July 4th - Update on Gabriel

Here is an update on Gabriel.... Sorry I haven't posted in a while about this....

From an email from Dawn received on June 27th....
"Many people have asked us when Gabriel might be released from the hospital.It's certainly something we've been interested in as well. We are thinking of taking bets. :) Until this weekend there was a possibility that we might be able released this week That hope has since been dashed. Still we want to keep everyone informed as to what we do now know.

Our current situation is this: The decision to put a feeding tube into Gabriel's side has been made. We are now only waiting for a series of two tests which will tell if he has reflux. Depending on whether he has reflux tendencies or not will determine what sort of surgery they need to do to put the tube in (and whether a band needs to be put above the stomach). Once both tests are done, then they can schedule the surgery. Then, after the surgery there will be a span of three or four days of recovery and watching before we can be released (assuming no infection or fever).

Until this we had not experienced any great delay in getting tests done, however this test was scheduled for Monday, then pushed to Tuesday, and now appears to be set for Wednesday morning. This test is of dye that is put down his throat and take only minutes to resolve. The second test takes place over hours. The second test can't be scheduled until the first test is concluded. We are hopeful that they can get both tests in on Wednesday, but there is no guarantee. After this, they will start to schedule the operation. Depending on how busy they are at that time, that could be as early as the next day, or as late as five to six working days.

So here is the best case scenario that we are hoping for: if we can get both tests on Wednesday and scheduled for surgery on Thursday or Friday, perhaps they will count the weekend time after surgery as "recovery" and we can go home to NW Arkansas early next week. I'm still holding out hope that we can all get home before July 4th but dark clouds are hovering over that prediction."

From a email from Dawn received on June 30th....

"Hello again from Little Rock,

Late last night we were informed that Gabriel's stomach button surgery will be Monday at 7:30am. We are relieved to know the date and that it is Monday and not any later. After trying to work on the bottle feeds, Gabriel is loosing weight due to the use of so much energy. The doctors strongly recommended this procedure so he can be fed directly into his stomach. We are told this is very typical for babies like Gabriel. On Wednesday, he was tested for reflux, which he has "significant reflux"...so the doctor will do a procedure, putting a "nessin" (? spelling) which will block the flow of reflux.

As he grows he will improve and at some point will not need the button feed. For now, he needs to grow and gain strength and to do this he needs a little help.

Today we moved out of the Ronald McDonald House. Yesterday Gabriel had moved from a semi-private to a private room where we can both sleep with him.

I cannot begin to tell you how homesick we all are. The children have been doing good in OK with the grandparents, but they are missing us and home too. We need to be together again...and soon. Since his surgery is on Monday, we are hoping to be home by next weekend. Our hopes are high.

Thank you for all the prayers. Please continue to pray for Gabriel, his surgery and speedy recovery."