Cori's surgery is fast approaching, and as a result of having a Facebook friend whose son is in the hospital today for a bowel and urinary only repair, I am getting stressed. He is in two days before the operation to have the PICC line installed for pain meds, and he has an NG tube for all nutrition. They are there 2 days before the surgery so everything in his system can be cleaned out. This is what Cori faces in May. Reading up on Cori's surgery. Her defect is 1 in 25,000 births at a minimum. Correct diagnosis at birth is essential because 90% of these babies also have an associated urological problem. Cori was misdiagnosed for over 3 years and has permanent kidney damage as a result. We have been told this will be an issue for her entire life. Common complications of misdiagnosis include death. SO grateful that our Cori is alive and well and with us! So grateful that her surgeon in May did the first ever of this procedure and trains doctors from the entire world.

An update on sweet Lily: She has not wanted or needed pain medication since Saturday night. She went to church on her crutches but now prefers to limp. Jena pushed her in a wheelchair at the grocery store yesterday. She still seems to be quite out of it and we are concerned.

What her siblings have taught us

In November of 2011, Cori's big sister had her 11th surgery in 8 years. Jena Rose was our first adopted child. We were so laser directed to her....by all of the other options that failed.....Wow! She is the reason we have Lily and Cori. We never ever anticipated 11 surgeries plus deafness. One of the surgeries was for a grape sized brain tumor...that God completely healed! Lip repair, palate repair, ear tubes times 4, palate lengthening, nose and lip repair with dental extractions, emergency surgery for staph infection in the lip, bone graft from the hip into the palate, November's second lip revision and the taking of rib cage to place in the revised nose.
This week Lily had the same procedure of hip bone harvesting for palate repair. Jena's pain and swelling were so much more intense, but our deep concern about Lily is that it took almost 90 minutes to wake up from sedation and she still does not have her mental capabilities back. I am very concerned.
Cori asked her dad why she needed surgery. Wes explained that we hoped she could go poo poo and pee pee on the potty like a big girl. She asked if she was going to have her nose fixed as well.....
So, if you read this blog we ask you to pray for us all.
It was hard, as usual, to be alone in the surgery waiting room. Even if Wes had been there...we would have been alone. Everyone else has grandparents, aunts, uncles, pastors, cousins.
And yet, God is sufficient!!!!