Final Countdown...

We have not posted in nearly a month.  To be honest, this has been on of the longest months of our lives.  Since the last post, Jadon was admitted once again to Sick Kids' for another 4 night stay.  During this stay, the tune of the cardiology team changed.  They realized that Jadon's BT shunt (the procedure he had done in Vietnam to buy him some more time before his complete repair) was no longer working to the level it needs to.  He has outgrown his shunt and is in need of his complete Tetrology of Fallot repair as soon as possible.  We were initially given a date of Feb 4 for his surgery.  The problem is... he needs to be healthy for the 2 weeks before they operate.  He has only had one 2 week stretch of health since he has joined our family about 3 1/2 months ago!  We had to let them know that he had another cold, and so we have been given a second surgery date of Wed, Feb 11.  We have been counting down the days... doing all we can so that he remains bug free.  Three of our other children have had colds.  We have been quarantining, hand washing, hand sanitizing etc...  With about 54 hours left until surgery time (yes, we are counting down the hours), Jadon is so far healthy.  We head in to Sick Kids tomorrow for his pre-operation meetings and work-up.

Jadon's three admissions to Sick Kids, for a total of 9 nights, have allowed him to be looked at and examined by many doctors and health professionals.  The following are a list of specialists he has seen:
Cardiologist
Cardiovascular Surgeon
ENT (ear, nose throat)
General Surgeon (follow up on trachea-esophageal fistula repair)
Occupational Therapist
Dentist (teeth and heart have a strong medical connection - he would have had to get any cavities fixed prior to his heart surgery.  Surprisingly enough... no cavities)
Dietician
Respirologist

We truly appreciate all of the prayers that have been lifted up on our behalf.  It is truly amazing to be supported in this way.  We know of specific people in 5 continents who are praying for Jadon daily.  It truly humbles us and helps us to appreciate the greatness of our God.

This wait has been one of the hardest times in our lives.  It's funny because one of the songs I often sing to Lilin when she is dashing around or getting worked-up is "Have patience, have patience, don't be in such a hurry!"  It's easy to sing to her, more difficult to put into practice.  This last two weeks we have been wanting time to rush by so that Jadon remains healthy.  If he gets a cold his surgery would need to be delayed another two weeks... and his heart is such that he really needs the surgery now.  He is on oxygen at home here for much of the day.  If he sits around and doesn't move, his SATs usually sit high 60s, low 70s.  As soon as he moves around he drops into the low 60s or high 50s.  We were told that the doctors are comfortable as long as his SATs stay above 75!

We have been encouraged by the words of Isaiah 40.  The italicized part shows us the care of our loving God, particularly for the young like Jadon.

¹⁰ See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
    and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
¹¹ He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.

For Sara and I, we have been bolstered by the last verses of the chapter.

²⁸ Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Thanks again for your support.  Continue to pray for Jadon's health for 54 more hours... then pray for a successful surgery and good recovery.