Surgery Update

Praise God he is out of surgery!!!  Today has been rough but we have so much to be grateful for.  Joe and I went into his room at 6am and held him until 7:30 when we got the call they were ready for him.  We went down to pre-op and then had to say goodbye before he went into the OR.  Giving him the last kiss and watching him be wheeled away broke our hearts.  My eyes are seriously swollen from the tears and prayers.  We received a call at 12:30 that he was taken off the bypass machine and 45 minutes later we met with the surgeon.  It was the first time we were able to somewhat relax and even smile.  The surgery went well, no complications... seriously praise God!  He even came out of the OR with his chest closed which is extremely rare.  We were told that only about 10% come back that way and most remain open for the first 2 days.  Our God is so good and we know he listened to our cries.
We were just able to see him.  To us he looks like a lifeless body, but every nurse, doctor and respiratory therapist kept saying how good he looks and that they never see a baby look this good so soon.  Now remember, good to them and good to a normal person is much different.  He is still completely sedated and will remain so for at least 12-24 more hours.  He is on a ventilator, has drainage tubes coming out of his chest, IV lines, pace maker wires, monitors, you name it he is hooked to it.  He has 3 nurses with him at all times as well as a cardiologist, respiratory therapist and a neonatalogist checking in on him constantly.  We can't thank them enough for the amazing care they are giving our son.  As hard as it was to see him in this state, we know that is the beginning of him getting better.
Stephen still has a long road to recovery.  It can be overwhelming at times to think about all that is left.  The next 24-48 hours are crucial and anything can happen at any moment.  We still have weeks ahead of us in the hospital and 2 more open heart surgeries.  But we are choosing to be grateful for the present.  We are more than thrilled for today.  We are thankful for our time now and will keep praying that tomorrow brings us one step closer to taking him home.
Thank you all for your faithful prayers.  Please continue them.  We want the doctors and nurses to know that our God is the mighty healer and he is why Stephen has been so special.  Please pray for all of those giving him care and for his little body.  That it would heal, and that piece by piece the tubes, lines, drugs, etc will be removed.

"Yes my soul, find rest in God;

my hope comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God;

he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, you people;

pour out your hearts to him,

for God is our refuge.

One thing God has spoken,

two things I have heard:

'Power belongs to you, God,

and with you, LORD, is unfailing love"

Psalm 62:5-8, 11-12a

Thanks be to God for holding Stephen in his hands and for giving him life today.