Surgery on June 6

 We are in the next chapter of our lives with Zachary.  The last chapter has been relatively quiet with only a few ER visits.  This new chapter will be like walking down a hallway covered in broken glass.

We know that Zachary has to have this heart surgery.  He gets more and more tired as the days go on. By the end of each day he is usually a shade a bluish/purple and his oxygen saturations sit in the mid 60's (We live at like 99%). We are thankful we live in an amazing city with great friends and family and that one of the very best pediatric hospitals is at our backdoor. 

 Another surgery dredges up all the pain and dark days from the past. It means that Zachary is not doing well and needs this intervention to survive. It means that the surgery will require hours of waiting in the Waiting Room.  It means that Micah and Josiah have emotional trauma that will take them time to recover.

In order to prepare for this surgery we are going on a trip to San Diego. We will be spending some time on the beach, visiting Legoland, touring the USS Midway and visiting San Diego Zoo.  We are going to have a great family time and are going to really try to build strong memories.  We scheduled the surgery with just enough time to get this vacation in prior to it.  Pray that our vacation is full of encouragement and relaxation. 

Zachary's is scheduled for his third open heart surgery for June 6th.

As usual, Wikipedia best describes this surgery. There is a section on post op complications that highlight some of the giant challenges with this surgery. 

How to Help:  

People have been asking us how they can help. We built a list cause thats how we do it.  Here are a few tangible ways:

-Pray! For the surgical staff, for the ICU staff, for Becky and I, for Micah, Josiah and especially for Zachary
-Come sit with us while we wait
-Visits while he’s recovering
-Gift cards (Uber Eats,  Rubios, Chick-Fil-A, Panda, In n Out, Salad To Go, Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Dunkin' Donuts, Jersey Mike's)
-Gas gift cards
-Gift card or cash to eat at the cafeteria while we are there
-The boys have asked for those Chewy Masks that the lady had on that video that went viral.

   *** Get this***
We are hoping to have the masks before the surgery so Zachary can be comfortable with it and then when he is coherent enough post op, we are going to show him the mask and give it to him once he starts walking again. We are hoping it will help motivate him to get better faster. We also plan on using Facetime with his brothers so they can all "chat" like Chewy. How funny will this be!

-Once we come home from the hospital have meals set up would probably be helpful as well.

These are just a few ways if you would like to help.  I know it’s hard to know how to help but prayer is always number one!  

We are so thankful for our support system and everyone who continually prays for our family.  This journey is not easy, but we choose to be thankful no matter what our circumstances are.  

Like Mother Like Son

First Heart and Trachea Surgery Feb 2015