On October 30th, Chance underwent his second heart surgery. This time the surgery was much more invasive and serious. It would correct the most major part of his heart defect. Doctors opened up his chest to do the surgery which was to last 5 hours. After 10 hours, Naomi was finally given the long awaited update. Doctors were having a very, very difficult time getting Chance stabilized. He had already received a blood transfusion yet was continuing to bleed out. Things looked pretty grim. When we received this information from Naomi, my mom, sisters and I were devastated. We all thought he wasn't going to make it. Doctors left Naomi to worry about him after that update, and they didn't return with more news for a few more hours. Can you imagine a mothers worry!?
Miraculously, doctors returned several hours later with better news. They finally had the bleeding under control and baby Chance was stabilized. There was still a great deal of risk and fear, for the next 24 hours was a very, very critical time for his survival.
By morning, Chance was still alive and stable!
A couple of days later, doctors took him back into the operating room to close up his chest. All went well with that surgery. On November 4th, Chance woke up for the first time since his surgery! He had been asleep, with a respirator in and receiving pain medication for a few days so that he could heal and recover. When he woke, he was groggy and sleepy, but responsive and doing well.
Since then, he has continued to heal and get better. There have been a few other set backs with his heart beat and breathing being inconsistent several different times. He wasn't feeling very well when they began weaning him off of a medication a couple of weeks ago and was very fussy during that time period. He will probably forever be on heart medication to keep his heart healthy and strong, and will need future heart surgeries, but for now he is home, healthy and happy with his family.
Here are some photos from the past few weeks of little Chance
October 31 - day after major heart surgery. The saddest image ever.
Awake a few days after the surgery, with respirator still in while he continues to gain strength
November 7th - Respirator out, oxygen tube in and still very dazed and groggy from surgery. This surgery re-aligned his arteries that had both been on one side and reversed. If he continues to improve and all goes as expected he wont have to have another surgery till around 6 months when he outgrows the procedures he's already had.
November 9 - becoming much more alert and stronger
November 14
November 15 - A day shy of his one month birthday. First day without the oxygen tube and breathing all on his own. He was expected to go home within the next day or two, but then his heart beat became erradic again. He was put back on oxygen and continued to be monitored in the NICU by doctors and nurses for a couple more weeks.
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Naomi continued to take the trek by bus from home to the hospital and back daily to nurse Chance, hold him and spend as much time with him as possible. Chance was one of several babies being monitored in the NICU. Nurses and doctors all commented on how they felt that Chance was doing as well as he was partly because of his mama being there with him and him receiving mamas milk.
The week of Thanksgiving, while Chance was still in the hospital, our cousin Taylor (my moms brother Craig's daughter) drove to Las Vegas with her family (a 1 year old baby, 2 school age kids and her husband) to meet and spend time with Naomi and Chance for the first time. Taylor lives several hours away in Arizona but also has a best friend that lives in Las Vegas that they stayed with while there visiting. She spent a lot of time with Naomi and Chance, visiting and getting to know them. She brought with her tons of baby clothing and other baby 'paraphernalia' to give Naomi and Chance. Some of it was previously her baby's as well as one of her good friends who donated a bunch of her stuff to them as well. Naomi, who had next to nothing for baby Chance, was extremely thankful and overwhelmed with all of the stuff being given to her. We're all so thankful for Taylor! I'm a little jealous, wish we were close enough to drive there to see Naomi and Chance. Taylor did take a lot of pictures of her visit, but being a busy mom of 3 young children, she hasn't had a chance to send any to us yet. I'll post some when they make it my way.
By the first week of December, Chance's heart began to stabilize again and stayed that way. He was now breathing consistently without the assistance of the oxygen and overall he was feeling much better.
Finally, on December 10th, Naomi and Phil brought him home where spent his first night away from doctors, nurses, machines and lights - snuggled closer to his mom and dad where he belongs!
Here he is at home...
Up and ready for the day!
Sleeping in Daddy's arms while mama cooks dinner
Swaddled and looking around
Brothers - Chance and Anthony finally meet. Anthony is 2 years old (I think close to 3?) and looks like he is already loving his new role as big brother.
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