Klara Grace

Klara Grace - Continued

Sent: Thu 2/5/2004 5:37 PM

Klara is still doing great. She is on the cannula now which is just tubing around her head with two little prongs in her nose to blow humidified air. She transitioned beautifully and they may remove her from everything (involving her breathing) in a day or two. The nurse said she may graduate from the NICU to the Infant Care Nursery this weekend but none of the doctors have said that.

She is tolerating breastmilk very well and she will soon be off the IV fluids and only receiving breastmilk. But I guess once she is off the IV then they usually up her fluid amount and put her back on IV.

Two huge prayer requests are for the bleeding in her brain and that she be kept safe from infection. We will not get another ultra sound until Monday with the results coming back on Tuesday. That will probably be the next time I will write. Please pray that the blood is being reabsorbed and not filling the ventricles. She has had no signs of problems which would include breathing problems, seizures and rapid expansion of the head. But there is still the chance, even without any symptoms, that the bleeding is progressing.

The second request is for protection against infection. There is a little boy in the same room with a terrible cough and they are testing him for RSV.

Thanks so much for praying for and supporting our family during this time.

Love,

Sent: Mon 2/9/2004 2:42 PM

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.

This afternoon it was made evident to us that, at least for today, His ways are not our ways. The bleeding in Klara's brain is not reabsorbing and the pressure is building. We will be meeting with the neurosurgeon tonight or tomorrow morning. It sounds like the options are either to wait for 3 days and repeat the ultrasound in hopes that the blood begins to reabsorb or to put a shunt in immediately to drain the fluid.

I ask you to continue to pray earnestly for her healing. "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

In Him,

Sent: Mon 2/9/2004 10:56 PM

Wow! This is a hard place to be! I have gained quite a bit more strength as the day has turned into evening. On this journey I have found that too much information can strike fear but throughout this day the more we've learned the more peace I have felt (Jon seems to always have peace).

The neurosurgeon called tonight and we have scheduled surgery for Thursday evening at 5:30. We then met with the Dr. who is caring for Klara. To make a long story short Klara's surgery will involve placing a temporary shunt in her head to relieve the pressure and then when she is 4 or 5 pounds there is a 95% chance that a permanent shunt will be put in. A shunt is not ideal but Klara could live a very normal, active life with it. I have requested another ultra sound for Wednesday morning to allow for a miracle. The doctor said (with a smile on his face) if the ventricles have decreased in size we will reconvene. I'd love to reconvene.

Thank you so much for support and your prayers during this time. I can't wait to introduce you all to Klara Grace.

Love,

Sent: Thu 2/12/2004 2:04 PM

The ultra sound this morning revealed that the ventricles are continuing to enlarge. Klara is being prepped for surgery which will begin at 5:30pm. Please pray for protection from infection, that the shunt would not become clogged and that it will be effective in removing the fluid, and for strength for our family.

Thank you,

Sent: Fri 2/13/2004 9:23 AM

Klara's surgery went very well. The shunt was put in place and is working to remove the excess fluid. The surgeon said that there is a 10-20% chance that this temporary shunt will resolve the problem and can be removed. The surgeon would wait until Klara is 6 months old to remove it. It is more likely that the shunt will need to be permanently installed when she is between 4 and 5 pounds.

Again, thank you so much for your prayers. I slept so soundly last night for the first time in a while. I know that the emotional ride is not over but I am thankful for all that God has brought Klara through so far and confident that He will carry us the rest of the way.

Love

Sent: Wed 2/18/2004 6:08 PM

I am sorry that it has taken me a while to update you on Klara. With Monday being a holiday her ultra sound was moved to Tuesday. I asked the Dr. for the results this morning and he came to Klara's bedside beaming. He said the ventricles have decompressed to their normal size and the hemorrhage is resolving. I immediately blurted out "Do you think she could be shuntless"? He smiled and said "for now we'll say the shunt is doing it's job". Thank you Lord!

Since Klara's surgery she has struggled with her breathing. It was anticipated that she would be off the ventilator a day or two after surgery but as of this morning she was still on it. They are hoping to exuberate her this afternoon (take her off the ventilator). She is off all IV's and all her food is breastmilk with the addition of a powder called Human Milk Fortifier. She is up to 3 pounds 5 ounces.

This morning I was able to hold her for the first time since her surgery. It was also the first time I took a good look at her incision. The incision is on the right side of head, it starts at the top of her forehead and forms a half circle to the back of her head. Below the half circle is a bump the size of a pecan shell where the shunt is.

A few people have asked if any damage has been done to her brain. That has, of course, been one of my many fears and Jon and I have come a long way in our preparing ourselves for what may lie ahead. I should say that Jon has brought me a long way. Jon has said from the beginning that Klara will be exactly who she is supposed to be and I believe that he is at peace with whatever happens. I am coming around and feeling more restful and peaceful every day. The doctors have said that the shunt is put in to avoid any damage and that Klara could come out of all this just fine. We'll just wait and see.

I wrote the above part of the email around noon but have been unable to get back to the computer to actually send it. I called the nurse around 4 and Klara is off the ventilator. Thank you Lord!

We are off to the hospital again so I will say goodbye for now. Thank you so much for your prayers, your concern and your support. I will write more later and send a few more pictures.

