We just got home from an all day pre-op day at Vandy. An entire day…me, Josh, Amon and lots of Vanderbilt medical staff.
(His hair is glorious even super early in the morning.)
I feel like my mind ran a marathon…no, make that competed in an Ironman…yes, that is way more comparable. There were chest x-rays and sedated echos and ekgs and blood work and meetings with our surgeon and nurses and a hospital tour and checking, rechecking and checking again of his vitals. Turns out open heart surgery is kind of a big deal 
It was quite the pre-op day for sure.
And it turned out to be not a pre-op day. There is another child who needs emergency surgery and they are moving Amon’s surgery to next Thursday. Part of today was checking in on how his heart is doing and they think he will be fine to wait until next week. They did find something that leads them to believe Amon will need more surgeries after this one. This could be wrong and we are praying against it…big time.
The whole change on such short notice has honestly thrown me for a loop. We were mentally prepared and physically prepared. We had everything lined up as far as the big wee Kelleys go…who was going where and when and who was picking up who on what days and so on and so on. Josh had everything lined up for work and his days off submitted. I had all my stuff ready for the hospital. We were just ready. And even though it’s just a week wait, that seems like a very long time when anticipating open heart surgery for your child.
It will be another week of staying home and keeping germs away…fighting to keep Amon healthy enough for surgery. And another week of waking up at every little sound he makes in the night to check to make sure he’s breathing okay and that he’s not having a spell or rapid breathing. Things like that just add up and can cause a bit of stress.
BUT…and it’s a really, really important BUT…despite my griping…I am so grateful that Amon does not need emergency surgery. It’s frustrating, yes, but I’m thankful he is well enough to wait another week. I am praying for the child that will be in his operating room and their family.
I heard a line in a song last week and decided it was my war call…my mantra…for this journey we are about to take with Amon and his heart. “At the top of my lungs…Hallelujah.”
I want to consciously praise God…I mean really praise God…no matter what happens. The Good. The Bad. And even the Re-scheduled. I know this will not always be easy, but I’m going to give it my best earthly flesh try. Plus I told Courtney about my mantra and I know she is going to hold me accountable because that’s what Courtney is good at. I need the accountability. I need that help and reminder that God is good and the Creator of this world…the Creator of Amon and his heart. He deserves praise always.
So his surgery is now set for next Thursday and now I’m going to enjoy dinner with my little family and rest. I may even go to bed early…it was kind of a long day.
Happy Tuesday…the pre-op day that wasn’t.
That may be my favorite art piece yet! Hallelujah ~ Amon is home! Hallelujah ~ he is getting the medical attention he needs! Hallelujah ~ the other kiddos are healthy and wonderfully flexible and understanding! Hallelujah ~ HE put this family together perfectly!!!
Amen!
I am fiercely praying for Amon, his beautiful smile, his tender heart and of course his glorious hair! Praying for Mama and Papa and the big lil Kelleys as well
Oh man! That is hard. But you keep that awesome perspective to praise God no matter what! And that mantra is awesome too. Praying for Amon. Everything you are feeling is valid. This is a big deal. But God has it all!!
What a post! What a day! Praising God with you!!! All I can say is, Love you-Girl!
Hugs and prayers to you and your whole family!!
Ahhh yes, HALLELUJIAH! No matter what!
Very thankful for beautiful wee Amon and for his chosen-by-God perfect family. I keep seeing your hold on the ‘waiting for you’ sign those long months and thinking that even though HE IS HERE, there may be other waiting rooms along the way that bring glorious gifts as each wait ends. Praying for strength, energy, peace, and abundant gifts in this waiting period. And thanking you for sharing your HALLELUJIAH!
Once again Laura I see God in your walk. Not easy and definitely stressful but He’s got everything covered. He already knew this and is in FULL control. Hallelujah anyhow! We will continue to cover Amon with prayers ~ I just changed the date in my phone calendar which I set to remind me to put out an APPR “all points prayer request”. Praise God for in Him we have Hope ~ At the top of my lungs…….Hallelujah. I love love love your new piece. God is good ALL THE TIME.
Ahh, that is hard! My bio son has had six heart surgeries and my adopted daughter had one. Delays like that are mentally exhausting. But you have to trust the timing of it all! Praying for your sweet family!
Shouting hallelujah with you!! For the good, the bad, the sweet and the hard and all the ways God sanctifies us through it.
I am most definitely a little in love with your little man.
This waiting game is always hard. Get ready, get set, ………..wait! I understand (having a heart baby) how this makes you anxious. I understand as a mommy, how much you had to get organized only to have to start at the beginning. And thankfully I understand your HALLELUJAHs, because God is good and His love (&timing) is perfect.
Hang in there!
A similar thing happened when my dad was scheduled for quadruple bypass a few years ago. Another case that was more urgent came up and he had to be rescheduled. The good from it meant that my daddy was stable enough that he was not this emergency case. The other was that he was able to spend Christmas with us alert and not in pain. That meant his surgery was after Christmas. God knows and He knows when the time is right!
Praying for Amon as he and you all prepare for his surgery.
(Bought a doll for my daughter last night and it had some cards in it, made me think of Amon!)
I continue to pray for your sweet family & your newest addition, Amon. He is such a beautiful boy & he looks like he radiates “happy!”
I’ve got a little saying that has helped me, “Make a plan & plan to change it.” Things don’t always go according to our plan, but it’s good to know when things happen & changes come (and they always do), like Amon’s surgery change, that God is in control. He is gonna see you through!
Not sure if we’re humming the same tune…Philips, Craig & Dean is the one I have running through my head, but anyway….keep singing Laura!
Such gratitude for all that You do, Jesus to You,
At the top of my lungs, I will sing Hallelujah!
You’re the one who saved me. The one who gave me, this life I live.
For evermore, for evermore.
At the top of my lungs, I will sing Hallelujah!
I’m not ashamed, I’ll praise Your name!
Let the whole world know, I love You, Lord!
I love You, Lord!
I will continue to keep you all in my prayers. Especially little Amon.
all in His perfect time…the hardest thing to do is wait.. sending prayer..for Gods healing prayers to be with you and with Amon….I will pray for every thing to adjust perfectly for next week…God Bless