BENTLEY'S OPEN HEART SURGERY

(click to enlarge)

So this is what we saw after Bentley's surgery.. I did crop her out, because I do not want anyone to see her this way. I will post more of Bentley as a few tubes are taken out but there are just too many right now and it's hard for us. This is everything Bentley is hooked up to plus a few more that are not seen in this pictures. All of those little pumps in the back are used.. pretty much everything you see here is attached to her.. it breaks my heart.. it is the hardest thing I have ever had to see. You never want to see your child this way.. EVER!

So let's start at the beginning. Ryan and I took Bentley to the pre-op room.. where this picture was taken. She was tired because it has just been a rough couple of days.. she was almost falling alseep in my arms.. I then handed her over to the anesthesiologist and a few nurses who took her to the OR.. I will never forget the look.. of her face as they walked away. My heart ached like never before. Ryan and I sat there a minute so we could get ourselves together and our emotions under control before Bryson and Brenna saw us. Bryson, Brenna, my parents, Ryan's parents, and our best friends.. Brittany and Justin were in Bentley's room waiting on us. So once we let it all out.. we went back to Bentley's room.. the second I walked in.. I bursted into tears again, uncontrollably.. so I hurried out before Bryson and Brenna could see. I do not want them to know the extent of the surgery.. they are really clueless as to what all is going on and I don't want to worry them we me bawling. Bryson saw, and hurried out the door to check on his mama.. he asked me why I was crying and I just explained I was tired and wanted to go home. He said, oh.. ok. And that was that.

We then went to the Heart Surgery waiting area, and there was a large family room. That is where we stayed the whole time. There were books, games, food, snacks, drinks, and cartoons. Grandma brought scrapbooking stuff, so the kids decided they wanted to make posters for Bentley. Pictures below! Now about the surgery.. we waited about 2 and half hours for the first update.. they then let us know that it took a long time to hook her up to everything and get her ready.. they have started her on the bypass machine.. and they will begin the surgery now. we went back to the family room and spent more time with everyone. About another 2 and half hours later they updated us again to let us know the surgery was just about finished. All he had left to do was close her and do an echo to make sure everything was working good. Went back to the family area, about 30 minutes later.. we talked to the surgeon himself and he gave us all the details. He patched the hole in her heart.. he found a second hole and it was smaller so he stitched it, and then he worked on her pulmunary valve.. and he SAVED it.. this means Bentley should not need the two more heart surgeries for this at about 5 and again about 20. That is one thing I was really worried about. Most TOF babies cannot have their pulmunary valve saved/repaired because they are so damaged. In this case they usually need a couple more surgeries.. at about 5 and again about 20. So PRAISE GOD the surgeon saved the pulmunary valve. Also, PRAISE GOD for finding this second hole we did not know about and fixing it. Have I ever mentioned what an amazing surgeon we decided to go with? I just love him, he was BRILLIANT and God has performed such a beautiful miracle through this man. Over all.. the surgery was a huge success! He says their could be a second surgery in the furture about maybe 50 YEARS from now.. (on the pulmunary valve).. and by then technology will be above and beyond so their could be other ways to go about this! How amazing is that! We are thrilled with the results! Now we are not in the clear yet and Bentley still has a very tough road to face.. she is still on many many meds, chest tubes, ventilator, and has IV's going in everywhere seems like. Like I said, in the first picture you can see just a little of what we have going on. It is awful to see her this way.. health wise.. Bentley is doing well.. she is doing great.. she is doing AMAZING actually. But of course you do run into a couple of things here and there.. she is a little dehydrated, so they are working on this.. also.. earlier today she woke up and started to get excited so they had to give her a little "sleepy" medicine.. Ryan and I were in there again about an hour ago and she did the same.. woke up and looked straight at us and started to get exciting but her stats starting jumping everywhere, so we both had to move out of her site so they could calm her down. It took a little longer that time but they did calm her.. Ryan and I thought we should let her rest.. I wanted nothing more for her to look at me and SMILE.. but it's not time. They are going to try removing the ventilator tomorrow. She is at 40% oxygen right now.. she was at 50% earlier today. And yes! Bentley did receive mama's blood!!

Here are a few pictures of Bryson and Brenna with their posters and in the family room. I am really glad we had them here. They will not see Bentley until she moves to a regular floor, but these two amazing children of mine helped keep me strong. I could not break down in front of them.. I just couldn't. They keep me going all day, ahh I love them so much!!! And my husband.. gotta love him. He is my rock.. I have always known this, and he just prooved it again today! I am also thankful that both sets of grandparents were here today as well as our best friends.. Thank you Brittany for also helping keep me going today, it means so much to me!! And all of you as well.. the emails and the comments.. I read them all while we waited. It helped keep me busy during those many hours of pain.. you have lifted me up and I am so grateful for that and the prayers! Please keep them coming.. Bentley has had a great surgery, now we need a great recovery as we know there could be many bumps in the road.

Although all the we are going through.. I see that I am so blessed!! GOD IS GOOD!!

Not sure if I have mentioned it.. But Bentley has absolutely amazed me today with her strength. She has did such an amazing job in surgery and out. She is a fighter.. and everyone can see it here! Oh and everyone here has been wonderful to us. We love this hospital.. and PRAISE GOD again that we have an amazing nurse! He is GREAT! He only has ONE patient and that is Bentley. Nothing like have one nurse asigned to your child and your child only. He has been great to us.

ALSO, today was a little easier to post since Bentley needed to rest, but I know I will not have time for the next few days.. so my friend Brittany will cover this for me. There will be post and there will be updates. So be sure to stay on the look out. Twitter updates too.