Bronchoscopy... (4/24)

Bronchoscopy (Bronco- scope - ee) - this is how it is improperly pronounced, in case you were wondering how not to say a word, we are happy to be of service.

Tomorrow morning we will be undergoing our first operation.  A bronchoscopy, basically they will put Thatcher under, open up his mouth real wide and stick a rigid camera down his throat.  They will take video and pictures of whatever it is that is going on in his throat and we will go from there.  They are doing his pre-op baths tonight which apparently use some special anti-microbal soap, and he will be dressed in the hospitals finest linens.  Then at 7am we will be set up with the transport team and heading to the OR.  Once there, ENT (Ear, nose, throat) will do another Flex Scope before he is put under just to get another look at his airway while he is still alert and awake.  Then the anesthesia folks will do their job and begin to administer their drugs and make sure that he stays sedated correctly and also give him some pain meds during the procedure.  The ENT doctors will use some sort of contraption that will keep his airway open.  They will put a rigid scope (which also provides some breathing support) down his throat and will push beyond his vocal folds to see his entire airway to make sure we have a full picture of his airway and that they can accurately diagnose the issue at hand.  Beyond that, we don't know what to expect.  They have the approval to go ahead and do any minor operations while they have him sedated if they see something that can be worked on, but if they believe a trach is neccessary, then they will pull out and consult with us before we go any further.  The concerns that we have and have been brought up are that this is the first time that he will have anesthesia administered, with his neurological state (now we sound like the doctors), will he be able to pull himself out of the anesthesia efficiently, effectively, correctly, whatever term you want to use so that there is no damage to his brain or other organs.  Beyond this the concern that he will maintain his drive to breath following anesthesia, or if he becomes intubated again, that his drive will return.  Any sort of physical damage from the procedure meaning damage to his airway from jamming a rigid camera down a sensitive and swollen airway, scrapes, further swelling, scar tissue, things of that nature are certainly a concern.  This is his first true operation, and getting a prick and bathtime are incredibly tramatic for him, so just that he won't go into shock, and that his body won't go into overdrive or shutdown.

While these are several of the concerns, and legitimate apparently, according to the doctors, we believe that the journey to this point has been orchestrated by God.  Every detail of every day, God is in control, and God has orchestrated.  Looking back to the first week of life, we were told he would never breathe off a ventilator, Thatcher and God had a different plan.  Following that we've been told that he has no organized brain activity, but we watch him work to position his head so that he can breath better, he still has incredible prophetic and comedic timing with his grunts and noises, and he is responsive, with his grasps, his kicks, ect.  We've been discouraged from pursuing treatment of his airway because it is all central.  Well, we had a sleep study that states otherwise, and we have several weeks of watching our baby struggle that tell us otherwise as well as a preliminary scope that tell us otherwise.  God orchestrated us having to have a second sleep study to show the numbers that it did, God orchestrated every moment up to this point where the doctors are now pushing to pursue treatment of his airway.  God is in control, and we will trust Him, and we will praise Him for how far we have come already, and for the great things that He has done in and through Thatcher.  We have a peace about where we stand today, and we have a peace about the bronchoscopy tomorrow, we will rely on the truth that our God is in control, and that our God is for Thatcher.  One of my favorite lines from a song that's been in my head today is, "You are God, and you don't miss a thing".  So true, you know Thatcher inside and out, and you are God, you don't miss a thing, you orchestrated every detail thus far, why would we ever second guess that you won't continue to do so.  We love you, Lord, that you are the same yesterday, today, and forever.  You don't miss a thing.

Join us in praying for Thatcher as he undergoes his first operation, that God would guide the doctors hands, that what is intended to be seen is found and seen, that Thatcher handles the stress of the operation by the strength of God, and that God moves, and shows up in a big way tomorrow morning.  Continue to pray for healing, for the miraculous and the spectacular, that what occurs and unfolds can only be attributed to the glory of our God.  Our great God.  Our victorious healer.  Our Lord and Savior.  To Him be the glory, the honor, the praise.