It's almost over

It's Friday and I am packing to leave. Tomorrow is the last day of surgery, only two are planned. They are "simple" cases compared to many of the others that we have done. They do not require the heart going on bypass to do surgery.

The little girl mentioned in the earlier post, Judith is still very sick. She arrested in the operating room yesterday. She had a CT of her head today that showed that she had suffered a small stroke. This most likely occurred when her heart had stopped and she required CPR. It is very sad for our team. The family is so brave, and their faith unmeasurable. Mom or Dad is almost always at her bedside. We will have to leave her in the ICU in the care of the Honduran doctors and nurses. 

Five children got to go home today, what a joyous sight! All of the parents have commented on how much energy they have now with "fixed" hearts! 

I had the pleasure of getting to know a very sweet family today. Dennis, mentioned in an earlier post, had a difficult start. He had a tough surgery, and required a few extra days in the ICU. We were very worried about him. He got to move to the step down unit today, and should go home tomorrow. I had the chance to sit down with his father to chat with a translator. They live in a small village in the mountains of Honduras. He walks for 2 hours each way to work in the fields. He chops down the grass in the fields with a machete for what amounts to 5 dollars a day. He feeds 5 people in his family on this. They grow beans at their house to feed the family. He works seven days a week, but goes to work  late on Sunday so that he and his entire family can go to church. They are so thankful for their son's new heart. 

Tomorrow I travel to Roatan to meet up with Tyler and his parents. I am so excited to have some much needed rest and relaxation. I will post more pictures, but I want to thank you all for your support of this mission. Without you all, this could not be possible!

In all we have completed 42 cardiac caths, and 22 operations! How amazing!!!!

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Two very long days...

I did not get to write last night. We had dinner out after we were done at the hospital. I was exhausted when we arrived back at the hotel, but I can only imagine how the surgeons feel. Five surgeries were completed yesterday, all went well. Most of them came to the step down unit today. Dennis mentioned in a previous post is now without his breathing tube and is improving daily. Thank you for your prayers! 

Three surgeries were done today, one was canceled due to a patient with an infection. However, one of the surgeries lasted most of the day. It was very difficult, and the patient did not do well in the operating room. The mother upon being told that the patient's condition was very grave, the mother smiled and said, "It's okay, its in God's hands." That faith is unbelievable. The child did make it out of the operating room thanks to the skill of our surgeons. Please pray for this little one.

On a great note, 2 children got to go home today. They were spunky and feeling great! The kids are enjoying all of the toys!

For my mother, yes I am doing well, very tired. We miss you tons and wish you were here on a daily basis. There are so many kids and so few of us it seems. We were in the paper today, a good story.

Hope all is well, 2 more days of surgery...more later.