Love

	Klara Grace - Continued

	Sent: Thu 2/5/2004 5:37 PM Klara is still doing great. She is on the cannula now which is just tubing around her head with two little prongs in her nose to blow humidified air. She transitioned beautifully and they may remove her from everything (involving her breathing) in a day or two. The nurse said she may graduate from the NICU to the Infant Care Nursery this weekend but none of the doctors have said that. She is tolerating breastmilk very well and she will soon be off the IV fluids and only receiving breastmilk. But I guess once she is off the IV then they usually up her fluid amount and put her back on IV. Two huge prayer requests are for the bleeding in her brain and that she be kept safe from infection. We will not get another ultra sound until Monday with the results coming back on Tuesday. That will probably be the next time I will write. Please pray that the blood is being reabsorbed and not filling the ventricles. She has had no signs of problems which would include breathing problems, seizures and rapid expansion of the head. But there is still the chance, even without any symptoms, that the bleeding is progressing. The second request is for protection against infection. There is a little boy in the same room with a terrible cough and they are testing him for RSV. Thanks so much for praying for and supporting our family during this time. Love,
		Sent: Mon 2/9/2004 2:42 PM "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. This afternoon it was made evident to us that, at least for today, His ways are not our ways. The bleeding in Klara's brain is not reabsorbing and the pressure is building. We will be meeting with the neurosurgeon tonight or tomorrow morning. It sounds like the options are either to wait for 3 days and repeat the ultrasound in hopes that the blood begins to reabsorb or to put a shunt in immediately to drain the fluid. I ask you to continue to pray earnestly for her healing. "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." In Him, Sent: Mon 2/9/2004 10:56 PM Wow! This is a hard place to be! I have gained quite a bit more strength as the day has turned into evening. On this journey I have found that too much information can strike fear but throughout this day the more we've learned the more peace I have felt (Jon seems to always have peace). The neurosurgeon called tonight and we have scheduled surgery for Thursday evening at 5:30. We then met with the Dr. who is caring for Klara. To make a long story short Klara's surgery will involve placing a temporary shunt in her head to relieve the pressure and then when she is 4 or 5 pounds there is a 95% chance that a permanent shunt will be put in. A shunt is not ideal but Klara could live a very normal, active life with it. I have requested another ultra sound for Wednesday morning to allow for a miracle. The doctor said (with a smile on his face) if the ventricles have decreased in size we will reconvene. I'd love to reconvene. Thank you so much for support and your prayers during this time. I can't wait to introduce you all to Klara Grace. Love, Sent: Thu 2/12/2004 2:04 PM The ultra sound this morning revealed that the ventricles are continuing to enlarge. Klara is being prepped for surgery which will begin at 5:30pm. Please pray for protection from infection, that the shunt would not become clogged and that it will be effective in removing the fluid, and for strength for our family. Thank you, Sent: Fri 2/13/2004 9:23 AM Klara's surgery went very well. The shunt was put in place and is working to remove the excess fluid. The surgeon said that there is a 10-20% chance that this temporary shunt will resolve the problem and can be removed. The surgeon would wait until Klara is 6 months old to remove it. It is more likely that the shunt will need to be permanently installed when she is between 4 and 5 pounds. Again, thank you so much for your prayers. I slept so soundly last night for the first time in a while. I know that the emotional ride is not over but I am thankful for all that God has brought Klara through so far and confident that He will carry us the rest of the way. Love
	Sent: Wed 2/18/2004 6:08 PM I am sorry that it has taken me a while to update you on Klara. With Monday being a holiday her ultra sound was moved to Tuesday. I asked the Dr. for the results this morning and he came to Klara's bedside beaming. He said the ventricles have decompressed to their normal size and the hemorrhage is resolving. I immediately blurted out "Do you think she could be shuntless"? He smiled and said "for now we'll say the shunt is doing it's job". Thank you Lord! Since Klara's surgery she has struggled with her breathing. It was anticipated that she would be off the ventilator a day or two after surgery but as of this morning she was still on it. They are hoping to exuberate her this afternoon (take her off the ventilator). She is off all IV's and all her food is breastmilk with the addition of a powder called Human Milk Fortifier. She is up to 3 pounds 5 ounces. This morning I was able to hold her for the first time since her surgery. It was also the first time I took a good look at her incision. The incision is on the right side of head, it starts at the top of her forehead and forms a half circle to the back of her head. Below the half circle is a bump the size of a pecan shell where the shunt is. A few people have asked if any damage has been done to her brain. That has, of course, been one of my many fears and Jon and I have come a long way in our preparing ourselves for what may lie ahead. I should say that Jon has brought me a long way. Jon has said from the beginning that Klara will be exactly who she is supposed to be and I believe that he is at peace with whatever happens. I am coming around and feeling more restful and peaceful every day. The doctors have said that the shunt is put in to avoid any damage and that Klara could come out of all this just fine. We'll just wait and see. I wrote the above part of the email around noon but have been unable to get back to the computer to actually send it. I called the nurse around 4 and Klara is off the ventilator. Thank you Lord! We are off to the hospital again so I will say goodbye for now. Thank you so much for your prayers, your concern and your support. I will write more later and send a few more pictures. Love