Surgery

I have promised to make this short so that I can sped some quality time with my hubby. So I'm going to try to keep it to the basics and spend more time writing tomorrow, hopefully.

The biggest thing is that the cardiologists have decided that Shepherd needs more surgery on his heart. The good news is that it is a relatively un-invasive surgery. The site of his prior surgery has caused a "re-coarctation" ( a re narrowing at the site where his surgery was done) We were told that there was a "very small" chance of this happening when he had his first surgery, but that it was uncommon- as is most of Shepherd's stuff. 

I have to interject here that though this should upset me (Shepherd having an uncommon recovery)- it has quite the opposite affect. Knowing that there have been so many "rare" situations we have found ourselves in serves to remind me that it's not a matter of chance. It is a beautiful reminder to me of the involved hand of God. Somehow, knowing that Shepherd keeps doing the unexpected comforts me. Since God put him in this situation, I am confident He won't forsake him. It just reminds me of His sovereign control over all of this. As one of his doctors commented once, "Shepherd is not just really unlucky." She's right. He is really loved and beautifully created by his maker.

Anyhow, sometime between Wednesday and Friday, they will take him to the Catheter Lab and  put a catheter through his groin and up into his heart, where they will balloon the narrow part open. There is no guarantee  that this will work, and even if it does they may have to do it again in the future. But they are hopeful that he is in a good place as far as his health goes, to have this done. There are significant risks, but it considered a relatively safe procedure. It should take about 3-4 hours. We'll let you know more as we learn it. Please be praying for him and for us as God prepares us and him...and the doctors for another procedure. As sad and fearful as I am to face another dangerous procedure, I see how much God has done thus far and I am encouraged. I  am also  thankful that there is a procedure to help my son. When I am tempted to resent the next procedure, I try to be grateful that there is a procedure to prolong my son's life. Though I sometimes feel another way- Thank You, Lord, for having Shepherd be born in this city, with this hospital, and these doctors, who can do these procedures. Thank you for giving him so many hopes and possibilities for his sick life. Thank You for sending him into surgery this week, for giving his heart another chance. Help me not to fear the ways in which you choose to help Shepherd, but instead to look for ways to worship you loudly through it.