Finished but Waiting

They give you a buzzer as you wait for your surgery patient. Like waiting for a table at a restaurant. For some reason, I found that hilarious.

Mercy’s out of surgery. They didn’t find any mechanical issues to fix, which indicates the issue is likely functional. Something is preventing her small intestine from being able to handle the additional air from her breathing support, but we still don’t know what.

We’re disappointed. There are so many reasons for us to be thankful (Doesn’t need a stoma! No resectioning! Surgery only laparoscopic!) but man, we were hoping that we’d find a problem to fix. The surgery also required her first intubation, and the team had a tough time placing the tube. Her airway is now swollen so Mercy will have to remain intubated for a day or more.

We’re waiting for the next steps. The plan as of now is to continue to pause feedings for a week and hope things settle down in her intestines. She’ll get the nutrition she needs through her IV.

Looks like she’ll be back on the cycle for the time being. Pray for quick healing for Mercy, for wisdom for the entire medical team, for patience and wisdom for us. The roller coaster isn’t slowing down anytime soon.