Mending a Broken Heart

In 48 hours, our 4-month old Bridger will be in a coma. Intubated during a roughly 24-hour post-open heart surgery period, his condition will be monitored by doctors to ensure that any swelling of his chest cavity subsides. We expect them to be able to sew him back up sometime over the weekend. If all goes well, which we fast and pray that it will, the atrio-ventricular canals (holes on the inside of Bridger's heart) that he was born with will be completely repaired and his precious little body will begin thriving on roughly twice the oxygen it is getting now.

Needless to say, we are both anxious and eager to undergo this important step in Bridger's development. His surgery will be performed by Dr. Gary Lofland, an expert and leader in the field of pediatric cardiac repair.

As I type this, I'm in Chicago finishing up a 3-day trip. On Wednesday night, I get back to KC around 7:00 p.m. I'll hang around the airport a bit, because at 7:30 my mom arrives from Salt Lake City. She's coming to watch our three oldest kids while Jana and I spend most of our weekend with Bridger at Children's Mercy hospital. We check him in on Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m.

We are grateful that Mom is able to be here with us during this procedure. It's nice timing with Christmas, too. The kids are eager to have Omi around. She returns on Sunday, the 21st, and Jana's parents come after Christmas to spend another week.

Although the timing of such an undertaking might seem unfortunate, we're actually feeling quite blessed to be focusing on family so acutely during the holidays. I don't have work again until January 12th; it will be nice to have this time at home together to help little B recover.

During this crazy time, our thoughts are naturally turned to those of you who have made such a profound impact on our lives. We sincerely hope and pray that your Christmas is filled with the blessings of friends and family and everything that brings the joy of our Savior, Jesus Christ, into your hearts.