Anna's Surgery

An early morning for sure, but never too tired to play.

Bunny was with her every step of the way, he even went into surgery with her.

I love that she had pants to go with her gown.

Waiting to be taken to surgery.

In the Post surgery unit still trying to wake up from anesthesia.

So sleepy, just snugglin with Maw Maw

Dr. Hoere and Anna

Let's get moving....

Snuggling with her new sleeping bag and special pillow from The Jacksons.

Anna had her submucous cleft palate repaired and tubes put in both ears on Thursday, Oct. 29th. We had been anticipating this day since finding out in August that she had this issue. We woke her up at 6:15am since we needed to be at the hospital by 6:45 for pre-surgery things. She was not very happy that she couldn't have any juice and kept signing for it and wondering why I was withholding.

Surgery started a little after 8:30 and the surgeon came to talk to us at 10:50 to tell us everything had gone perfectly. Anna had a hard time waking up from the anesthesia and would just look at us for a moment and then close her eyes. By Thursday afternoon though she was awake and slightly uncomfortable. Thursday evening she finally finished an entire ice cream cup as well as a jello cup. By Friday morning she was bouncing off the walls and wanted to play. She at another ice cream cup and jello cup. We couldn't believe how quickly she bounced back.

It doesn't appear that she is in too much discomfort. She is very mad at us that we won't give her a normal meal. She has to be on a liquid diet for at least 2 weeks. We're trying not to get ahead or ourselves, but we feel like we're already hearing an improvement in her speech. I know it will take a couple of weeks, but we're praying hard for new sounds and attempts everyday.

Anna will resume her busy schedule this week of 2 speech therapies and we're adding a physical therapy to help with overall low muscle tone and balance. The goal is to discontinue physical therapy by the end of the year and hopefully only need 1 speech therapy.

We also received some outstanding news by letter on Saturday. Anna's bloodwork came back from 6 weeks ago, and the immunologist is not overly concerned about her. Her blood showed only a slightly lower than normal number of T cells (infection fighting cells), and the ones she does have work very well. She also has a great number of B cells (the ones that make antibodies.) So with a new daily vitamin and 2 booster shots to help prevent against pneumonia, her immune system is weaker than most, but not seriously impeded. We will probably still lay low for this winter since we'll have the baby soon, but hopefully in the Spring Anna can live a completely normal life!

I think that is all the details for now. I want to post again in the next couple of days to just lay my heart out there so I can remember how the Lord has brought us through yet another big trial and proven once again how magnificent HE is! Love to you all and many thanks for all the prayers being lifted up for Anna!