and surgery. He will turn 15 tomorrow, July 20th. Not exactly how we ever expected we would be spending his 15th birthday but he has been able to find positives in it as well. He has been really encouraged by the sweet notes and has enjoyed the gifts. Thank you for loving on him so well. Thank you for praying for him and all of us through this time.

The other kids have had fun splitting their time between grandparents during the day and home with Faddy at night and mornings. Special treats with Daddy are always a nice way to spend a morning!

LaRue was taken on a trail ride today with a sweet friend. She had a wonderful time. This girl is happiest when she is with a horse!

We will all be happy when we are back home together again. Ethan and I miss the rest of the family and I hear they are missing us as well.

Happy 15th Birthday Ethan! Not how we ever imagined spending his 15th birthday but it was special in many ways also. His nurses were sweet and everyone wished him a happy birthday. We ordered a banana with his breakfast and used snacks we had with us to make his birthday banana. Some traditions you just can’t miss no matter what! 😄 Even when you don’t have a bowl to put it in!

Ever since he has turned 10 we have had a sibling help out with the number of fingers showing how old they are but we didnt have the siblings today so his nurse gladly stepped in and provided ten fingers.

He had lots of silly family members to sing happy birthday over FaceTime.

Best birthday present ever!! He got to go home. He wanted out of there so badly and since his epidural came out in the morning and he came off the IV medications it was decided that he wouldne be doing anything different home than he was there so he could come home. He was very excited!!

And since he was home his wonderful sister, LaRue, made him vanilla cupcakes with yum yum chocolate icing, just as he requested. All in all he says it was a good birthday! Thank you to everyone who helped make his birthday and hospital stay special!