The BIG one

We are currently getting ready for Gabby's next surgery. Bart, me and the girls will be leaving this coming Sunday to make the 14 hour drive to Cincinnati, OH. Bart's Granny Dee and her friend Mary will be also be coming along for the first week to help out with Avery. We will drive to Goodlettsville, TN Sunday and then continue our journey Monday the rest of the way to Cinci. Please say prayers for safe travels for us all.

 This will be one of, if not the biggest surgery she will ever have. The plan is currently to go to the hospital Tuesday morning at 6 am for Gabrielle to be put under light sedation to get a PICC line put in. Wednesday morning we will check into the hospital to start colostomy irrigation's to clean out her bowel prior to surgery. Thursday morning by 7:30am surgery will begin, I am currently not sure how long the surgery will last but we were originally told at least 12 hours. I think that this will possibly be the longest day of mine and Bart's life. There is nothing like the feeling of worry that comes over you while your child is in surgery. Knowing that you yourself have absolutely no control over the situation and that you have trust in God that he will take care of her. The surgery will consist of at least 2 to 3 surgeons: urology, orthopedist, and a plastic surgeon. The orthopedist will start the surgery by performing what is called an osteotomy. This will be done because Gabrielle's pelvis is splayed wider than most peoples causing her legs to stay in a slightly bent angle all the time. After that is started the urologist will come in and close her bladder and place it inside the body cavity also creating a draining tube so that the urine can empty. The orthopedist will come back in at that point to finish the osteotomy process: he will place pins in her hips and attach them using what is called an external fixator. There are lots of risk along with this surgery. Risk 1 is body cavity pressure building causing a prolapse. Risk 2 is that she won't respond to her paralytic and pain medications. There are countless other risk also such as kidney reflux, aspiration, pain medication withdrawal along with many, many other things.

Please add Gabrielle and our family to your prayers list now because this will be a long and trying process for our family. I will continue to post here and on her caringbridge page through out this process. Thank you for following her story and praying for her.