ONE MONTH POST- 1st OP (praying us HOME)

Its beyond my comprehension how far we have come.
I can barely process the fact  that tomorrow marks 4 weeks Post-OP (Her first surgery).

Brian and I almost laugh at the realization that if we would have known, going into this, that our little girl would have had to endure THREE OPEN HEART surgeries in the time span of THREE weeks in order to have her heart fully repaired…we would have probably scooped her up and ran in the other direction….literally.

God knew there would have been no way we could have handled that news ahead of time.

But, he gives the grace to sustain in the moments we need Him most…..
when our knees feel like they will buckle
when our world is suddenly spinning out of control
and our breath is taken away
while our hearts are pounding out of our chests watching our tiny warrior go thru such awful trials.

Sitting in the waiting room completely out of control…..not knowing the outcome, fearing the worst possible scenario…..
that place. that waiting room, is the scariest place I have ever had to temporarily sit in.
To just wait on the will of GOD, and be made to fully trust HIM, and HIS will and HIS outcomes.

TO SURRENDER COMPLETELY TO HIM.

I am so thankful to be over those mountains with our strong brave Gianna…..SO thankful we see the light,,,,
she is ALIVE and well!
PRAISE GOD, what miracles HE HAS DONE!

I get very emotional when I think back on the miracles God has brought her through.
From the first night, walking in to see her after her first heart surgery, gasping at the horror of my baby girl attached to so many life-sustaining machines…….in awe, yet in trembling fear all at the same time.
Nothing can prepare you for that sight, and that heartache.

Nothing can prepare you for that road ahead.

There were dark moments, especially as she started to wake from her last surgery and extubation. That first 48 hours were dark and horrible.
Gianna was So sad and withdrawn and miserable. It was so hard on this mama’s heart, it killed me because it felt like I couldn’t break through her pain to comfort her. I felt so helpless,

I just held her, sang to her and prayed over her and kept saying, “mommy is here, mommy is here….I know, mommy is here”

ugh……

I am so thankful we are through that valley, it was awful.

And here we are ….ONE MONTH, 2 MORE heart surgeries later.

her spirits lift when she talks to family!

she decided she was sick of being the patient and wanted to play DOCTOR instead!

first post op stroller ride!!!!

Having a tea party with her sisters…

SO AMAZING to see and experience just how far she has come. God has crushed every mountain.

But, Gianna still has a hard road of recovery still ahead

Her legs, back and arms are very weak.
We know she will regain strength but she will have to work hard…..

SHE is SO STRONG, I know she will bounce right back!

Gia working hard during her OT

We are praying to be able to move to the floor tomorrow!

She is still on a lot of medications and has a very “sedated” look, and speech to her, but each day we are seeing more of our baby girl break through as they slowly wean her off a host of various meds!

I am so excited to get to the FLOOR because Gianna and I will have so much more freedom to walk around, play and go on stroller rides all over the hospital!

I just know It will do her heart so much good and bring her so much more joy to be more free to play!

I do believe as it says in proverbs, “a cheerful heart is good medicine’

However, ultimatly…what my strong warrior needs is to be HOME with her biggest fan club surrounding her.
SHE NEEDS to be HOME with family.

There are still many things that needs to happen to get us home…

Gianna has to be feeding well on her own (currently she is on a feeding tube), she has to be on a good medication weaning schedule that we can complete at home, her Oxygen stats need to be good, she has to have clear lungs, stay infection-free, and she needs to pass a very in-depth echo before going home.

She is well on her way! BUT we need prayer to get there!

You have been so faithful, her prayer army, to ride this rollercoaster with us.  We have felt every prayer and it has been what has sustained us. You have ushered in her miracle with your prayers.

We are so grateful. BEYOND amazed to see the body of Christ rise up for our Gia!

Please keep praying! We are seeing the finish line!

Please pray us home for Christmas. Our surgeon has told me that he is making it his mission to get us home by Christmas…..

but we know it is GOD who will get us there!

Please pray for that miracle for us!