Pre-op Day

Yesterday, Reagan had her pre-op appt. at the hospital. She did so well for everything.  She weighed in at 24 lbs., with her clothes on that is.
She had an echo.....

and EKG

and then we spoke with the cath/anesthesia team about Monday.  Reagan has to be there at 7:00 Monday for a CT scan and heart cath.  The CT scan will be quick but the cath will probably take about 3 hrs.  Heidi, the Nurse Practitioner said that there was a suttle change on Reagan's EKG from last year's.  It shows that her heart muscle may not be as strong due to getting less oxygen to the muscle itself.  She spoke with me about her concerns for the cath on Monday.  She said due to this change Reagan may not tolerate the cath as well as in the past.  This will be Reagan's 5th cath and I was expecting it to be a breeze and was totally caught off guard when she told me the next part.  We asked why she may not tolerate it as much and Heidi told us that when she goes under anesthesia all your muscles relax and because her heart muscle is a little weaker there is a chance she could go into cardiac arrest in the cath lab.  She said if that were to happen they are totally prepared and would have to intubate her, do chest compressions and give her a little epinephrine and that usually gets the heart pumping again.  A last resort would be to put her on ECMO, which we do not want and Heidi said she does not want for Reagan either. Needless to say, I was a shocked at what she was telling me but she said they have reserved a bed for her in CVICU Monday night just in case she has a hard time with the cath.  I then asked who the anesthesiologist would be for Monday and requested a certain one that we love.  She wasn't scheduled on Reagan's case Monday but when I requested her they went out and called her and she agreed to be the anesthesiologist on Reagan's case Monday.  Thank you God!  She is wonderful at what she does and keeps all her colleages in check, if you know what I mean, and that's my kind of dr.!!

After our appt. we went by the CVICU to try to find our heart friend Callie and her parents.  In route we ran into several people we knew, the chaplain, case manager, OT and Child Life Specialist.  They all ooooed and aawwwwed over how big and cute Reagan is and could not believe it when we told them she walks, talks and eats now!  The OT said she remembers working with Reagan and how horrible her reflux was and that she couldn't tolerate anything and said it's so encouraging to see that she is eating now.  Callie's mom Sarah said she was also glad to see how petite Reagan is because Callie is the same way and it encouraged her to know Reagan is too.  I then was able to go back with Sarah and see little Callie with all her tubes and wires.  Poor baby, she's such a tough cookie like Reagan.  She had heart surgery last Friday 4/16 and will be having a second one on Tues. 4/27.  Please continue to pray for her recovery and upcoming surgery.  Before leaving, the chaplain gave Reagan a picture of Jesus to carry with her.  We are thankful for such a supportive team here as well as all of you guys around the country cheering us on.  Even though I was a little stunned at the pre-op appt. I know God is always with us and in control at all times. 

We were able to check into the Ronald McDonald House Friday afternoon and just relax a little.  While visiting with all our friends in the hospital Reagan kept saying, "outside please" so that's just what we did once we got settled in Ronald McDonald.  Reagan enjoyed some outside time driving the Cozy Coupe car

and then we walked across the street and had a nice dinner.  We are very thankful to be in RMH now, it's closer to the hospital & has outside place for Reagan to roam, which we intend on letting her do as much as she wants before having to go in the hospital on Monday.  For those of you who wanted an address, it is:

Reagan Williams Family

520 Sand Hill Rd. Room M207

Palo Alto, CA 94304

Just wanted to end with a special note of thanks to many:

• my mom, for coming with me and helping with Reagan
• my stepdad, Lonny, for letting her be away for a week
• Mom and Lonny's friends, Leonard and Barbara, for bringing mom & Lonny to meet me on the interstate Thurs. to go to the airport so I wouldn't have to detour and add time to our journey
• Lonny, for driving us to the airport and then getting my SUV back home to Rod and Nolan
• Leonard, for following Lonny to Temple to drop off the SUV and then bring Lonny back home
• Barbara, who I'd never met until Thurs. morning at Starbucks on the side of I-35 who made me a hand-carved wooden cross necklace
• Rod, for being a great daddy and taking good care of Nolan while we're away
• Aunt Kay, for helping Rod with Nolan
• Mrs. Debra Moore for always taking Nolan to school every morning so I don't have to wake Reagan and even now while we're away
• church family at Temple Bible Church praying for us
• as well as many of you everywhere doing the same

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!