A BIG Week!

Thank you so much for the prayers you prayed for Ethan on Tuesday.  The surgery went exceptionally well and we were in and out in less than three hours!

The obligatory pre-op family photo

In the early days (months... years...) of our journey with Ethan's heart, I probably would have rolled my eyes at someone asking for prayer for something as minor as removing a tube from the ear.  However, I've grown justalittle and learned a ton over these past four years.  I know that God cares about us, from the depths of our ears to the insides of our hearts, and wants us to give our fears and concerns to Him.  I've also learned that everyone has their own story - your child's "minor" health issue is as big of a deal to you as Ethan's heart defect is to me.  And, as a parent of a child whose surgeries have landed him all over the spectrum of severity, I can tell you that praying him through a simple procedure on Tuesday means the world to me! So, thanks for that.

Snuggling in with Disney Junior

Although the surgery itself was considerably easier than his past procedures, sending him away to the operating room is never easy.  I held back the ugly cry, but tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched my brave boy take the hand of a nurse and walk down the hallway with her.  The tears were equal parts proud and sad, but with surgery lasting less than 20 minutes, I wasn't sad for long!

Ethan woke up a little grouchy, but it wasn't anything that couldn't be cured with some Tylenol, a Push-Up, and Doc McStuffins.  And, before we knew it, we were on our way back home!

Post-op cuddles

Jeramie and I tried to talk to Ethan about how he felt once they got into the OR, but he only mentioned that he was "just a little bit scared, but brave, too".  I was curious to know what he remembered from being asleep, and he went into a crazy story about a silly pirate that looked like this....

Recreating the anesthesia-induced silly pirate

Ha! The Lord continues to protect my sweet boy's mind, and my heart swells with gratitude.

100% superhero

Yesterday was another big day for us.  For a while now, I've been working with the AHA and other parent advocates in North Carolina to pass a law that would require all newborns to be screened with pulse oximetry before going home from the hospital.  Given that the screening likely saved Ethan's life, I'm pretty passionate about it being mandated for our state!

Well.

Yesterday - May 1st, 2013 - the House of Representatives unanimously passed Senate Bill 98, sending it to the Governor for his signature! At some point this month (hopefully!) this bill that we have worked so hard on will become LAW.  I can and can't believe it all at the same time.

Ethan was with me as we watched the House vote on this life-saving legislation, and I was overcome with emotion.  My heart was pounding, my hands were shaking, and when they gave him a standing ovation from the House floor, it was all I could do to keep myself from jumping up and down.  They weren't just clapping for Ethan, but for all the children and families across our state who have gone down this path.  It was indescribable.

Be proud, North Carolina.  We did it!!

Silly faces before the House convened

Celebrating outside the House gallery!

I hope you are having an equally wonderful week!