Surgery Report

Gus' big day for surgery had finally arrived and we showed up a few hours prior to the procedure. Unfortunately the surgeons were delayed with another patient and we had to wait some extra time. Not their fault, but my anxiety level got so high that I had to leave the room. Gus was having some trouble with his ventilator - his heart rate was jumping all over the place - and the nurses had to do a lot to make him comfortable again. The stress of seeing Gus struggle, all the activity, and the waiting took it's toll so I figured it would be best for me to go before there were two Brekke men laid out on tables... To her credit, Jill was as cool as a cucumber!

Not that this was all bad - Jill and I went to get something to eat and had a chance to visit a dear friend from seminary, Trudy W, who has been hospitalized for the last month. She had a surgery and then an auto-immune attack that made her very ill. She is expected to be in the hospital for at least the next two weeks. Please join us in prayer for a quick healing for Trudy.

By the time we returned to the NICU, Gus' surgery was almost over.

Here is Gus chillin' with his toes up prior to surgery. He had three (3) ports for IV fluids - one in each arm and this one in his right foot. They needed to keep the left foot clear for blood tests... You can see the little prick marks on his heels - poor little dude!

Gus' pulmonary nurse for the surgery, and a regular in the NICU, was Rachel. She was very patient with getting Gus settled. Seems his respirator tube was bugging him a bit again - Rachel did all she could to make Gus comfortable before surgery.

The patch under Gus' left shoulder is the point at which the surgeons went in to perform the PDA ligation. The incision was only about an inch long and the procedure took place through the opening between the shoulder blade and ribs I guess. Maybe someone can explain the diagrams to me better, but that is an awfully tiny place to get through... Gus was pretty well sedated after surgery and needed a little dopamine to boost his blood pressure which is very common.

The surgeons and nurses said that the surgery went perfectly. The clip was placed and verified. Best of all, Gus was under no distress during the surgery as he had been in the time leading up to it. The nurses now say when they listen to Gus' heartbeat they hear a "tha-dum, tha-dum" instead of a "tha-swish, tha-swish" - no more blood flowing back to the lungs!

Special thanks to all those who joined us in prayer today - God is truly great! Thanks also to the surgeons, doctors, nurses and caregivers at the NICU who made Gus (and us) comfortable today. Finally, thanks to the March of Dimes who's research has made many of Gus' medical miracles possible.

Blessings,
Gregg, Jill and Gus